Georgia Fishing Report: September 5, 2025

In Middle Georgia, bass fishing isn't just a hobby, it's woven into the very fabric of our river towns. That's why fisheries scientists from the University of Georgia, Emory, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the University of North Georgia teamed up and officially named two new species on August 19, one of which now swims in the Ocmulgee River near Macon: the Altamaha bass. With its dark-spotted tail and orange-tipped fins, this modestly sized, trout-like sport fish adds to Georgia's already record-high diversity of black bass. Read the interview with our very own Hunter Roop, Region 3 Supervisor, at maconmelody.com.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day: If you could increase the value of your land to where it would benefit you financially, improve game and fish harvest, and provide ecological improvements, would you be curious? Of course you would! That means you need to register today for the 2025 Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day on Sept. 18. This one-of-a-kind educational event, held every few years, provides landowners and land managers with an opportunity to learn from experts and observe real-world examples of effective land and wildlife management. It features federal and state government officials and representatives of private businesses. Visit caes.uga.edu/events/awfd/ to register online today!
• National Hunting and Fishing Day: Georgia is hosting not just one, but 10, special free events to celebrate the 2025 National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 27, 2025. Events scheduled include family/kid fishing events and Outdoor Adventure Days which offer multiple activities like archery, fishing, shooting and more. Events are spread out across the whole state - meaning that one is probably near you! Visit com/get-involved/nhfday.
• Free Fishing Day this month: National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 27, 2025) is also a FREE fishing day. On this day, Georgia residents do NOT need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas.
• Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW): Interested in learning outdoor skills in a fun, supportive environment? The next BOW workshop is coming up, and registration opens Sept. 2! Don't miss your chance to take part in hands-on classes covering fishing, shooting, outdoor survival, and more. Learn more at georgiawildlife.com/BOW.

This week, we have fishing reports from North, Central, Southeast, Southwest Georgia. From the Ocmulgee to the Altamaha, Georgia's rivers are full of life waiting to be discovered. Pick up your rod, feel the tug, and experience the legacy of fishing in our state. Go Fish Georgia!

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of John Lee Thomson, Region Supervisor and Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

With the cooler weather moving in, North Georgia offers excellent fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. The region's cold mountain streams and rivers are perfect for trout fishing, especially in areas like the Chattahoochee National Forest. For those seeking bigger game, striped bass can be found in lakes Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell, where they grow to impressive sizes. Largemouth bass are abundant in warmer lakes and reservoirs throughout the region, including Lake Allatoona. Whether fly fishing in a quiet stream or casting from a boat on a wide lake, North Georgia will be a prime destination for fishing this weekend. Check out the latest tips and tricks from local guides and experts.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA

Allatoona Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) - Bass fishing is good. Many are seeing good schooling anytime of the day. Mid-day the bass are knocking the paint off a Sammy 100. When they come up, be close enough to cast. Not only be quick but accurate with the bait placement to hook up. Once the fish are down the best deal going is the spoon. Several patterns on the spoon. Fishing around brush, hopping them down bluff walls and fishing by watching the sonar is the best bet. Almost any spoon will work but some local favorites are the Hopkins Shorty and a 1-ounce Flex It spoon. Using a Bass Pro Shops Extreme medium heavy rod with 15-pound test Sufix Fluorocarbon clear line. Fluorocarbon is a mandatory deal with spoons.

Allatoona Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Allatoona, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

LAKE HARTWELL

Hartwell Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing)- Bass fishing is good. Bass are suspended over brush in 25 feet on humps on the creek and river sides of them and on long points that run out to the channels. They are feeding up, so keep the bait above them. A top water bait like the Ima Skimmer will get bites. Also cast a Georgia Lures Creek Shad chartreuse or blue glimmer soft jerk bait over them, weightless right on top, working it fast. Also, try letting it drop down a few feet and work it with slower jerks. Some wind rippling the water will help the bite. With forward facing sonar, anglers can see the fish and how they react to the bait. Without it, try from the surface down to 6 feet deep or so, but keep the bait above the fish at all times. If anglers don't get bit within 10 minutes, move on to the next place. Covering water is key. There will be a shallow bite back in the creeks toward the end of the month. Fish a brown Buckeye Mop Jig with a brown chunk on channel swings, hitting all cover in the backs of the creeks. Fish a Pop R, a top water prop bait or a Senko around bream beds, especially around the full moon the first of the month and again the very end of the month.

