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Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Have you ever bought all of your vacation items for family and friends members but? Want one other concept that you realize they’ll get pleasure from and also you don’t should go to the shop to get it? Reward them a searching or fishing (or combo) license to assist them benefit from the wild locations they love and buy it on-line. Discover out extra HERE.
NEWS TO KNOW:
Stocking stuffers? Nope, stocking trout! Our subsequent trout stocking occasion is about to happen at Whitewater Creek on Monday, December 18th. Try the North Georgia report beneath (Look beneath “River Report” for extra info and information on how to enroll to take part.
Sturgeon Restoration Story: Try WMAZ Ch. 13 Macon’s information story about lake sturgeon and their highway to restoration.
Renovation Continues at Go Fish: The Go Fish Schooling Heart in Perry, GA will stay closed by way of the month of December as they proceed to work on a renovation and refresh to displays, interactive alternatives and aquariums. The re-opening date appears to be like to be in early January.
This week, we have now fishing stories from Southeast and North Georgia. Give the present of out of doors recreation for a certain folks pleaser after which Go Fish Georgia!
(Fishing report courtesy of Bert Deener, Area Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Assets Division, with assist from Area Employees and Native Specialists)
I typically seek advice from wintertime fishing as “feast or famine”. There was quite a lot of feasting this week! The weekend rains raised the rivers, however they’re not completely blown out but.
River gages on December 14th had been:
Clyo on the Savannah River – 4.3 toes and rising
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 4.6 toes and rising
Doctortown on the Altamaha – 6.6 toes and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 9.9 toes and rising
Atkinson on the Satilla – 6.3 toes and rising
Statenville on the Alapaha – 5.6 toes and falling
Macclenny on the St Marys – 9.3 toes and falling
Fargo on the Suwannee – 8.6 toes and falling
First quarter moon is December nineteenth. To watch all of the Georgia river ranges, go to the USGS web site HERE. For the most recent marine forecast, click on HERE.
LOCAL PONDS
Harry Beverley and a good friend put it on the crappie once more this week. They caught a restrict (a number of over a pound) by fishing minnows. Chad Lee fished along with his Uncle (Lester Rowland) over the weekend and put it on the crappie and bass in Alma-area ponds. They caught over 50 crappie and stored 23 slabs. They fooled them with each minnows and jigs (Chad’s normal is a 1 1/2-inch chartreuse panfish Murderer). He and Daniel Johnson (Daniel simply launched a pair songs on Spotify, particularly “Me Minus You” and “Go away My Boots On”) fished the identical pond for bass and had 6 bass as much as 4 kilos. Christie Craws labored finest to idiot bass. Chad fished throughout his lunch break on Monday and caught two bass that weighed 3 kilos apiece after which once more on Thursday and caught a pair of bass about 2 kilos every. He fooled the lunchtime bass with shad coloured Rat-L-traps.
ALTAMAHA/OCMULGEE RIVERS
A Fitzgerald angler had two good journeys on the Ocmulgee. On Friday he caught 17 bass along with his greatest weighing 7-lb., 11-oz. He caught that greatest one on the top of a tree-top in the primary river. On Saturday, he and a buddy caught 14 good bass. They didn’t have any large ones that day, however their prime 5 fish weighed 16 kilos. Nearly all of their fish ate Texas-rigged plastic worms.
SATILLA RIVER
Brentz McGhin fished the higher river on Saturday and had a very good catch. He fooled 18 crappie (stored 12 of them), 3 bass (stored 1), and a number of different panfishes and a catfish. His best presentation was a minnow beneath a float, however he additionally caught one on a crawfish Satilla Spin and one on a cricket on a jighead. The brand new ramp on the Freeway 158 Bridge is accomplished and open to the general public. The boat ramp crew of the Wildlife Assets Division did a fantastic job on it! And don’t consider a few of the bantering on the web – it’s open to the general public…..on public land….and also you gained’t get a ticket for utilizing it (except you’re doing one thing silly and unlawful…).
