Lake Allatoona Fishing Report July 2017

Allatoona: Level: 0.1 feet above full pool. Temp: 84 degrees. Clarity: The main lake is clear; visibility 5 to 7 feet.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “Fishing in July is still in the good range. Due to the rain and cooler temperatures, the water hasn’t warmed quite as fast as it typically does. There is still a good amount of fish fairly shallow that can be caught on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Bass can be caught in the mornings, but the better bite, as well as bigger fish, are coming after dark. This month the jig fished in mid depths and deep brush will produce the most consistent bite. The area from Iron Hill to Stamp Creek has been most productive. As temperatures rise, we will find the bite fading with fish going deep. There is also a schooling bite if you are fortunate enough to be nearby when they come up. A Spro Dawg topwater and the Duo Realis Spinbait, a spy bait, are great choices when targeting these fish. I am using 7-lb. Sunline fluorocarbon line on the spy bait and 20-lb. FX2 braid on the Spro Dawg. Both lines allow great castability while making long throws toward the schools. The lake is very active right now with boaters and skiers. Please be careful.”

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson reports, “Fishing has been outstanding. The downline bite is in full swing, and the hybrids are just killing live bait right now. Our boats are having very good mornings right now. On most days we are seeing 20 to 50 fish per boat on half-day trips. Shad are still out-fishing shiners, but the shiner bite is probably the best we have seen in years. But with that being said, shad are still out-producing shiners 5-to-1. The better bite is on the south end of the lake. Stamp, Cooper Branch, Iron Hill, Red Top and Clark Creek are all fishing well right now. There is also a bite mid-lake, but it just doesn’t compare to the bite on the south end. The trolling bite is also starting to pick up. And it is hard to beat a Mack Farr 4-arm umbrella rig loaded with nine 1/2-oz. jigs fished 100 feet out at 2.4 miles an hour. The topwater bite is also starting to get good early and then again right before sundown within eyesight of the dam. Fishing right now is as good as it gets on Lake Allatoona.”