Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – August 2009

Allatoona: Level: 0.7 feet below full pool. Temp: 82-85 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Guide Mike Bucca said topwater fishing is good at first light, with lots of whites and hybrids chasing bait as well. “Lots of people are throwing popping corks with flies on the back, but the 5-inch Bull Shad from Nature’s Tackle Box has been outproducing the popping cork. Once the schooling stops, the drop shot and Dart Head bite is the best thing going, especially around brush. The key for a good brush bite is to have fresh green brush. That fresh green brush has 10 times more holding power than old leftover brush from last year. Matt Driver reports a fair to good bite. “Fish are being caught several different ways. A 3/16-oz. Spanky jig in brown and copper color is doing well on rocky points late evenings and at night. Dark blue mid- to deep-running crankbaits are catching some decent-sized fish on pole markers and brush in the river on the north end of the lake. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught on drop-shot rigs on deep rock walls in 15 to 20 feet of water. Use lighter 6- to 8-lb. test fluorocarbon line.”

Stripers and Hybrids: Guide Robert Eidson has enjoyed watching kids land loads of linesides. He’s downlining threadfins and gizzards between Stamp Creek and Tanyard Creek, concentrating in the Iron Hill area. “It’s a great bite. We’re having 30- to 50-fish days. That will slow down by the end of August, but for now it’s a wonderful bite.” Downline bait in 18 to 32 feet. Electronics will show you plenty of fish. The schools are giant in size, according to Robert. “We’re not catching any big ones, but we’ve caught tons of 4- to 5-lb. hybrids.” He’s also trolling a 1-oz., four-arm Mack Farr u-rig. He’s using nine 1/2-oz. white jigs with chartreuse trailers. Troll them 2.9 to 3.4 mph 100 feet behind the boat. Robert suggests being on the water at 3:30 a.m. Put out a light, and catch 150 baits. He said you can put out a light about anywhere and shouldn’t have trouble loading your bait tank.