Advertisement

Lake Allatoona Fishing Report November 2016

GON Staff | October 26, 2016

Allatoona: Level: 5 feet low. Temp: 69-72 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “The drought is definitely playing a part with water levels dropping. The month of November is great on Lake Allatoona. As water temperatures drop, the inevitable fall turnover will happen. Turnover is when the water cools and sinks to the bottom. This allow noxious water from down below to mix and slows fishing until the water stabilizes. This occurs when the water reaches the mid 60s. The turnover has not happened yet on Allatoona. It usually happens in October. The warm weather has slowed things down. One thing that helps speed up the turnover process is wind and copious amounts of rain. Rain is one thing we are lacking this year. November is a great month for fishing in the creeks and in the main river, but current is key. The crankbait bite has not started yet, but I expect by the end of the month, it will begin to get good. When that happens, baits like the Spro Little John and Fat John in craw colors will be the ticket. Wood and shallow cover are good most of the year, but in the month of November, they are great ambush points for transitioning fall fish. As always, November is one of the best buzzbait months on Allatoona. Fish are chasing shad, and the buzzbait imitates a fleeing shad perfectly. Throw the bait parallel to the shore. It allows the bass to corral the bait easier. Bluff walls near creek mouths are the best areas. As the water cools, the jerkbait will pick up, as well. Blowdown and shallow brush are also great places to catch transitional fish. One of the other great baits for November is a hard-sided swimbait. Typically, November baitfish are larger, and bass feeding up for the winter are keying in on gizzard shad and big threadfin. Also, keep an eye out for schooling fish off main-lake and secondary points. If you see schooling activity, you can load the boat quickly this time of year. The main thing to remember about November is to follow patterns that will be changing each week as the weather changes. It’s not just the temperature that affects the fish but the length of the day.”

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson reports, “The bite is starting to improve and will only get better as we enter into November. The seagulls should be showing up in the next week or two, and this will make finding white fish a little easier on all of us. Right now I am spending most of my time on the north end of the lake. Bait is plentiful in the backs of most creeks and around Little River. Using a cast net for bait is very easy right now, and even the most novice of cast netters can net plenty of bait right now. Now that is the good news. The bad news for you guys who like to fish with live bait is the live-bait bite is only good for about an hour right at sunup. After that, trolling u-rigs and using jigging spoons we be the key to catching numbers on Allatoona for the next few weeks. The best bite going right now is from Little River to the S-turns, and then there is a secondary bite from Kellogg to Bartow Carver Beach. That bite is hit and miss right now and will remain that way until the mid section of the lake completely turns over. Most of the fish we are catching right now are 18 to 24 feet deep and can be found on points, humps and flats early. And after the sun comes up, your best bet will be out over the river channel. The topwater bite right now is slow, but look for it to pick up in early November. November is one of my favorite months to fish Allatoona. Remember to be universal when it comes to techniques this time of year. Trolling, topwater and jigging spoons will be the keys to catching numbers on Lake Allatoona for the next three months. We still have plenty of days open for November.”

Become a GON subscriber and enjoy full access to ALL of our content.

New monthly payment option available!

Advertisement

Advertisement