Hartwell Bass (Courtesy of Capt. Cefus McRae 404 402 8329) Lake Hartwell water temperatures range from mid 80's to upper 80's. The Dog Days of summer are definitely here. These hot sunny days continue to keep the water temperatures high. We had the opportunity to install Scotty Fishing's new Seeker 5000 probe system on the Wide Open II and was amazed to see how deep the warm water goes. In the main channel the surface temperature was 88 degrees. At 30 feet, it was 84 degrees. We had to drop the probe down to 65 feet to find 70 degree water. And yep, we've been finding the most fish between 60 and 90 feet. The Seeker confirmed water temperature definitely is a factor in locating fish. Another discovery we made with the Seeker system was current at depth. On this particular day, Hartwell Dam was generating power, but only running two turbines. We were about ½ mile or so from the dam, yet there was no visible current on the surface. But at 75 feet, the Seeker probe was showing a 1.2 mph water speed. The turbines were pulling enough water at depth to create a current down below, but nothing notable at the surface. Again, this is where we found the fish, and they were chewing. Current is also a significant factor in when stripers like to eat. With that said, right now the stripers are holding pretty deep, even in the early morning hours. At daybreak, they will make an appearance on shallower humps and points for a quick bite, but that doesn't last long, and anglers need a crystal ball to predict which hump they will pick. The better strategy is to focus on mid lake and down lake drop offs early and then transition to deeper locations as the sun gets higher. Following the creek channels and road beds will keep your rigs from snagging standing timber too. If you can find a place where creek channels and road beds converge, that's a great spot to start down lining live baits. If you decide to do some searching instead, pulling 8 colors of lead core with a 2 ounce WhoopAss jig or a 4 Arm Capt. Mack's umbrella will let you cover more water, quickly. Tipping the jig with a dead herring will add a few more bites. The cooler weather will soon be upon us and line sides will begin to feed a little shallower. In the meantime, the deeper (and cooler) waters of the major creeks and main channels will be the place to find them. If you would like to spend a fun day on the water, give me a call at 404 402 8329 or drop an email to [email protected] Tight Lines and Smooth Seas Capt. Cefus McRae.

LAKE LANIER

Lanier Bass (Report courtesy of Phil Johnson through Ken Sturdivant via https://www.southernfishing.com, [email protected] 770 366 8845) - Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently a little over one foot below full pool and the water temperature is running in the low eighties. Overall the lake is clear. The bass are still in their summer hangouts on deep humps, ledges and the ends of long points in the thirty five foot range. There has been some early top water activity especially if there is some wind and clouds. A Fluke, Slick Stick or a Skimmer have been the best choices when thrown over the deeper structure. It's good to keep one tied on all day for the random surface activity. The drop shot with either a Blue Lily or Morning Dawn worm has been producing well when the bass are located more in the structure or scatter along the ledges. A lot of bass are just suspended above the thirty five foot range above the trees that can be in seventy foot or more of water, The best baits for the suspend bass have been either a three eights Spot Choker with a three inch Keitech or a Spybait. FFS has been critical in both locating these bass and getting the bait to the correct depth to make the bass react. One key is to work both these baits slightly above the bass and once the fish move toward the bait speed the bait up to trigger the bass to strike. It takes time to locate these small schools of bass and to find the ones that will react so be prepared to be constantly moving and checking different areas. There are still some bass to be caught on a Shakey head using a green pumpkin trick worm around the deeper docks but they tend to be the smaller fish. With the cooler weather coming watch for the surface activity to pick up until our next hot spell. It takes some work right now but there are some nice ones to be caught so Go Catch 'Em!

Lanier Striper (Courtesy of Buck Cannon (404-510-1778)) - Lake Lanier stripers are being caught from Mountain View to the dam using a variety of methods including down lines, free lines and trolling. Stripers are up and down the water column but the biggest fish are deep and get the baits down fast. Many are using a two ounce with the 8 foot leader and 10 pound test Sniper line. Blue backs are the bait of choice. Trolling lead core and umbrella rigs has been pretty popular for the river channels Lead core 7 to 9 colors using Mini Mack's, spoons and jigs and umbrella rigs trolled 130 to 150 feet behind the boat at 2.5 to 3.5 mph work for both methods. Be prepared for a top water explosion at any time so have the equipment ready to use. Water temperature is mid 80s and dropping. Remember to wear your life jackets.

