Lake Allatoona Fishing Report February 2017

Allatoona: Level: 11.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 54 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “Fishing on Allatoona is good. The month of February is fishing slightly different this year due to the mild temperatures in the end of January. This time of year we typically see a shad kill, and fishing gets tough due to cold water temps. That is not the case with water temps near 50 degrees. There is a good amount of bass that have ventured into shallower water. I believe this pattern will hold till mid month. There should be a good spinnerbait bite, and a Spro Fat John square-bill crankbait, as well as a ChatterBait have been working well. Allatoona bass are still being caught on the Float-n-Fly and Spro McStick jerkbait, as well. If the weather pattern changes toward the end of the month and water temperatures drop, expect bass to pull out to deeper water and suspend until conditions stabilize. If this happens, the drop shot, Big Bite Shaky Squirrel jig head, and the A-rig bite will pick up.”

Linesides: Good. Guide Robert Eidson reports, “Got to love global warming! Water temps are a good 6 degrees warmer than they were last year at this time. And the fish are eating like its early December. The hybrids can been found busting topwater most mornings near the S turns. These fish are finicky. Some days live bait is the ticket, and the next day it may be a spoon they want. Be sure to carry both. Mid lake seems to be holding better numbers of fish than the south end and the north end, but I think all the creeks on the lake will produce linesides right now. Shiners fished on freelines and planer boards are producing better than trout and shad right now. Remember to downsize your hooks to match your shiners for more strikes. After the sun comes up, switch to pulling umbrella rigs. I have had my best luck this week pulling my rigs 145 feet behind the boat at 3.1 to 3.4 miles. As the lake starts to clear, the umbrella-rig bite will get great.”