OKEFENOKEE SWAMP
The water degree has come up and began spreading again out into the prairies, however you possibly can nonetheless catch fish within the canals. Bowfin exercise slows down within the chilly, however they’ll nonetheless hit a trolled lure together with chain pickerel. For fliers, pitch sallies beneath a small balsa float. I normally begin with pink then attempt yellow, orange, and chartreuse in the event that they don’t reply. When it’s chilly, letting the little fly sit a second or two longer than when it’s heat normally entices extra strikes. The latest water degree (Folkston aspect) was 120.90 toes.
OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (close to Hawkinsville, extra information HERE)
The massive bass chewed a bit of bit over the past week. The most important I heard of was simply over 9 kilos, however a lot of 3 to 6-pounders had been caught, as properly. Keep in mind, bass are catch-and-release solely on the lake.
SALTWATER (GA COAST)
Cason Kinstle received on some nice trout and redfish throughout a visit on Friday within the decrease Ogeechee River. He ended up catching 20 trout (all however 2 had been keepers!), a 15-inch sheepshead, and a 19-inch black drum. Stay shrimp beneath a slip float was the important thing to their chunk. They tried artificials to no avail. On Monday he fished the Brunswick space with a good friend, and so they caught 40 trout (19 keepers) and a pair of reds (1 keeper). They used each reside bait and artificials. Their synthetic set-up was an 1/8 and 1/4-oz. Zombie Eye Jighead and plastics (shad stomach and purple or inexperienced backs). A Waycross angler fished just some hours Friday afternoon within the Brunswick space and received on a bunch of trout. He fooled most of them on reside shrimp labored slowly alongside the underside on an 1/8-oz. Shrimp Hook and a reside shrimp on the identical Shrimp Hook however suspended 24 inches beneath a Cajun Thunder Float. The float rig labored finest over flooded shells, whereas he bounced the opposite rig alongside the deeper areas. He ended up with 35 trout (principally throwbacks), a keeper redfish, and a keeper flounder. The flounder and some of the trout ate 3 1/2-inch shad coloured Keitech swimbaits on chartreuse 1/16-oz. Zombie Eye Jigheads. Jay Turner and Gerald Riner fished the nearshore reefs within the Savannah space on Friday within the good climate and slammed the sheepshead. They launched the larger 7 to 9 pounders and many different on their technique to preserving a restrict. They actually received uninterested in catching fish. Dabbling fiddler crabs is how they fooled them. Sean Tarpley and a good friend fished off Brunswick on Friday and hammered the black sea bass and triggerfish. That they had some work after they received again to the cleansing desk! Capt. Tim Reducing (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) mentioned that winds had been tough this week, however they nonetheless caught fish in protected areas. Monday and Tuesday he put his shoppers on about 20 trout per day and many redfish by throwing artificials. That they had a few half-dozen keeper trout per day, and a few had been very nice 20-plus inch fish. On Wednesday he zigged when he ought to have zagged, and so they solely caught about half that many fish. A number of good reds ate spinnerbaits for his shoppers mid-week. Jamie Hodge and a good friend slammed 51 trout (stored 21) on reside shrimp within the Brunswick space on Friday. Wat-a-melon Bait and Sort out’s Shrimp Hook give-away final weekend was a hit. They’re in Brunswick and are open Friday by way of Sunday from 6am to 4pm every week. They’ve loads of energetic shrimp and fiddler crabs and now have reside worms and crickets for freshwater. They’re on Hwy 303 simply north of Hwy 82 in the identical location because the earlier J&P Bait and Sort out. For the most recent info, contact them at 912-223-1379.
