Georgia Fishing Report: September 26, 2025

For many Georgia anglers, fall is catfish season at its finest. As waters cool, channel, blue, and flathead catfish feed heavily, prowling river bends, reservoir channels, and lake bottoms in search of an easy meal. Whether you're setting trotlines along the Altamaha, drifting baits on Lake Sinclair, or simply casting from a dock after sunset, catfishing offers both relaxation and the chance at a true heavyweight. With their hard-fighting nature and reputation for great table fare, catfish make autumn evenings on Georgia's waters both rewarding and unforgettable.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• TOMORROW! National Hunting and Fishing Day: Georgia is hosting not just one, but 11, 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 GeorgiaWildlife.com/get-involved/nhfday. And, don't forget to THANK a hunter or angler for their conservation work!
• Women's Only Fishing Event at Go Fish Education Center: Join us on Thurs. Oct. 16 (3-6 pm) for a Women's Only Workshop about Fishing! This is an introductory level fishing workshop for women age 16 and up. Participants will get the chance to put their new skills to use at our casting pond. Bring along sunscreen, bug repellent, snacks and water bottles. Admission to the Go Fish Education Center is included in your registration fee ($8/person). YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER for this event, space is very limited. To register, email [email protected].
• Beyond BOW: Coastal Fishing: TODAY (Sept. 26) is the LAST day to register! The latest program in our Beyond BOW series, 'Coastal Catch' will be an exciting, hands-on opportunity that invites BOW participants to explore the shore and saltwater fishing on the Georgia coast. This program is designed for women who have either attended a BOW Fishing 101 program or have previous fishing experience. More details at GeorgiaWildlife.com/BOW.

This week, we have fishing reports from Central, Southeast, Southwest and North Georgia. From cool streams to rushing rivers, trout fishing is calling, so pack your tackle and Go Fish Georgia!

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 Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day in Georgia, and Region 3 Fisheries has several fishing events scheduled at Marben PFA, McDuffie PFA, and Flat Creek PFA to help you take full advantage of the FREE fishing day, during which 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. Brand new to fishing? The Go Fish Education Center in Perry is hosting a Fishing Basics Class where you can arm yourself with some fishing knowledge, and then apply it at the Center's casting pond or at the nearby Flat Creek PFA. For those living closer to the Augusta area, the McDuffie PFA and McDuffie Environmental Education Center staff will be hosting a Fish & Learn Event on Friday, October 10 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Adults or accompanied kids can register and learn the basics of fishing for and preparing bream, catfish, and bass, and how WRD Fisheries works to conserve your aquatic resources through various forms of management. Whether you're waterside or in a field or stand this weekend, try to carve out some time for you and your family to enjoy Georgia's great outdoors!

Okay, let's jump into the final Central Georgia fishing report for September, brought to you as always by Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report, and contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 1 FOOT, 70'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. The water is off-color lake wide, so be sure to use lures the spots can see especially chartreuse and brown. The small Shad Raps in the #5 size in almost any color will get some action. The small Zoom Super Fluke Jr. in pearl on a small #2 Mustad offset style hook on 6-pound test skipped or fished on points, humps and ridges is fair in clear water. A pearl Zoom Fat Albert is an easy alternative and fish this bait on a 1/8-ounce lead head jig. Keep a Zara Spook ready in a shad pattern or chrome and try a few casts on shallow rocks during twilight. If the fish pop up cast right into the swirls. Also, have a 3/8-ounce Rooster Tail ready and something will eat it. Spots are in shallow water less than 5 feet an hour before dark. Spooks in chrome and also try the smaller Long A-Bomber in chrome and blue.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that at the end of August bass were feeding pretty well, but in September he expects very good action around points and brush piles. Drop shots and shaky heads should both work. Also look out for schooling activity across the lake and always have a topwater lure tied on.

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that fish have been have caught on both ends of the lake this summer, but particularly the lower end. However, with even a little cooling in September he expects more fish to move to mid-lake flats where they can be caught on down-lined herring.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in the first part of September the crappie are likely to continue to hold around deeper brush and timber, where they have been biting fairly consistently this summer. With dropping temperatures things should only improve and they should soon move onto shallower brush where they can be caught on jigs and minnows.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that fish should move shallower this month where they can be caught on cut herring in less than 15 feet of water. At the end of August, they were still catching catfish in very deep water.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Most of the lake is clear with a little stain up the rivers. Bass fishing is fair. First thing in the day a small Pop R will bring a few fish. Once the sun get up the fish are very tight to cover. Flipping under dock with a worm or a pig and jig will bring a few bites. Cover a lot of docks and Richland Creek has been the best creek with all the docks. Working the 3-foot leader and a Carolina Kepper with a Carolina rigged Zoom finesse or Zoom U tail worms in the green pumpkin or watermelon color. Fish these baits on 12-pound test Sufix Advance line with a 2-to-3-foot leader. Fish the long main lake points and under water islands where there is deep water close by. Watch the mapping technology and with one-foot contours these areas are easily found.