Lake Lanier Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Lanier, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

WEST POINT LAKE

West Point Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant https://www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is fair. Now there are a few patterns producing. Try pitching jigs or Texas rigged worms around blowdown trees or under boat docks. This pattern seems to work best when the sun is out. The fish like the shade and coverage just like we do. Old roadbeds and pond dams especially those with cover or man made brush piles can produce some good bass in the late summer. Try big diving crankbaits or Ol' Monster worms dragged through the thickest cover can find. Some decent fish can still be caught above the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee by fishing the grass beds especially if the lake remains full. Try a frog style bait or a jig around thick cover or aquatic grasses.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers will begin the drawdown of the lake starting August 1, 2025 to begin work on the concrete pier between spillway gates #5 and #6. The lake will gradually fall33 to 625 feet depending on weather conditions until October 1, 2025. This work will continue through January 15, 2026. Once repairs are complete the lake level will gradually rise to normal as conditions allow. Questions call 706 645 2937.

West Point Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including West Point, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

WEISS LAKE

Lake Weiss Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant https://www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is fair. Bass are being caught very early and very late. A few good fish are being caught in the upper Chattooga River and the upper Coosa River, where there is more current and higher oxygen levels. Carolina rigged plastics are working right now, green pumpkin and pumpkin seed, and seem to be the dominant colors. Medium to deep running crank baits and 1/2 ounce spinner baits slow rolled are also catching some bass. Top water baits are working fair early and late around deeper sea walls. Look for this pattern to hold for the next month or so, unless we get a lot of rain and really put some oxygen back in the water. Weiss Lake always gets a big algae bloom in late summer, which deplete s oxygen from the water and makes the fish very lethargic, so the dog days of late summer can be some of the toughest of the year.

Lake Weiss Crappie (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant https://www.southernfishing.com) - Crappie fishing is fair. The crappie are mainly under the docks and out deep 8 to 14 feet, on the channel ledges, Night fishing with live minnows with lights on the edges of the old Little River channel is producing some fair crappie. Shooting Jiffy Jigs in 1/24 ounce, under docks is still producing some decent crappie fishing. A few Crappie are being caught on minnows from under lights at night off docks.

RIVER REPORT

Rivers, Streams, & Beyond (Courtesy of Dedger of Unicoi Outfitters) - This site should be checked by anyone who wants to catch more fish. Updated weekly and with some of the best local intel. Find the blog at blog.angler.management.

TROUT REPORT

Stocked Trout (Courtesy of John Lee Thomson, GA DNR Region 2 FM Supervisor) - If crowds are not your thing, now is the time to target stocked trout streams. Trout fishing opportunities are still abundant even though the stocking trucks are taking a break. Check out the Trout Stocking Report found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout and target the trout streams in Table 1 without an asterisk (*). There are leftover stockers that have seen less pressure lately and are hungry for an easy meal. You may need to cover more water but you will likely have it to yourself. Stay tuned for future fall trout stockings. Hint, National Hunting and Fishing Day is September 27 and this is also a free fishing day in Georgia.

Trout Info and Trout Stocking: To learn about Georgia's diverse trout fishing opportunities, including the latest stocking information, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those With Disabilities: Check out these sites that are open to the public and offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities. Find the list at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

Parting Trout Note: Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia? Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. See more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates. Aside from being a great looking tag, each purchase or renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate directly supports Georgia's trout conservation and management programs. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Hunter Roop, Region Supervisor and Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

This Central Georgia fishing report is made possible through information from Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report, and contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. The last few weeks as the bait and bass have gotten into their normal summer pattern. This time of year most of the bass are in 15 to 25 feet of water near drop offs, points and humps and timber are good areas to start. Find the baitfish with the side scan technology and the bass are usually close by on some type of structure Rely on the Lawrence electronics to locate these areas. Use the shaky heads and jigs during the day and Texas rigged Zoom Ole Monster worms later in the evenings. Soon these patterns and lures should continue to produce along with a drop shot for the tough days.

