Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – July 2010

Allatoona: Level: Full pool. Temp: 87-90 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Matt Driver reports, “Fishing is still in the good range, but it’s tougher than in weeks past. The fish have moved deep but will come to the surface for an early morning bite. Brushpiles and rock are the keys for getting bit this month. If you’re fishing a tournament, the key to a win is having multiple brushpiles and running a ‘milk run,’ sometimes hitting 10 to 15 holes in a day. Milk a brushpile of what fish are there, and then run to the next hole. I prefer jigs like the Spanky’s or the Jewel Eakin finesse jig in brown and orange. Also try a Big Bite Baits Kriet Tail worm in 6- or 10-inch styles. Fish it Texas-rigged, and fish it slow. Be ready for a subtle and light bite. For this Texas-rig, I prefer 15-lb. Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon for its sinking quality and its sensitivity. For numbers of fish, try a drop-shot rigged on 6-lb. test with a 1/8-oz. weight and a No. 4 Gamakatsu drop-shot hook tipped with a Big Bite Baits Bio Minnow or a Tiny Fluke.” Craig Miller at the Dugout reports, “For the next month, the most consistent pattern is to fish worms Texas style in any brush 15 to 25 feet deep. The best worm choices are 6-inch Fat Robo Worms in morning-dawn and Marten’s-madness colors. The translucent color worms seem to be working best. Some days the fish like a small jig better. Try a Spanky’s Jig in green pumpkin or peanut butter and jelly. The deep crankbait bite is also good. Cast a Norman DD22 or Spro Little John DD in the sexy-shad color.”

Linesides: Excellent. “Fantastic, great, off the hook, and whatever else you want to call it,” said Robert Eidson. “I love this time of year because the fishing is so easy.” Hybrids in the 5- to 8-lb. range and the bigger stripers are schooled up tight in their summer pattern off main-lake and secondary points and on humps from Bethany Bridge north to Galts Ferry. The key is a 35- to 40-foot bottom, Robert said, and the fish are hanging in the 20- to 30-foot range. Robert is catching 25 to 35 fish on a four-hour trip, including several stripers heavier than 20 pounds, downlining shad from 21 to 28 feet. He said the shad kill over the winter is forcing the fish to bite baits, and they’ll even hit shiners if you can’t find shad. Bream caught on a hook and line also make good baits, and it’s a great way to get a kid involved, said Robert. If you don’t feel like messing around with bait, the U-rig bite is good, also. Clip the points and humps with your rig 120 feet behind the boat. The best U-rig bite has been almost within sight of the dam, said Robert. White bass and small hybrids are also coming up in huge schools, but the bite is hit or miss. Rooster Tails or popping corks with Jr. Flukes will catch a mess of fish when the fish come up. “Grab a Zebco 33 and your favorite kid, and you can have a ball,” said Robert.

Crappie: “Fish under bridges at night,” Craig said. “Be sure to use lights to attract baitfish. The fish should be 15 to 20 feet deep. Use small or medium shiners on a slip bobber or a downline.”