Lake Allatoona Fishing Report January 2013

Allatoona: Level: 15.4 feet below full pool. Temp: 52 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “Fishing continues to be good due to the mild winter. Don’t be fooled; cold is coming, and water temps could drop into the range for a shad kill, but it’s not likely unless we have a long cold snap. Shad kill begins around 45-46 degrees, and if it does, fishing will get tough. During this month, I go deep and stay there until mid February. Slow down, and concentrate on jigs, drop shots, spoons and float-n-flys. As far as the jig, I’m still throwing the Kacy’s Kustom 3/8-oz. in bluegill fire for clear water and black/blue when water is stained. Fish on long, rocky points near channel swings. Work it slow, slow, slow, and keep it in contact with the bottom. As for the float-n-fly bite, I switch to a duck feather craft hair mix when temps drop below 50 degrees. Remember float-n-fly fish are being caught over 30-40 feet of water suspended (bluff walls) using 10- to 12-foot leaders. The grey-ghost and morning-dawn colors by Red Rooster are still working good. For the drop shot, the 4-inch Shaking Squirrel in bold gill and oxblood red colors is my worm of choice right now. Fish it on 6-lb. Sunline fluorocarbon and use a size 4 drop-shot hook in 18-24 feet of water near or on channel drops. Do not over work the worm. The water is cold, and fish are sluggish, so if you jig your worm fast, it will not look natural. Bait balls are key for this to work. I’m also fishing a 1-oz. Flex-it by dropping it into schools and using small, short jerks. Watch the bait on your sonar to keep it in the strike zone. Be ready because you will catch a mix of white bass, spots, hybrids and even a striper on occasion. Red Top and Bartow Carver and the mouth of Little River are areas that have been producing the best. Don’t fish alone this time of year. One fall in the water could mean death from hypothermia.”

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson reports, “Lineside fishing has been fair. The fish are on the move and can be caught anywhere from Little River to Iron Hill. This is usually the time of year I put my cast net up and fish exclusively with small trout and Mack Farr u-rigs. Early morning I put out a full spread of planner boards, freelines and downlines. After 9 a.m. I switch to all downlines, and after 10 a.m. I pull u-rigs. I think the bite is starting to pick back up. Trolling has been the best producer for numbers, but we have also caught some big fish on planner boards and downlines along with the u-rigs. Mid lake is still holding a lot of fish. I look for these fish to start moving south and/or in the backs of the creeks. As we get into January, look for these fish in the very backs of the creeks. Planner boards and freelining small, medium and large trout will be the key to catching linesides this time of year. Once the water temperature hits 48, we will start seeing the beginning of the shad kill. Shad get very lethargic in water that is less then 50 degrees, and this is the time of year where trout will out fish shad four to one.”