(Fishing report courtesy of Kyle Rempe, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Assets Division, with assist from Area Employees and Native Specialists)
RESERVOIR REPORT
LAKE ALLATOONA
Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is nice. Noticed bass fishing has been good so long as anglers use present the correct of lure. The jig can hardly be beat presently of yr, throw it shallow, throw it deep and throw wherever. Keep in the primary lake and search for brush or stumps. Pitch in a jig and anticipate the thump. Seize some Mini Me Spinner baits and burn it alongside the steep bluff partitions. If the water warms from the rain they’ll reply the decision. The jig must be inexperienced pumpkin colour. Be sure you fish it slowly and the Bass Professional jigs within the 3/8 dimension works properly on 10 pound line on a spinning reel. Search for the bigger rock formations from Little River to the dam as the important thing areas. As anglers go over the primary lake ditches watch the Lowrance Down Scan know-how with the Fish Reveal as much as 86%. This know-how can expose much more water than common sonar beams.
LAKE HARTWELL
Bass (courtesy of Information Jacob Butts 864-934-9450; report by way of SC-DNR Freshwater Fishing Tendencies) — Information Jacob Butts stories that in December fish will principally depart the shallow creeks and arrange in deeper ditches and channels. Some days they are going to be suspended, and different days they’ll relate to the underside. Fish head spins, drop shot rigs, spoons, and dragging a jig or shakey head will work.
Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is truthful. Hotter climate final week introduced on a bit of bit higher fishing for the few bass anglers that had time to go through the week. Shad had been leaping again within the coves and the fish had been feeding heavy on every part that moved. The massive key to catching an plentiful quantity of bass was to downsize each the baits and line sixes. Unique Floating Rapala’s on eight-pound take a look at line coupled with a spinning rod was catching quite a lot of the smaller bass. Search for the warmest water wherever on the lake and the Lowrance Warmth Map know-how on the charts generally is a nice asset. There wasn’t quite a lot of dimension to the fish motion is nice a lot of the day. The larger bass took a bit of extra work as anglers picked aside construction with worms and jigs. Anglers use the Rapala DT10 and DT14 alongside the banks and factors searching for a 2 1/2 to three 1/2-pound keeper fish. Throughout December, climate will play an essential function whereas fishing. Sudden adjustments in temperatures or wind will make a distinction whereas fishing.
Catfish (courtesy of Captain Invoice Plumley; report by way of SC-DNR Freshwater Fishing Tendencies) — Captain Invoice Plumley stories that in December blue catfish will get simpler and simpler to catch as they arrive out of the deep timber, and they need to be catchable on clear bottoms. A wide range of reduce baits will work. By the top of November some large fish had been already exhibiting up.
Linesides and Hybrids (courtesy of Information Chip Hamilton 864-304-9011; report by way of SC-DNR Freshwater Fishing Tendencies) — Information Chip Hamilton stories that in December fish will proceed to chunk down-lines within the creeks and rivers till if and when water temperatures get very chilly. If that occurs search for the chunk to decelerate, and anglers might want to swap over to trolling umbrella rigs or pulling free-lines with large baits.
LAKE LANIER
Bass (courtesy of Captain Mack, Captain Mack’s) — The Bass chunk is nice with a spread productive strategies and baits. Total, ditches, creek channels and drains will likely be exhausting to beat for consistency and numbers. A few of the shallow patterns might produce the most important fish, however perhaps not as properly on the numbers aspect. As to be anticipated, the ditch/drain/channel chunk has been one in every of it not the very best general sample. A wide range of baits will get the chunk, Keitech’s and Prodigy’s on the lead head have been constant. Worms on virtually any number of rigging, and naturally spoons. The depths vary on the ditches may be very large, with fish being caught from 15 to 50. Look ahead to a few of the fish to be shallow early, or in low gentle, deeper because the day progresses. 35 to 45 toes has been a very good depth whatever the construction.
