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 Allatoona
Fishing
Change tactics with the weather
Well, it’s been another hot one here in Georgia
folks. In fact, listening to radio news recently, I heard that our
August was the second hottest on record. Heat like that makes it
difficult to enjoy fishing past 10 in the morning.
September brought us some moderation. Good news is
that the doldrums are over and fall is here. Cooler weather and
shorter days are drawing heat from the lake. The early stage of
water turnover is in affect as the surface becomes denser than lower
layers. If you want to learn more about this annual phenomenon try
an internet search of “water turnover” plus your favorite lake and
you’ll find a wealth of information. In short, there’s a lot going
on out there right now.
Bass fishing can be frustrating at times because the
fish tend to scatter. However, the fishing can be very good for
versatile anglers.
Striper fishing typically gets very strong in October
and serious surface schooling action is often taking place by the
middle of the month. This month also marks the time of year when
linesides prowl the extreme shallows at night. Large minnow plugs
cast in likely areas can provide a lot of after hours excitement.
While good catches of bass can be made in deep water this time of
year, shallow water opportunities offer a refreshing change of
pace. Significant numbers of bass can be spotted cruising the
shallows during the fall. Ease around the coves with your electric
motor on the lowest power setting while wearing polarized sunglasses
to cut the water’s surface glare and you may be surprised at what’s
down there. Also remember that for every fish you spot, there are
more that you didn’t see. Many are singles but it’s not unusual to
see small pods of bass cruising together. These fish are quite
catchable but I caution against getting hung up on sight fishing
unless you are skilled at this craft. I have never been good at it
when targeting bass and invariably spook fish. For me, it’s an
interesting way to spend time learning new techniques to run off
bass. Instead, I recommend targeting cover with solid presentations
starting well beyond the object.
Tie on a Shad Rap
Some breeze across the water’s surface can really
enhance a shallow water bite. Plus, you don’t have to worry about
spotting fish and the subsequent temptation of sight fishing. A
spinnerbait is a fine tool for working skinny water. It allows you
to cover water quickly and maximize your potential when fish are
aggressive. Choose a lighter model weighing in at about a quarter
ounce. You’ll have plenty of casting weight along with a lighter
splash down into the water. To minimize this even more master the
low side arm cast with a roll of the wrist. This keeps the lure
trajectory close to the surface and makes for a more subtle entry
into the water. Baitcasting rod and reel combinations excel at this
but skill with a spinning combo can pull this off as well. Blade
combinations vary, but double willow spinnerbaits provide maximum
flash which is what you’re after. To mimic baitfish so be sure to
choose white, pearl, or other natural colors. A bit of chartreuse in
the skirt is always a good idea. Surprisingly, chartreuse is a
natural color. If you ever have the chance to closely examine a
threadfin shad, you’ll note this shade on the edges of fins.
Spinnerbaits are not the only choice. Shallow to medium running
crankbaits are great bass catchers. Once again, choose natural
baitfish colors. One might debate between flat side and wide bodied
plugs. The former are more subtle while the latter create more
disturbance in the water. I’ve had good success on both. My theory
is that it all boils down to what you are most confident using.
While a hundred baits will probably work, the original Shad Rap by
Rapala is always a great choice to start with. The number five and
seven sizes in the natural shad pattern are gold standards. You will
probably cast the smaller number five much better on spinning tackle
with eight or even six pound test line. The Bandit 200 series and
Bomber crankbaits are also fine producers in wider body styles. I
write this often, but remember that deflection off objects can be a
huge catalyst in triggering strikes. Cast well beyond targets with
the intent of hitting them on retrieve. Spinnerbaits usually careen
right off and crankbaits can be surprisingly snag free as well. It’s
worth noting that wider body square bill models tend to deflect
better and snag less.
