Lake Allatoona Fishing Report August 2016

Allatoona: Level: 0.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 86 degrees. Clarity: Clear; visibility 7 feet.

Bass: Good. Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “August provides a bit of a challenge for bass fishing on Lake Allatoona. The water temperatures are in the mid to upper 80s, and the dissolved oxygen levels are as low as they’ve been any other time of the year. Bass are still biting, but they are a bit scattered. Some fish can be found in brushpiles in the 15- to 21-foot range. The best way to get bit hasn’t changed most of the summer. Try the 3.75 Big Bite Jerk Minnow fished on the drop shot and the shaky-head worm. Many of the bigger bass are being caught on the Little John DD crankbait, which runs as deep as 18 to 20 feet. To get the best performance and depth out of your crankbait, fish it on 10-lb. Sunline fluorocarbon and a 7-foot Cashion medium crankbait rod. The best time to catch bigger bass is after dark. There has been a good bite between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Remember, if you’re out on the water during daylight hours, I recommend wearing 50 SPF 5×3.com performance shirt and a good round-bill hat to protect you from the sun. Have fun, and hope for an early fall.”

Linesides: Excellent. Guide Robert Eidson reports, “The bite the last two weeks has been the best we have seen all year. Our boats are seeing between 20 to 60 fish on most trips. It has been a mixed bag of stripers, hybrids, whites, spots and catfish. Downlining shad is still the ticket to catching big numbers. Downlines fished in any creek mouth, creek channel or river channel will get you bit. The water temperature is rising, and the dissolved oxygen level is still holding on, but it should start to fall in the upcoming weeks. Bait isn’t living very long on a hook fished deeper than 24 feet. Make sure you carry plenty of bait with you. There are two bites going on right now. The first one is from the dam to Holiday Marina. The other one is from the mouth of Kellogg to Bartow Carver. The morning bite is very good, as is the afternoon bite. So, there is an afternoon option for those of you who don’t like to get up early. Trolling is good—the umbrella-rig bite is finally taking off. We are starting to see multiple hook-ups on our trips. I am fishing my rigs 120 to 150 feet behind the boat at speeds of 2.4 to 3.3 mph. The u-rig bite should be on fire by the end of next week. Live it up. Go fishing!”