Altamaha River Fishing Report – July 2021

Altamaha River: Level: 4.41 and rising at river mile 135 at Charlotteville 3 miles below the confluence of the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers. Recent rains in middle and north Georgia has had the level up and down. Temp: 83 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Catfish: Dan Stone, of Charlotteville, reports, “Channel and Appaloosa catfish have been biting steady during levels below 8 feet. Catches of 15- to 40-pounders are being caught. Garrett Harrison, of Hazlehurst, landed a 50-lb. flathead on June 26 on a limb hook. Appaloosas are being caught with live bream on limb hooks in 6 to 15 feet of water with bait 2 feet off the bottom and adjusting to structure. Well known over the past 40 years, my personal dock has been great for catching fish. I’m using bungee cords tied off to the dock. The cords act as a flexible anchor to absorb the fight of the huge cats. Tied to the bungee cords are braided line and limb-hook rigs. Myself and others catch small to medium panfish and attach them as live bait behind the dorsal fin to an aluminum 2 1/2- to 3-inch hook. The dock is located in the channel bank side of the river at Charlotteville and averages 15 to 20 feet deep. I have set the lines (10 in all) eight times during the month of June and landed many 15+ flatheads. Owners of docks from Charlotteville to Jaycee’s Landing and below should try the technique for success. Blue cats are being caught along the 137 and below. The blue catfish once plentiful along the Altamaha seems to be making a comeback from low numbers. Channel catfish are being caught in extreme amounts, the best in years. The month of July will be the same. From trot lines to downline fishing on the bottom of channels and beside sandbars in medium to swift water is producing ideal cats from 1 to 10 pounds. Primary baits are Louisiana pinks, nightcrawlers and cutbait. Catalpa worms are just being harvested from trees in a bumper crop this year and will continue through July. The catalpa worms will be the ideal bait for channel catfish in July and forward.”

Bream: Dan Stone reports, “Redbreast, bluegill and sunfish are biting crickets. Googe’s Outdoor Fishing and Hunting of Hazlehurst sold 30,000 crickets on a Friday and Saturday and then ordered more. The river should steady around 2 to 4 feet in July. Boils of churning water visible in 8 to 12 feet should be good spots of fishermen. Bump crickets slowly up and down off the bottom with 2- to 8-oz. egg sinkers stopped 6 to 8 inches from the hook. The mouths of sloughs are ideal due to heavy rain run-off.”

Bass: Dan Stone reports, “Bass fishing has been very good when the river has been at 2 feet or lower. Snake-type lures have been hot. Googe’s reports they have sold lots of 3D snakes in green and tan colors. The snake-type lures are a reaction to the observed increase in all water snakes. Shallow-running crankbaits have worked when the river has fallen to 2 feet or lower. Throw them behind fallen trees and other structures.”

Altamaha River Level at Doctortown

Level Near Baxley