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. The shallow bite is the way to go. Throwing buzz baits and poppers around shallow cover is producing fish. Look for places where cover meets a transition in the water. Run offs and the backs of creeks are the best places to look. Down toward the dam the water is clear, and fish can be caught fishing the brush piles as well. Typically, this time of year the bass are bunched up in schools of bait, but they seem to still be scattered from shallow to deep and hard to pattern. Anglers have been catching a few better fish on crankbaits and jigs around main lake points and timber near deeper water. For numbers of fish the bass are biting drop shots and Carolina rigs with a Zoom Finesse green pumpkin worms. Largemouth still their summer patterns and can catch them in the evenings and at night with a Texas rigged Zoom Mag II Ol Monster or the Zoom Mag U Tail worm.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Richland Creek and the main lake are clear; up the river is stained. On the south end there is a good frog bite in the grass early in the mornings. Soft plastics fished under docks and on wood structure in the rivers above I20 will also produce. When all else fails get out a spinning reel with 8-pound Suffix Siege clear line and carry several colors of #5 and #7 Rapallo Shad Raps and change colors every 20 minutes. There is still a buzz bait bite on the main lake on deep banks with sea walls and deep water nearby. This is an early morning or late evening bite. On the late evening bite move to the bridges and work the rip rap with the buzz bait when Georgia Power is pulling water.

Catfish GON-tel (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Squealer and his son hit Oconee for one last "meat run" before transitioning their focus to "fur and feathers." By the looks of it, they were very successful in their cooler-filling plot! Read more about the "last casts" for this father-son duo at forum.gon.com/threads/one-more-meat-run-with-my-son.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.6 FEET, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Start with a Pop R and a prop bait for strikes in the morning or in the shade. The shaky head with a chartreuse tail worm to imitate a bluegill. For top water, a black buzz bait or bubblegum Trick Worm are the best bets. The crankbait of choice whether fishing during the day or fishing the lights at night, are a Bandit 200 or a #7 Shad Rap in chartreuse and pearl or white. For numbers use the shaky head worm (dark color in stained water, more green/transparent in clear water on the docks. An Old Monster worm or 8-inch lizard in dark colors will also draw strikes in the hydria, blowdowns or docks, as well. Use the Rapallo OG8 square bill in the back of Rooty Creek. A black buzz bait, frog or pin trick worms by Zoom worked along the shoreline or along the hydria early or late in the day will continue to work. Whenever possible fish a combination of shade line and grass lines mid-day fish the points and pockets. On any laydown or stump in that hydria make multiple casts with different baits and wood or blow down will be a magnet for the bass.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 1 FOOT, 80'S

Catfish GON-tel: GON's Cuda67bnl had the proof to show for a successful recent outing on Jackson in pursuit of catfish - which they found in great numbers and a mixture of flatheads and blues, mostly. By the looks of it, live cut bait on a spread of heavy action rods brought fish after fish and plenty to fill a cooler, or two.

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Surface temperatures are high and the water level holding steady for the moment. Anglers should find most of the day's fish on deep structure, deeper docks, and blowdowns. Also try throwing crankbaits and jigs around the shade of bridge piers. Try fishing in the early morning with top water baits. Throwing buzz baits or torpedo style prop baits are good choices. Drop shot rigs, deep running crankbaits and Carolina rigged plastics should be fished during the day. Before the sun gets up, stick to power fishing with buzz baits. Covering water can be the key to success. When fishing buzz baits, landing the bait close to sea walls can be important. Sammies or Prop baits fish a little slower but try these baits in prime areas. Near wood or rock structure for instance. Fish should strike on or after a pause. Some mornings anglers may find the fish prefer the slower baits. Focus on main lake rock, riprap, and sea wall features. Fish main lake areas with some depth at or near the banks. Spinner baits and Chatterbaits can work on shallow morning fish when they shy away from top water presentations. If top water is not producing for head on out to the points and use the sonar to find fish in the 10-to-12-foot range.

LAKE JULIETTE

Linesides (courtesy of Jeff Mooney with All Seasons Guide Service): Jeff reports that water temperatures are still a bit high, now hovering around 83 F, which is marginal for coolwater species like striped and hybrid striped bass. This can make the bite tougher as the fish are very mobile this time of year and feeding activity can be difficult to pattern, but early mornings and late evenings are still primetime fishing windows. Live bait including shad and blueback herring fished at the appropriate depth is the ticket, though pulling umbrella jigs or jigging a bucktail directly over schooling linesides can also be effective if needed. Best fish to start off the month of September has been this respectable 8-lb striped bass caught on live bait.