Linesides (courtesy of Doug Nelms with Big Fish Heads Guide Service): Doug reports, "September is a great time for fishing on Oconee. The surface temperatures have already fall to 80 degrees as of last week, and with the cool nights will be steadily in the upper 70s if this cool trend continues to persist. It started off in the nineties on August 1st, so this cooler weather really helps reinvigorate the bite for stripers and hybrids, and we are seeing some great topwater action in the early mornings in response. Popping corks, Skitter Pops, or just about any topwater bait will do great this time of year."

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing continues to improve as the weather gets cooler. There are some good bass to come out of the Savannah River as well as the Little River and all the areas in between. A 3/8-ounce white double leaf Georgia Blade spinner bait and a good top water bait like a Thunder Dog or Skitter Walk. Color will really depend on the weather conditions for that day. Next a supply of Rattlin' Raps in both the 3/8- and 1/2-ounce size will be necessary. With any stained water use a Red Fire Crawdad color or the Chartreuse shiner color. In clear water, the shad and blue Shad are good choices. Don't rely on one pattern to hold up all day long or for two days in a row. Versatility will be a must this week. Switching up baits and patterns will be the key for success. On the cloudy days the fish will become more active then when the sun is shining. Fish the wind-blown banks and points with Rapala Glass Shad Raps, DT6's and Rattlin' Raps. Find the rock and the Bass will be close by. Crawfish are in good numbers now, so fish accordingly.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in September buzzbaits should be really good against the banks, and anglers should also be on the lookout for schooling activity over deeper water and keep a topwater lure close. Deeper fish should also be caught on drop shots around humps and bridges.

Striped Bass & Hybrids (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that at the end of August the better fish were suspended in deep water, but in September they should progressively migrate out of the deeper channels. Bait will eventually move shallower into the top 10-15 feet of the water column, leading to more surface activity, and fish should also be related to the sides of humps in 25-35 feet of water.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that at the beginning of September fish are generally still holding around deeper brush, but if the weather cools they should move shallower into the 12-15 foot range. At the end of August the bite could be finicky and anglers basically had to fish the upper end of the lake, but with cooling that could also change.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that in September fish will be scattered everywhere. Some will be in the backs of creeks in shallow water feeding on threadfin and gizzard shad, while some fish will be staging out on main lake humps and points in deeper water feeding on blueback herring. This is the beginning of the prime time to catch big blue catfish on Lake Thurmond.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.5 FEET, 80'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Be ready to make bait changes on the lake. A pattern that yields a great catch today may not produce tomorrow. Top water lures and buzz baits seem to be working at least some every morning, though. And some larger bass are hitting these surface baits. But the bait size and presentation can be critical for success. A good approach is to use both a small and large buzz bait. The Pop R and a large Chug Bug can work in one area and another bait when changing location. This can be anything from a Zoom Super Fluke to a jig to a spinner bait. Try a Mann's Baby One Minus. Move it fast. But trying to pattern exact locations has not been easy, because bites have come from main river banks to near the back of coves. Some can come from seawalls instead of visible cover. This can change quickly. Docks and boathouses are good all day. They are after jigs, soft plastic, and some on crank baits. Primary points and flats along the creek runs and secondary points in coves are worth fishing also. Crank baits or Carolina rigs will usually catch a few of these structure holding groups of fish. Depths of these fish are varying from about 6 to 12 feet deep up the lake to 10 20 feet deep down the lake. Rip rap continues to hold a few fish, also.

Bass 2 (courtesy of Lake Country Fishing Reports): Christopher Davis caught 4 fish a three keepers over 2.5 hours of night fishing recently. Water temperatures were still in the low 80s and he was fishing stained water. Other anglers reported similar daytime success fishing docks and blowdowns with spinnerbaits and plastic worms in colors suitable for stained water - typically chartreuse and orange, brown, or red.

Record-Setting Redear: Sinclair angler Scott Worth of Sparta has set Lake Sinclair's newest lake record with a considerable redear sunfish (aka shellcracker) he caught on live worms this week. His record-setting redear weighed in at 2-lb 1-oz. on certified scales at the Milledgeville Tractor Supply, which far exceeded the benchmark to establish a lake record for this species (0.75 lbs)! His record is now available on the GON website for Sinclair, where ambitious anglers can peruse the list of current records in search of additional record-setting pursuits. Within the sunfish family, one low-hanging fruit that is ripe for the taking would be bluegill, which has no current record and would take a respectable specimen of 0.75 lbs or greater to establish. Common carp, or any species of bullhead or pickerel are also up for grabs. Check out the WRD Youth Angler Award weights for guidance on benchmarks to beat for these species, and go get 'em!

