Lake Allatoona Fishing Report July 2012

Allatoona: Level: 0.4 feet above full pool. Temp: 86 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair to good. Matt Driver said to think deep. “Fish are offshore and will only move shallow for short periods of time. Right now the best thing is to scout for brush and other offshore irregularities. The bad thing with these areas is they may only hold one or two actively feeding fish, so the more places you have the better,” Matt said. “Baits like a jig-headed Big Bite Baits Coon Tail worm fished very slowly and a Spro DD crankbait are great baits to target these fish. My suggestion for those not as familiar with the lake is to key in on areas like bluff walls and long points. Think small baits. I fish a drop shot with a Big Bite Baits Bio Minnow or a Tiny Fluke. Target areas that have shade the longest, and parallel the bank when you figure out the depth the bass are holding in. It’s best to fish at night if possible. Fish tend to be more active. Be careful. There are many ‘new’ boaters on the water during the summer, and they’re not always looking out for fishermen.”

Linesides: Excellent. Robert Eidson said the dissolved oxygen is low on the north end, and the fish are making their way south to better water quality. The bite on the south end is excellent, though. Downline threadfins or shiners to large schools 24 to 48 feet deep over bottoms deeper than 40 feet deep. Change bait frequently to keep them fresh. Robert said there are fish in the mouths of the creeks around Bartow Carver and in areas like Clear Creek, Stamp Creek and Cooper Branch. The Dam to Iron Hill has the most consistent bite.