Marietta Bassmasters Improving Fishery on Lake Allatoona

Bass anglers with Marietta Bassmasters collected and put out Christmas trees that will attract bait and game fish once the water level returns to normal level.

Marietta Bassmasters hosted a conservation project at Victoria Landing on Lake Allatoona on Jan. 7. The project was organized in conjunction with fisheries biologists with WRD.

Several years ago WRD had several concrete anchor points poured into the lake bed in locations along the shoreline in places that were lacking natural cover. The idea was to utilize recycled Christmas trees and wire them into the anchor points to create a fish habitat that would be sustainable for years to come.

After Christmas, bass anglers with the Marietta Bassmasters organized a drop point at Victoria Landing for local residents to drop off their Christmas trees. Then on Jan. 7, the Marietta Bassmasters conservation team met at the drop point and assembled work groups to transport and anchor the trees just off the fishing jetty at Victoria Landing.

The work area was along the shoreline at winter pool, so when the water comes up in the spring, the trees will be approximately 6 to 12 feet deep.

There were 25 members working for longer than three hours who were successful in securing 250-plus trees. The trees should last three years and will greatly improve fish habitat and benefit bank anglers.