Our spoon chunk has been superb, and the possible areas are holding fish. Lots of the creek channels have good concentrations of bait, in case you see that the bait the Bass will most likely be round. Whenever you see the bait layered up on a 30 to 50 foot backside, attempt fishing even when you don’t see a lot of fish. Usually the fish will present up on the sonar after you drop the spoons or responding to a fish that’s hooked. Along with the bait faculties, spoons are efficient round timber edges and the above-mentioned drains and channels. FYI, many anglers are reporting good catches on chartreuse colour patterns.
The shallow water patterns which can be yielding a few of the larger fish are nonetheless efficient. Primarily rocks and shallow brush, which is simple to search out with our low water ranges. You too can embrace factors on this sample as properly. Efficient everywhere in the lake, decrease finish, most important lake might supply the very best shot on the greatest Noticed Bass. Plastics have been the go-to for this sample, however jigs and crank baits even have some software.
Bass (courtesy of Phil Johnson pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770-366-8845; report by way of Southern Fishing): Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is nice to superb. The lake is presently eight toes beneath full pool and the water temperature is working from the mid to higher fifties. The lake is obvious with slight stain up the rivers. The colder temperatures have moved the fish to deeper water now in a variety from twenty-five to fifty toes. The ditches and ledges have been probably the most constant producing areas notably if there may be construction within the space. The water temperature is just not fairly chilly sufficient to lock the fish down so they’re nonetheless transferring round in any given space. It’s time to search for the bait to search out the fish. You could have to discover a number of totally different areas to search out the bass however if you do you possibly can catch quite a few fish if a really small place. The baits which have been producing are the Spotchoker, Georgia Blade spoon, drop shot and the jig. To cowl space within the ditches or ledges we have now been utilizing the three eights Spotchoker with a Solid Echo trailer and dealing this bait slowly throughout the underside. Should you find a college of bass the half ounce spoon or the drop shot labored vertical have produced good variety of bass. On the drop shot both a Candy Rosy or a Blue Lily worm have been the ticket. Keep in mind on the drop shot to not set the hook exhausting as all you need to do is raise the rod tip to set the hook. A brown and chartreuse jig rigged with a root beer trailer has labored properly on the steeper rock factors and ledges in addition to the deeper boat docks. Because the water temperature continues to drop the bass will decelerate their motion much more and infrequently keep in the identical space for a number of days. Use the wind to you benefit to find the shad as they are going to be pushed into the pockets with ditches. It’s a bit of cool on the water however the fishing will be actually scorching so bundle up and Go Catch ‘Em!
Crappie (courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton 770-530-6493; report by way of Southern Fishing) — Water temperatures are nonetheless in low 50s and the lake is down 8.5 foot. This week has been tremendous windy making it further difficult to fish round docks, so the vast majority of our catch has been coming from suspended fish at 10 foot deep or much less on open water brush. I’m utilizing a small minnows straight down with a cut up shot 8 10 toes deep. I’ve additionally been doing properly small hair jigs and 1.25” mushy plastic jigs. Whereas the lake is low be trying to find and marking new brush piles and blow downs. The gear I like to recommend for crappie fishing is Acc crappie stix 1-piece rod and reel with a 6-pound take a look at K9 line, together with Garmin Stay Scope and Energy Pole. For extra info and ideas, please go to my web sites http://www.crappieonlanier.com and http://www.fishingwitheverydayheroes.org.
Linesides (courtesy of Buck Cannon 404-510-1778; report by way of Southern Fishing) — Striper fishing is nice. Lake Lanier stripers are beneath the birds so preserve a watch out for the floor exercise. The backs of the creeks will maintain fish however you’ll must preserve trying to find the birds and bait. Down traces, flat traces and planer boards ought to cowl the water utilizing gizzards, trout and blue backs. Water temperatures are in mid 50s. Search for the fish at depths 30 to 50 toes. Fishing on the factors going into the creeks is an effective place to begin. Keep in mind to put on your life jackets.
