Lake Allatoona Fishing Reports – February 2021

Allatoona: Level: 15 feet low. Temp: 45 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “February on Allatoona is typically tough, but we have had a pretty mild January. February starts the beginning of the prespawn. Many fish are still deep, but warm days or in the evenings when the sun has been out, there are some good fish shallow. For me, February starts the best time of year for cranking. The Spro RkCrawler and the Shad Rap are hard to beat. Even though the main forage for bass is threadfin shad, crawfish are also a great winter meal for bass. Lots of time bass can be found hugging close to the bottom. This time of year I mix it up between a crankbait and a jig. I like chartreuse and brown for my crankbait and orange and brown for the jig this time of year. Target areas where red clay and gravel/rock mixes. Toward the end of the month, bass will begin to move to transition areas and prepare to move shallow in mid to late March. Fish slow and keep the bait in contact with the bottom. This time of year the bite is subtle, almost like pinestraw hanging up on the bait. When in doubt, set the hook. The mouth of McCaskey, Stamp and Little River have good concentrations of fish. Remember sun is your friend this time of year. Water temps that are only 2 to 3 degrees warmer can make fish way more active. Have fun as you follow the bait. Where there’s bait, there’s bass.”

Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson reports, “Fishing is good. The mid-lake is still the place to be despite the stained water right now. All of our stripers are coming on trout and shad fished on planer boards and freelines out over open water. All of our hybrids are coming on trout and shiners fished on downlines 20 to 30 feet deep on humps and points. The u-rig bite has picked back up. We are using Captain Mack’s four-arm rigs loaded with pink trailers. Our better bite is coming within eyesight of the dam. We are pulling our rigs at 3 mph 100 feet back just off the river channels. Overall, I am pleased with what I am seeing out there right now. Let’s hope these cold temperatures don’t start a shad kill.”