Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – December 2008

Allatoona: Level: 12.6 feet below full pool. Temp: 52-53 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Excellent. Matt Driver said they’re catching terrific numbers of spotted bass, and the quality is getting better as it gets colder. For lots of bites, fish a drop-shot rig on rocky secondary points. Matt recommends a No. 6 or No. 4 Gamakatsu drop-shot hook rigged with either a Tiny Fluke or a Skinny Bear in white or albino colors. “Most people fish a drop shot vertically, but I’m catching them by pitching it out and fishing it in slowly to cover more water. You’re not going to feel the fish bite; it will just load up. Don’t set the hook. Just start reeling, and lift your rod tip,” Matt said. “Right now the fish are still in the 2- to-10-foot range. The better-quality fish are coming on a jig. I like a 3/16-oz. green-pumpkin or brown Spanky’s Jig. The wind-blown points are also producing. The shad are moving back toward the main-lake points and bluff walls. As the water temperature gets below 50, fish the drop shot and a jigging spoon on the main-lake points and bluff walls in 15 to 20 feet of water. Use your electronics, watch for echoes, and drop a jigging spoon or drop shot. Also watch for balls of shad.”

Linesides: Good. “Bigger fish are starting to show up,” said guide Robert Eidson. “Fish from the mid-lake area north, especially around the mouth of Little River and the Etowah. The seagulls have shown up and have really helped with finding the fish.” Robert recommends planer boards early, then U-rigs and downlines after the sun comes up. The U-rig bite has been good pulling a Mack Farr four-arm U-rig loaded with nine bucktail jigs. Robert said color isn’t usually important, but on Nov. 24 they were taking key-lime bucktails. Pull the rig in 18 to 25 feet of water. “Downlines are also working, and don’t be afraid to use trout this year,” Robert said. “Trout and big gizzard shad are getting bit, and threadfin shad are working, too.”