Lake Chatuge Fishing Report – January 2023

Chatuge: Level: 7.3 feet  below full pool 1925. Temp: 56-58 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch, of Welch’s Guide Service, reports, “Fishing is good. We’ve got a lot of rain the past couple of weeks, which has brought the lake up some. But the rain we’ve been having has not really been a cold rain, so the water temps have been holding about the same. Wintertime is the best time to get out and study the lake and try to find some new fishing spots. When it’s a nasty day and you’re sitting around home, you can look at a lake map and get on the computer and check out Google Earth and mark places on the map to fish the next time you’re on the water. Most all these north Georgia lakes has fishing tournaments on them throughout the year, which means guys are building brushpiles. This time of year, I’m looking for three key areas. First is rocky banks and points. Lures I will be using are a drop shot, Ned rig, crankbait, jerkbait and jig. Second is going to be any kind of brush and laydowns. I will be using a shaky head, Ned rig, drop shot and jig. The third is going to be offshore where there is some kind of transition, like roadbeds, ditches or underwater creeks, where it might shallow up and warm up fast but has quick access to deep water. I will be using crankbaits, jerkbaits, drop shots and jigs. In the winter months, when the water starts getting in the low 50s, I like to downsize on all my line. I will fish a drop shot with 5-lb. and 7-lb. Gamma Touch fluorocarbon line, sometimes 6-lb. on a jerkbait and 10-lb. Gamma Edge on a jig. If you can stand to throw it all day, you’re going to get bites on the A-rig. This is also the best time of the year to study and learn more about your electronics. As anglers, we have the best electronics available to us. What sets you aside from the next angler is how much you know about your electronics and the time you’ve put in to learning your setup. Good luck.”

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