Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – March 2010

Allatoona: Level: 11 feet below full pool. Temp: 44 degrees and warming quickly. Clarity: Stained to muddy.

Bass: Matt Driver reports, “March will be getting real good on Allatoona. The prespawn bite should be in full swing at the end of the month. When the water gets above 50 degrees, cover water with lipless crankbaits like the Spro Aruku Shad and jerkbaits like the McStick. Concentrate on ditches and channels leading to spawning areas. This is the time of year to catch a trophy spot or largemouth. Mix up your retrieves for best results.”

Linesides: Fair, but it should get good soon, said Robert Eidson. The water is warming quickly in the stained water, and Robert thinks the fish will be moving shallow. “As the water clears, it clears up from the backs of the creeks out,” Robert said. Fish the clearing water in the backs of creeks like Kellogg, Clear, Stamp and Cooper’s Branch. Pull flatlines and planer boards with small baits. Threadfins, medium shiners and the smallest trout you can find should all work. Toward the end of March, the spring run up the Etowah should be turning on, and Robert is really looking forward to it after a tough winter. “Anything live, anything dead or anything artificial will catch them during the run,” he said. At the tail end of the month, anchor up on the river bends and throw out some cut shad or chicken livers. Also, freelined live shad will get bit. For artificials, try Rooster Tails or Sassy Shads.

Crappie: Good. “There are a couple of options this month,” Stewart Wright said. “Start by trolling in the creeks with Hal Flys focusing on points and brush. The best colors to use are Christmas tree, bubblegum-chartreuse or blue-white. If they are not biting the flies, switch to a 2-inch Big Bite grub in black/chartreuse or acid rain. Bank fishermen are reporting good catches fishing around the Kellogg Creek area using Rosie Red minnows 3 feet under a bobber.”