Look for Stripers on top
Striper fishing is often excellent this month. The
real excitement normally begins toward the middle of October. At
this time, if the weather is seasonable and if we get a couple of
calm and overcast days, plan to be on the water. It’s a perfect time
to catch the adrenaline rush of watching your surface plug disappear
in a washtub size swirl as fish crash the surface all around. Look
for action near the mouths of major creeks. The south end of the
lake seems to be best when looking for this activity. Spend about 15
or 20 minutes scouting spots. If you’re not seeing any telltale
signs of life, move on. When you’re confident in your chosen areas,
rotate between them. While you’re scouting, it’s always a best
practice to blind cast topwater plugs while flat lining live herring
about 100 feet behind the boat. In order to hit two different depth
zones, pinch a medium size split shot about six feet above one bait.
Be sure to keep moving, albeit slowly, with the electric motor to
prevent the deeper line from snagging in submerged brush or timber.
While choices of surface plugs seem as endless as most other bait
categories, you’ll not go wrong with the Original Zara Spook or
Super Spook. They cast a long distance and get bit. What else could
you ask for? As always, baitfish color patterns are the order of the
day.
If you’re not having any success locating fish and
have the right gear, trolling can save the day. Medium running
umbrella rigs targeting the 15- to 20-foot depth are sound choices.
Pay attention to your electronics while trolling. If you’re spotting
concentrations of baitfish in an area, it could pay to check for
surface activity throughout the day. During sunny conditions, prime
topwater hours tend to be early and late. The days leading up to an
autumn cold front can be great while the post-front bite is
typically suppressed for a couple of days. If a school is up and the
fish are ignoring your topwater offering, go subsurface. A slim
bodied original Fluke rigged on a 3/8th ounce lead head can be a
fine choice. If this is not getting any action, fight dirty and pick
up spinning rod rigged with a live baitfish and no weight. When you
spot a swirl, gently lob your bait to the spot and wait. This wait
is typically not long.
The wind is your friend
Night fishing for stripers is an exciting and unique
experience. As water temperatures cool, linesides begin to roam the
shallows at evening twilight through darkness in the fall. This can
begin as early as late September but typically, the middle of
October is a good time to look for this bite to get strong. The
nights are pleasantly crisp but not cold. Your senses quickly become
attuned to operating in a different environment. Between casts, a
cup of coffee, cocoa, or soup is just right. Although a variety of
lures will work, die hard night anglers pick the tried and true Long
A by Bomber hands down. A number of sizes are on the market but
you’ll want the number 16 X which weighs in at 7/8th ounce and
sports three sets of freshwater treble hooks. It’s about seven
inches long. Top color picks include pink with silver flash, blue
with silver flash, and rainbow trout. Some breeze ... well, wind
helps this bite. Points, reefs, and islands on the main lake are
prime targets. Up to a point of boat handling and safety, it seems
that more wind is better. Cast to the shallows and bring your lure
in with a steady stop and go retrieve. This is run and gun style
fishing. Don’t spend much time on target, especially if you’re not
getting strikes. A few accessories are very helpful when night
fishing. A lip gripper type landing tool is worth its weight in gold
and makes landing a large fish wearing several treble hooks a much
safer task. A spotlight can be handy to scan for reef markers. Use
this sparingly and only when needed as it degrades night vision once
your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. An inexpensive headlamp is
very handy when retying lures, landing fish, and taking care of all
sorts of business. If you’ve never done this before I recommend that
you partner with someone who has for your first couple of trips or
hire a guide. The big advantage of the latter is what you’ll learn
from one trip alone. It’s always wise to have a fishing partner for
these outings. Another no-brainer is to ensure that you are
extremely familiar with the lake and any hazards such as reefs or
shallow humps. And, it goes without saying to ensure that running
lights are in good order and life jackets are worn at all times. If
you’ve not tried night fishing, this year could be the time.
In closing, fall is a time of change. Whether you opt
to enjoy a pleasant day of bass fishing while enjoying the autumn
colors or choose a crisp night of striper fishing under the stars,
this is a great time to be on the lake. Take care and be safe!
Tommy Wilkinson is assistant
manager for Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Duluth. E-mail Tommy at
tommy@lakesidenews.com
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