SMALL POND REPORT

Small Ponds (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Mr. Bobby Rykard was rewarded with his new personal best largemouth bass on a recent fishing trip - an impressive 7-lb, 4-ounce fish fooled with a weightless Trick Worm!

GON-tel: A lot of questions remain on exactly where, with what, and of course…how much did it weigh? Still, it's a picture worth 10,000 words and a big smile for successful angler Lukas after reeling in this unforgettable bass!

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

McDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technician Nick Brewer) -

• McDuffie PFA Information
• Water Level: Water levels are fluctuating with rainfall, currently water levels are below full pool on PFA lakes.
• Water Clarity: 24-48 inches
• McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide

With temperatures beginning to drop, fishing activity on the PFA is starting to pick up once again and anglers are reporting more successful trips in our ponds! On Saturday September 27, 2025, McDuffie Public Fishing Area is hosting our Outdoor Adventure Day, with children under 16 able to fish our KFE ponds, youth archery and other activities planned, it should be a great day for kids!

Bass: Anglers on the PFA are reporting successful bass fishing using artificial baits in a Carolina rig or a Wacky rig. Target areas with structure and be patient! Other good options are crankbaits and swim baits in deeper water.

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Dropping temperatures should make hybrid and striped bass more active! Anglers should use chicken livers in deeperwater if they are targeting stripers. Areas with lots of bird activity can indicate good areas to target.

Channel Catfish: Many anglers are catching catfish consistently, and this trend will continue in the month of September. Use chicken livers and fish off the bottom for the best chance of success. Other good options are live nightcrawlers and stink baits, also fished off the bottom.

Bream: Bream on the PFA are being frequently caught with worms and crickets. Anglers report the most success when fishing near structure in all of our lakes.

Reminder: live fish/minnows are not allowed on our PFA.

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Area Manager Amory Cook) -

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level: 50" below full pool
• Water Temperature: High 80s
• Water Clarity: 19″ and green
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: The last anglers to report catches were using Googan Squad Mini Banger in Kosmo Shad and Strike King Bitsy Bug Mini Jig.

Bream: Bream fishing has been steady, similar to last month's report. The bream bite has slowed slightly, but fishing during cooler hours should continue to produce catches. Red Wigglers continue to produce, but live crickets, waxworms, and artificials like Rooster tails and Beetle Spins can also be effective.

Crappie: No changes from last report. Use live minnows and jigs while targeting deeper, cooler water overnight and early in the morning since crappie are hugging tight to structure.

Catfish: No changes from last report. Anglers fishing at night and early in the morning are reporting larger catfish, while daytime anglers are reporting better numbers of smaller catfish. Catfish are being caught on chicken livers, live baitfish, and cut baitfish.

Also, if you are lucky enough to land a catfish that you believe to be over 10 pounds (about 30 inches long), please notify DNR staff, we are looking to fill the PFA catfish record, which currently is wide open.

MARBEN PFA FISHING REPORT -

• Marben Public Fishing Area
• Water level: All ponds are full or nearly full.
• Pond Closures: Margery, Hillside, and Clubhouse ponds remain closed while under renovation.
• Water clarity: 20" - 48"
• Surface temperature: High 70s-lows 80s
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Surface temps steadily decreasing with cooler evenings, so bass are inching closer to shallower water during low light hours and pushing deeper mid-day. At Lake Bennett and Fox Lake, target points and submerged timber with soft plastics like Texas-rigged worms or creature baits worked slowly along bottom. Dropping spoons off points and coves holding schooling threadfin can also work well. Early mornings, topwaters like buzzbaits and frogs can draw explosive strikes along weed edges. Fishing the outfall at Bennett can be productive as the slightly cooler, flowing water can draw fish to that area this time of year. Lower Raleigh can produce good numbers of smaller bass for anglers seeking high catch rates. Spinnerbaits and shallow crankbaits fished along the dam and grassy shorelines is effective in this mostly shallow impoundment productive. At Shepherd, fish the shaded shorelines on the east or west banks along fallen timber with jigs or shaky heads; bass here often suspend mid-depth right off the end of these structures.