Linesides (courtesy of Captain Mack, Captain Mack’s — Striper fishing is nice, and reside baits and trolling strategies are each superb. On the reside baits, a mixture of baits and strategies are productive. Down traces are persistently producing good catches. Herring and Small Trout have been good with some anglers catching fish on Shad and shiners as properly. Gizzard Shad on the free traces and planers are additionally a very good approach and are catching a few of the larger fish.
The down line chunk is relevant wherever you see bait concentrations, primarily within the creeks and drains. I believe this chunk is general finest within the center a part of both river arm, the place there are superb numbers of fish. The logistics are additionally extra sensible within the mid lake space, there are merely extra creeks and drains in shut proximately to expedite the search course of. Decrease finish creeks and drains are holding good numbers of fish, however transferring from one to a different requires a bit of extra time. Whereas Herring have been the bait of alternative on the down traces, preserving a combination within the unfold is a plus. The fish might present a desire might from day after day. If the fish appear reluctant to take the down line, come off the spot lock and use a sluggish troll, .3 to .6 mph. That can typically set off some bites and by transferring you enhance the percentages of discovering fish.
Hold a jigging spoon tied on! Should you get any teams of fish beneath the boat, drop a spoon down. They’re responding to the spoons properly and they’re largely underutilized by Striper Fishermen. Any time you’re on Spot lock and you’ve got fish marking, or bait tight to backside, ship ‘em the spoon. Along with stripers, count on some Bass, Catfish, Perch, White Bass, and in case you are actually fortunate, a Walleye to make lunch out of the spoon.
Deploy the free traces round areas the place birds are working otherwise you will be lucky sufficient to see surfacing fish. A Gizzard Shad and Trout on a free line, or behind a planer board on this state of affairs has been efficient and will get an enormous chunk. Watch the loons, typically pulling round a gaggle of loons will get a chunk or two, and that appears to be extra distinguished on the decrease finish.
Trolling is excellent, pulling the full-size rigs across the bait faculties within the creeks has been a stable sample. Search for the bait faculties, mainly in the identical areas you’ll fish the down traces. Gradual trolling the Mini Macks can be very efficient, once more, pull over bait concentrations or over timber within the creeks. 1 MPH is the goal velocity for the Stealth trolling.
LAKE WEISS
Bass (courtesy of Information Mark Collins, Mark Collins Information Service) — Bass fishing is nice, and so they have moved to a winter sample on ledges and river and creek channels. Carolina rigs, crank baits and spinner baits are catching fish.
Crappie (courtesy of Information Mark Collins, Mark Collins Information Service) — Crappie fishing is truthful, and they’re on the creek and river channel ledges and deeper brush. They are often caught Spider rigging with reside minnows over deep brush. Taking pictures docks with jigs can be producing some fish, search for the Crappie to essentially begin biting because the water cools down.
WEST POINT LAKE
Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is truthful. The most effective cowl has been on steeper banks within the mouths of creeks and pockets reminiscent of lay downs and brush piles. It takes a bit of extra time to search out brush piles, however they’re typically higher producers this time of yr. The most effective cowl has been in depths from twelve to fifteen toes of water. Search for the warmest water wherever on the lake and the Lowrance Warmth Map know-how on the charts generally is a nice asset. These underwater motels have been producing each noticed bass and largemouth. Use the 1/8 ounce Weedless Surprise lead head with a Z Man floating worm in inexperienced pumpkin and mid depth crankbaits in a shad sample. Many are utilizing the Bandit crankbait in a pure shad sample to cowl water whereas finding cowl. As anglers go over the primary lake ditches watch the Lowrance Down Scan know-how with the Fish Reveal as much as 86%. This know-how can expose much more water than common sonar beams. On sunny days the clear water jigging spoon chunk has been nice. Search for fish stacking on humps and roadbeds in Wehadkee Creek to catch these fish. Strive Yellow Jacket Creek and Half Moon Creek and nice locations to start out.
