Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – December 2018

Allatoona: Level: 6.2 feet low. Temp: 62 degrees. Clarity: Mostly clear with some mixed areas of stain.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “Fishing on Lake Allatoona in the month of December is very good. In the beginning of the month, we will continue to see some schooling activity as fish feed up and prepare to move deeper in the water column. December is a great month for quality bass. Before the water temperatures drop into the low 50s to high 40s, the fish are very active and feeding. The jerkbait bite and soft swimbait bite is great. Good concentrations of fish can be found in the creeks near deep water. Fish the 3/16-oz. Picasso tungsten roundball head tipped with a 4-inch soft swimbait. I fish the swimbait on 8- to 10-lb. Sunline fluorocarbon. Cast and count it down about 10 seconds, and slowly reel it back. The bites are light sometimes. Pay close attention. The jerkbait can be fished at a moderate pace, but slow it down once water temps drop into the low 50s and high 40s. The new Picasso Rhino Ned rig and a Roboworm Ned Worm in Aaron’s magic is also a great choice. Fish it slow. Rock bluffs and points in the mid lake works great. Fishing will get much tougher in January as consistent colder temperatures persist. The mouth of Illinois Creek, Iron Hill and the bluffs in the mid-lake are the best areas for constant fishing.”

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson, of First Bite Guide Service, reports, “Great! This is the best November I have seen in years. The bite has been incredible this month. The big fish are moving back out of the rivers and into the main lake. The smaller fish are bunching up in big schools and are eating. The north end of lake has been best for the bigger fish. Flatlines and downlining large gizzard shad is the ticket if you want to catch a trophy. Look for these fish from Fields Landing to Duckhole. If it’s numbers you’re after, look for  big schools of hybrids from the mouth to Kelloggs to Clark Creek on the edges of the river channel. Seagulls are giving these fish away. Threadfin fished 18 to 30 feet deep midday has been our better bite. This is the best fall fishing we have seen in years. It’s been a very pleasant surprise for me.”