Lake Nottely Fishing Report – September 2007

Nottely: Level: 22 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 80s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Slow. The water’s hot, and the fish are inactive for the most part. Deep and slow with a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin worm in brush in the 20- to 25-foot range is the most productive late-summer pattern. A drop-shot rig or shaky head worked slowly around brush is also a good pattern. Look for brush on main-lake and secondary points, and particularly windblown points. The topwater bite should pick up as the water temperature drops in September, and the fish will gradually move to shallower brush.

Linesides: Excellent in August, and guide Jeremy Seabolt expects it to continue into September and October. “I had the best August I have ever had,” said Jeremy. “We caught fish every time out — from five fish to 20 fish a day. Today (August 24) we had four over 15 pounds. And we have been catching a lot in the 6- to 10-lb. range.” The fish have been deep, in 30 to 70 feet of water over points and humps from Point 3 to the dam.” As the water cools off in September and October, Jeremy expects the topwater activity to pick up. He will be fishing the same type areas, but the bait will only have to be dropped into 12 to 16 feet of water.