Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – September 2009

Allatoona: Level: 2.6 feet below full pool. Temp: 83 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Guide Mike Bucca said bass and whites are schooling. “There are some big spots mixed in with the white fish, and they are hitting 5- and 6-inch Bull Shad swimbaits in gizzard or blueback color. They are also hitting Sammy 105s and also Pointer 78s. Once they go down, keep an eye on your sonar, and as you see them drop a spoon down on them. The Senko bite is starting to develop, and in September and October that bite will be the best thing going. Most of the bite is on the main-lake bluffs, points and cuts.” Later this month, big swimbaits will produce in the creeks as the bait migrates. “I throw big bull shad swimbaits and my Triple Trouts in hopes of catching quality kicker fish,” Mike said. Matt Driver also reports great schooling action first thing in the mornings on flats. “Small topwaters like a Spook Jr. and Pop-R work great, but for a great time, light line and a white Rooster Tail can’t be beat. The fish are feeding on very small bait right now,” Matt said.

Linesides: Fair. Robert Eidson said the big-fish bite has slowed. You can still catch some fish, but Robert said to be in eyesight of the dam and to schedule your trip when they’re moving water. Dowline shad or shiners to 24 feet at places like the mouth of Stamp Creek and the humps in front of Bethany. The Allatoona arm has been decent, especially at Iron Hill. Robert said fresh bait is key, so carry plenty of threadfin or medium shiners, and make sure your hook matches the size of your bait. Robert said to troll the same areas with a Mack Farr umbrella rig with nine 1/2-oz. white bucktails with chartreuse tails. Pull it 140 feet back at 3.1 to 3.4 mph.