Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – September 2023

Allatoona: Level: 1.5 feet below 840. Temp: 87 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: The first part of September is very similar to fishing in August. Not much changes, but as the cooler mornings begin toward the middle of the month, we will see a change. September and October will produce a shallow buzzbait bite around cover. Rocky bluffs and river banks produce the best. Fish a buzzbait, squarebill crankbait and a fluke-style bait. Later in September, expect to see a shad migration into the creeks. During this time, tournament angler Matt Driver says he likes to target floating boat docks and blowdown trees, as well as shallow brush. Matt says, “I fish a jig and a larger swimbait. The fall is a great time to fish a bigger bait.” Traditionally, the Etowah River is by far the best and most productive this time of year. Areas like Sweetwater Creek and the area around Knox Bridge will produce some good largemouth.

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson, of First Bite Guide Service, reports, “Lineside fishing is fair. The bite really slowed down last week, but it is on the rebound. The fish are starting to move north and can be caught from the dam to the S-turns. The flats on the north end of the lake seem to be holding more fish than the flats in the mid-lake, but the fish we are catching in the mid-lake seem to be bigger. Downlining shad has been working best for us. The numbers are nowhere near what they were just a few weeks ago. If you’re in the right place at the right time, boating 20-plus fish happens in a very short time. Trolling is fair. The key to catching these fish is to bottom bump your u-rigs on flats with an 18- to 20-foot bottom. Topwater is good. The better bite seems to be in the afternoon. There has been some really good topwater action near the dam and mid-lake from Clear to Galts.” For more on fishing with Robert, go to www.firstbiteguideservice.com.

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Crappie: Robert DeHaas, of Red Rooster Custom Baits and an OG from “Team Geezer,” reports, “The dog days of summer are hanging on with water temperatures still in the mid 80s. Because of the storms in August, there are areas of the lake loaded with debris. The fish are still hard on brush and extremely finicky and definitely size sensitive. If you’re a minnow fisherman, that is the best way right now to catch fish. Look at the Astro Tables that GON provides for the best bite times. The brush are loaded with crappie. Some have good ones, some have small ones, so just move if the fish are little or if they don’t bite. After Labor Day, the Allatoona winter drawdown starts. Keep an eye on the lake level. With 840 being full pool, once it gets 5 feet down, that puts many piles 10 feet deep. That will bring the 1/16-oz. jig heads and longline trolling into play. Trolling at .07 to .08 mph using 6-lb. test monofilament will have your jigs just above the brush. You still can catch tasty crappie, but you just have to stay after them.”