RIVER REPORT
Don’t Miss It! You higher enroll, you higher be spry, you higher inventory trout, I’m telling you why—the stocking truck is coming to city! We’re excited to proceed the custom of soliciting the help of our WRD volunteers to inventory the Chattahoochee DH this December. This pre-Christmas dosing of the ‘Hooch will guarantee Atlanta’s best city anglers can have a wadeable secure haven to show to whereas experiencing the fiscal jubilation of vacation procuring or the pure ebullience of internet hosting the out-of-town in-laws. The stocking truck will arrive at Whitewater Creek Park (East Palisades) on December 18th round 10:00 AM to get arrange, and we are going to plan to start out stocking by no later than 10:30 AM. Volunteers are inspired to fill out a legal responsibility waiver for collaborating adults and youngsters forward of time and produce a signed copy with them. Everybody collaborating in trout stocking ought to convey waders or boots and a clear 5-gallon bucket. As all the time, people are inspired to remain and fish as soon as all of the trout are within the water. Volunteers are additionally inspired to don their favourite vacation wardrobes (e.g., cheesy Christmas sweaters, Santa hats, or elfish apparel) to maintain issues merry and brilliant!
Suggestions for Newbies: Attempting to get into fly fishing and wish to begin studying the fundamentals? Danny from Fish North Georgia and Tad Murdock from Georgia Wild Trout have created a brief video containing useful casting demonstrations for learners. Test it out! HOW-TO VIDEO: The three primary casts for #FlyFishing
Trout (courtesy of Jeff Durniak, Angler Administration; report by way of Unicoi Outfitters) — Space streams are very low and clear as soon as once more, so people ought to return to your drought-trouting recreation. We want weekly storms to revive our regular flows. Within the meantime, stealth and light-weight traces are as soon as once more your keys to trouting success. Delayed Harvest stockers have seen quite a lot of anglers and flies. Be prepared to change patterns to these they may not have seen but. The water is colder resulting from chilly nights, so lots of your trout takes will likely be very delicate. Be able to set the hook on any hesitation of your strike indicators.
Wes’ Scorching Fly Record: Dries: Elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, BWO, cream midge, Griffith’s gnat.
Nymphs & Wets: WD-40, Tornado egg, Edwards stonefly (black), Ruby Midge, cut up case BWO, Duracell.
Streamers & heat water: (Trout) wooly bugger, muddy buddy, (bass & stripers) clouser minnow, Cowen’s somethin else, finesse changer.
Trout (courtesy of Tad Murdock, Georgia Wild Trout) — Low water would be the greatest think about trout fishing this December. Most rivers and creeks are gin clear and have the bottom flows of the yr. This may make wild fish extremely spooky and more durable to catch. On the upside, stockers will possible be fish in a barrel. Being simpler to search out will make fishing earlier within the month a lot simpler and much like how the month of November rounded off. Search for trout to be holding in deeper troughs as they are going to be extremely uncovered to predators of their typical, and extra shallow, late fall holding water. Transfer sluggish and preserve your disturbances down for wild fish and search for smaller flies to work finest. Much less casting and extra trying will land you extra fish this month.
For stockers, junk flies (eggs, worms, mops) have been producing big numbers within the not too long ago stocked DH stretches in addition to the often stocked waters. As soon as the fish get educated on these flies, go to smaller dimension and profile nymphs with a way more finesse presentation to focus on these trout. Search for the deepest water round to search out the most important concentrations of those trout. Depth will imply consolation till the winter rains increase the water ranges. The opposite stocked streams in North Georgia, reminiscent of Coopers Creek, Dicks Creek, and Rock Creek have seen some handsome browns, brooks, and rainbows, that appear to be discovering methods to keep away from the conventional angling visitors.
We should not have a Central Georgia fishing report this week, however in case you want some ideas, we advocate testing SOUTHERN FISHING WITH KEN STURDIVANT.
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