Carters Lake Fishing Report March 2017

Carters: Level: 6.6 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Good visibility; 6 to 8 feet.

Spotted Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “March is one of my favorite months of the year on Carters, Lanier and Allatoona. As the full moon approaches on March 12, look for the first group of herring to start their spawn. This will bring some of our stubborn spotted bass up shallow and make them subject to reaction baits like jerkbaits and crankbaits. Focus on flat rock and on banks with irregular breaks or lots of dead fall trees. My favorite baits for March are blue Strike King J300 Deep Pro jerkbaits and sexy-shad Strike King Series 4 crankbaits. I fish both on 10-lb. Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon. This style of fishing will work all day as we get later into the month and fish become conditioned to chase up, not down. It’s an extremely tiresome way to fish, but good equipment makes it easier, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with my new jerkbait rods. Check out St Croix Avid-X 6-foot, 8-inch medium XF. If you’re a jerkbait fan, it’s a must try—this is the best rod I’ve ever used for jerking all day.”

Linesides: Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “Still slow, but as with the spotted bass, look for stripers to start making a push shallow, especially early mornings throughout March. Pull flatlines with herring, gizzards, even big shiners around flat shorelines early, and downline big bait 20 to 30 feet deep over 40- to 60-foot breaklines mid-morning, and you’ll find success.”