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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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