Crappie: Warming water has pushed crappie off the banks, but they're still active around structure. On Lake Bennett, focus on deeper brush piles and channel edges in 8-12 feet. Small jigs tipped with minnows under slip floats work best. On lakes Fox and Dairy, fish schooling crappie suspended in deeper water or over submerged timber with a 1/16 oz curly-tail jig in white or chartreuse. The best bite comes during early mornings and late evenings when the crappie move shallower to feed.

Bream: Most of the larger bream are being caught on the bottom in deeper water near dams and creek channels, unless they are on the bed around the full moon. Waxworms, crickets and pink worms continue to be good bait.

Bream: Bream fishing is steady in September with fish holding shallow near cover. On Fox, target bream beds along sandy coves with crickets or red wigglers under a float. At Crossroads or Stump, there are good numbers of harvestable bluegill near grass edges and in the pockets/coves. Small beetle spins and worms under floats are reliable. Redear sunfish can be caught near bottom in 4-6 feet of water using worms on tight lines.

Channel Catfish: There is consistently good catfish fishing across most lakes at Marben PFA. Lake Bennett & Fox can be productive for larger cats. Fish chicken liver, stink bait, or cut bait on bottom near deeper water. Greenhouse, Upper Raleigh, Shepherd, and Teal are great family options with plenty of stocked catfish, just be sure to bring the kids when fishing Teal as it is a kids-only fishing pond. Use nightcrawlers, cut hot dogs, or stink baits fished on the bottom. Evening and overnight fishing produces best results as water temps remain high during the day.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Capt. Bert Deener, Retired Georgia WRD Fisheries Supervisor, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Wow, the cool mornings reminded us this week of the fall to come! Fish are still in their summer patterns, but they are starting to break down a little. Expect the fish to start roaming more and getting a little more active as the water cools. With the coastal winds, the pond and smaller water bite has been best. Rivers are swollen, except the St. Marys, but levels are improving with the drier conditions this week. The Ocmulgee River should be in good shape this coming week.

River gages on September 4th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River - 9 feet and falling
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee - 3.8 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha - 9.3 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla - 8.6 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla - 9.0 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha - 6.0 feet and rising
• Macclenny on the St Marys - 3.9 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee - 7.9 feet and falling

Full Moon is September 7th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Curtis, Jenny, Jackson, and Amber fished the east side canals on Monday. It was Amber's first time fishing, and she caught the biggest bowfin of the day on a fire tiger Dura-Spin. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 121.20 feet.

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Dublin)

• Hugh Gillis PFA Information
• Hugh Gillis PFA Fishing Guide

Ken Burke had a GREAT day on Tuesday. He fished 4 hours and caught a total of 27 bass that weighed 38 pounds total (he weighs each fish during the trip and typically releases everything). His biggest was 2 1/2 pounds, and he caught all but one of the fish on a crankbait. He said the water temperature had dropped into the upper 70's with the cooler nights we've had lately.

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Eastman)

• Dodge County PFA Information
• Dodge County Fishing Guide

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Hawkinsville)

• Ocmulgee PFA Info
• Ocmulgee PFA Fishing Guide

St. MARYS RIVER

Isaiah and Jace fished the lower St. Marys River this week and caught a mixed bag of redbreasts, bluegill, and crappie. Jace had the catch of the

day with his slab crappie that weighed over a pound and was 12 inches long. They fooled all of their fish with artificial lures. Matt Rouse said that the upper St. Marys level is about perfect for both getting around AND catching fish, but it's falling.

LOCAL PONDS

Jimmy Zinker sent me a photo of a beautiful 6-pound bass with the words "walking the dog still works." He fooled the big girl Saturday with a Zara Spook. He caught 5 on the cool, drizzly morning on the Spook. He tried buzzbaits and Jitterbugs, but they didn't produce that morning. He went to another pond Tuesday night and heard a bunch of fish busting the surface but could not get them to eat Jitterbugs or buzzbaits. Chad Lee has been fishing Alma area ponds again now that it's cooled off, and he caught 12 bass on Monday morning on a Red Eye Shad and a Rat-L-trap. They were all in the 2-pound range. He and Daniel Johnson caught a pair of 2-pound bass Saturday on Whopper Plopper topwaters, also.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Scott Smith and a buddy fished the Brunswick area on Friday and caught 4 really nice keeper trout

