Fishing Report For Lake Allatoona, GA

Current Report: Good

Most of the big bass caught here are largemouth, even though largemouth are only about 20% bass in in the lake. Spotted bass are the bigger numbers, but don't grow as big. Bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 50's, and bass can be found on the bottom around 20 to 25 feet deep, or suspending 10 to 20 feet deep. They may move shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught around main lake points and bluff walls. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 8 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 15 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 5 to 8 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 30 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 8 to 15 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 to 25 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Very Good To Excellent

Crappie fishing was outstanding, as it has been for several years. Quality crappie are often caught around major creeks like Kellogg Creek, Tanyard Creek, Illinois Creek and others.

WINTER. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from standing timber and brush piles, in Illinois Creek, Kellogg Creek, Tanyard Creek, Stamp Creek and other coves off the main lake. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 10 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in slightly deeper water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 12 to 14 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 18 to 25 feet. Some schools of crappie suspend i8 to 20 feet deep, over deeper water. Also, some have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks with shade. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 25 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Lake Allatoona is very well known for great spotted bass fishing. Spots are being caught in greater numbers than the largemouth, as they represent 80% of the bass in the lake. Spots tend to gather in small schools, and hold in slightly deeper water. They prefer steep, rocky banks with ledges. They tend to move up and down the water column on these steep structures looking for food and comfortable water temperatures.

WINTER. The cold Winter weather has drawn spots, in large groups, around deeper structure, points and creek channels - virtually anywhere there is baitfish. They can be found from 20 to 30 feet deep throughout Winter. Some of the bigger fish hold as much as 10 feet deeper. Here they hold, feeding less aggressively, waiting warmer water to return in Spring. The best results are coming from anglers fishing very slowly, with finesse worms on shaky heads, small jigs, and drop-shots.

SPRING. Early in Spring spotted bass hold in 10 to 25 feet of water, staging outside spawning areas. As Spring, progresses, spotted bass spend time in 6 to 12 feet of water, around nesting areas on protected flats, humps and in the backs of coves. A popular staging area is the hump outside Red Top Mountain State Park boat ramp. Once they spawn, females head to deep water to recover, while the males stay to guard the eggs and fry. Afterwards, they too move to deeper water, usually close by the spawning areas. Look for them on points and ledges near these areas. Daily movements find the bass moving shallow to feed, especially early and late in the day. Deep crankbaits, spinnerbaits, small jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are now catching plenty of spotted bass.

SUMMER. Spots are typically caught on steep, rocky banks, ledges, humps, drop-offs and standing timber, in 15 to 25 feet of water, sometimes even deeper. At night they often venture shallower to feed. They tend to gather in small schools and hold, preferring to move up and down the water column on steep banks looking for food and ideal water temperatures. They are occasionally feeding shallow, early and late in the day, where they are being caught in 10 to 20 feet of water, on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Drop-shots, Ned rigs, and wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass when they are deeper. They feed here on shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points and ledges 18 to 25 feet deep. Spots will also hold in the shade of heavy, shallower vegetation.

FALL. Fall weather at night, cools the shallows more quickly than deeper sections of the lake. The cooler water invites baitfish and spotted bass into coves and bays, where crankbaits, swimbaits and spinnerbaits, are often very successful for catching spots. Early, and late, in the day, spots often school up and feed in 8 to 20 feet of water, around creek mouths, shaded pockets, docks and brush. They move into 15 to 30 feet of water, or more, as the day warms the shallows.