Carters Lake Fishing Report – September 2023

Carters: Level: 3.4 feet below 1074. Temp: 83-87 degrees. Clarity: 6 feet.

Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield with Carters Lake Guide Service reports to that right now is when to target red clay points 10 to 20 feet deep with a Picasso Rhino or Shakey Vibe shaky head, drop shot or a 3/16-oz. Little Spotty jig with a Yamamoto twin-tail trailer after the sun comes up. First thing in the morning and in shady spots, run a plopper-type lure in shad colors parallel to bluff wall banks right against the bank on the main lake and in bigger creeks. Topwater is a good way to catch a kicker fish. As the days get shorter and hopefully the water cools some, follow the bait. The fall transition will start in September and many bass will follow the baitfish as they move into the creeks and coves. Target these fish and cast a glide bait, like a Lip Thrashin’ Slick Stick, or a swimbait around blowdowns and over timber. Also, work secondary points with a jig, drop shot and a shaky head. Try a heavier, 3/8-oz. jig a little deeper on these points. All fall there will be some fish on humps. Target pole markers with rock and brush. Try topwater under low-light conditions, then use a jig, shaky head and a drop shot from 10 to 30 feet deep. For more on fishing with Louie, go to http://carterslakeguideservice.com.

ABA Division 125 Georgia North co-director Dane Hunter says that shorter days and hopefully less hot weather in September will be welcomed this year. Watch for surface activity throughout the day as spots chase bait. Main-lake creek mouths and flats are the places to find them. Fish brushpiles and submerged timber 20 to 35 feet deep until mid-September. Walking baits and Pop-Rs over the deep brush and timber and a drop shot Big Bite Baits Skinny Stick rigged weedless and nose hooked in it will be the best producers. The next ABA-AFT Division 125 Georgia North tournament will be Sept. 23 on Lake Allatoona. For more info, go to www.americanbassanglers.com.

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Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “This month will open up several options for walleye fishing. You can still catch them deep on spoons vertically or trolling crankbaits, but there are fish in shallow water, too. Humps, points, shoals, anywhere in that 30- to 50-foot range that has bait congregated around it will attract walleyes over the next month or so. They are feeding on the 3- to 4-inch alewives, so your bait selections need to mimic them. One bait we’ve had great success on this past month was the Cast Prodigy 4.1 swimbait in the chartreuse, as well as white colors. We’ve been fishing them a few different ways from casting to trolling them, and they are producing both walleye and stripers.”

Linesides: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “The striper bite has been steady while fishing fresh, live baits. Standard summertime stuff has been working over the Hydro Glows early, then downlining baits on light leaders and small circle hooks just off the bottom or over the trees in 50 to 60 feet of water. Start early because the bite definitely slows as the day goes on. Look for fish in open water after the sun is overhead. These are great fish to show a Captain Mack’s umbrella rig or Mini Mack rig to. There’s some giant hybrids still lurking in this lake. They are mixed in with the stripers in the same areas. The spoon bite is firing up now, as well. I like the 6-inch Parker spoon and the 4-inch flutter spoon for stripers. Fishing the deep sides of the humps and points with big spoons can be a lot of fun.” For more on fishing with Eric Crowley, go to https://ellijayfishing.com.