with 2 of them over 20 inches. They got soaked in the surprise morning downpour, but fooled them with live shrimp. Another boat fishing that day caught 6 nice flounder. Then the winds started, and it HOWLED for several days. Thursday was the first nice day, and quite a few people went. A skilled trout angler fished out of Brunswick and went south that morning and caught and released a dozen nice trout. He had a 5-pounder - his first that big in a couple years in that area. He caught his fish on topwaters. I fished the Brunswick area Thursday and fooled trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum (along with the usual bevy of yellowtails, pigfish, etc.). The first fish of the day (a trout) came on a Keitech swimbait under an Equalizer Float, but everything else was on live shrimp. I tail-hooked the shrimp on an 1/8-oz. Capt. Bert's Shrimp Hook (1/0 Gamakatsu hook). It was magical, as I cast lures at them then fished the live shrimp through the same spot and caught redfish for a half-hour on every cast (some casts they got the bait or pulled off). I ended up catching 23 redfish up to 22 inches (tagged the ones I didn't keep) and had several sheepshead and black drum mixed in with them. The flounder was a 16-incher. A lot of the redfish are just hitting the legal 14-inch size. It's another good crop of young-of-the-year fish. After your next trip to the Georgia coast, drop off your fish carcasses in the freezer at the GA Wildlife Resources Division Waycross Fisheries Office at 108 Darling Avenue. The Coastal Resources Division collects most inshore saltwater species so that they can determine age and growth for each species. All the supplies and information cards are in the freezer. Filet your fish then drop off the carcasses in the freezer. Wat-a-melon Bait and Tackle in Brunswick is open Friday through Tuesday each week (closed Wednesday and Thursday). They have plenty of lively shrimp and also have live worms and crickets for freshwater. For the latest information and their hours, contact them at 912-223-1379.

Blog Contributor Capt. Bert Deener guides fishing trips in southeast Georgia and makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert's Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call or text him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him ([email protected]).

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Caroline Cox, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

LAKE SEMINOLE

According to Ken Sturdivant at southernfishing.com, bass fishing is good. The top water action has been exciting and should continue to be good with the weather we have been having, especially early and late in the day. Start out on the water early for the best chance to get a giant on top water. A buzz bait is a great lure to start with and to cover water to find active bass. A favorite buzz bait is a Nichols Lures buzz bait in 1/2 ounce in white and a Shopper Plopper fished along the grass lines on the main lake. It's a great choice to cover water to find active bass. Find an active zone and come back through the same area with a walking bait like a Heddon Zara Spook worked along the edges of the grass lines working the bait with a slow walking action that can generate an explosive strike. As the bite begins to slow down pick up the frogs and start working the thicker grass especially paying attention to any holes in the grass beds. Use a Spro Bronzeye Popping Frog. When fishing the frog use a rod with a lot of backbone to get the big bass out of the grass.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at southernfishing.com, bass fishing is good. The shallow bite has been good due to the water level, with frogs and plastics doing the trick. The ledge fishing, which our lake is famous, for has been scattered lately. The fish are there one day and gone the next. It seems the afternoon bite is better with current. Find ledges and schools; the fish seem to be biting a slow presentation the best. Many are using worms, magnum shaky heads and jigs to generate bites. The shallow bite is still on, but it requires patience to finesse a strike. Wacky rigs with Senkos in blue or green are a good choice. A Snagless Sally spinnerbait worked through and around the pads and grassy areas will also produce a hit, as will, a hollow bodied frog. Popping top water lures worked on the edges is a good idea to stir up a bass. Slow is the answer to keep a bait in front of the bass as long as possible to entice them to eat a lure. The deeper bass on trash piles are biting swim jigs with a creature bait trailer and heavy Texas rigs with a big black worm with chartreuse tail. Watch for schooling shad and hit these areas with a top water plug jerk bait or a lipless crankbait. The bigger fish will lay a little deeper under the feeding fish and this is where the lipless crankbait cast beyond the school and worked back under the action

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Big Lazer PFA
• Surface water temperature: 77°F
• Water visibility: Visibility is about 20"
• Water level: Water level is down 4" from full pool.
• Big Lazer PFA Fishing Guide

Fall weather is getting closer it seems. When the cooler fall weather finally arrives, bass feeding will increase before they head into the winter. Bream fishing is pretty good now at Big Lazer. Still target shallower areas with woody brush associated with it. Crickets and worms are excellent live bait for bream. Throwing chicken livers on the rocks along the dam is a good spot to try and catch big channel cats.