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. The best fish to start off the month of September has been this respectable 8-lb striped bass caught on live bait.

LAKE JACKSON IS FULL, 70'S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Top water baits are still working during early morning and late afternoon. The best areas are along the main lake and a short distance inside the mouth of coves. Some are hitting along seawalls, while others will be around docks, blow downs, or most any kind of shallow cover. On days that a buzz bait works, it's the lure to throw. A buzz bait can be worked faster to cover water faster. It's a good idea to fish a smaller bait like a 1/8 or ¼ ounce size and a larger, noisier bait like a ½ ounce size. On some mornings other baits like Pop R's, Chug Bug's and Baby Torpedo's are better. After top water fishing ends, bass can be caught around or under docks with soft plastics. The best docks will also be located along the main lake and a short distance inside coves. Look for docks with brush under and around them. The biggest key to success is to fish slowly. A few fish may be aggressive and hit the bait on the initial fall, but most will take a very slow bait. Try a Zoom Finesse or U Tale worm with a 1/8-ounce weight.

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 deeper water 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: 55" below full pool
• Water Temperature: Low to mid 80s
• Water Clarity: 19″ and green
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Anglers are reporting that using Powerbait Swim Shad are producing the most catches but other lures like Booyah Boss Pop hard topwater lures are landing fish as well.

Bream: Red Wigglers continue to produce Bream.

Crappie: Cooler weather is promising extended catch times for Crappie. Use live minnows and jigs. This week, an angler confirmed live minnows are producing returns for crappie, and sent us this pre-fillet photo along with a nice bass that was harvested.

Catfish: Catfish are being caught on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Recently two 7+ pounders have been caught with hopes of becoming the PFA record; however, the minimum requirement to qualify is 12lbs or 32in long. You must have the catch weighed on a certified scale and properly documented. Should you land a catfish that you believe to be at least 12 pounds (about 30 inches long), please notify DNR staff.

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 - low 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: 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)

It seems that football and bow season are taking a lot of folks' attention, as the number of reports was low this week (I love this time of year!). But reports I received were very good! Fresh and saltwater are great right now, so take your pick this weekend.

River gages on September 25th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River - 5.7 feet and rising
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee - 1.3 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha - 4.0 feet and steady
• Waycross on the Satilla - 4.9 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla - 4.4 feet and falling
• Statenville on the Alapaha - 2.4 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the St Marys - 2.4 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee - 2.8 feet and falling

First quarter moon is September 29th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

ALTAMAHA/OCMULGEE RIVERS

I fished for bass in the lower Altamaha on Monday and had a blast for 3 hours before the rains moved in. The river is perfect for getting around AND catching fish…for a change! I caught a couple first thing on a copperfield Wobble Blade (a spinnerbait body with a vibrating jig blade). After that early bite, Texas-rigged plastics fooled the other 8 fish. Several ate a green pumpkin Keitech Crazy Flapper crayfish but the most and biggest couple fish ate a 6-inch black Assassin curly-tail worm. I ended up catching 9 bass (biggest was 15 1/2 inches) and a channel catfish. I kept a few smaller keepers for a meal and released the rest. Shane and Joshua Barber caught 23 bass up to 3-lb., 5-oz. on the lower Altamaha on Thursday. They fooled them with River Rat Spinnerbaits (shad color) and Texas-rigged plastics.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

I fished on the east side for a couple of hours Thursday morning with a fly rod and caught and released 11 fish (10 bowfin and a pickerel) on my bladed flies. Bowfin are suckers for a blade! I was scouting for guide trips (fly fishing) this weekend, so I made a few casts and moved on - just checking to see what was happening. I caught fish everywhere I stopped and on all 3 bladed flies I tried (electric chicken, jackfish, and fire tiger). The fire tiger fly is still in a fishable state, but the bowfin mangled the other two. Man, they are tough on lures! A couple of other anglers fishing that day said they caught a few warmouth by pitching worms on bream-buster poles. I saw another angler catch a small bowfin on a spinner as I idled past them. Overall, the effort has been very low the last couple of weeks. Those two boats today are the only folks fishing other than me during the last several trips. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.78 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Chad Lee caught 20 bass this week during short trips to Alma-area ponds near his house. He fooled them with Rat-L-traps and stick worms. Cathy Tatum fished an Alma-area pond Wednesday and caught a bass and some bluegills while casting a beetlespin.

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

• Hugh Gillis PFA Information
• Hugh Gillis PFA Fishing Guide

Ken Burke fished the lake on Tuesday morning for about 6 hours. He caught 19 bass that weighed a total of 26 1/2 pounds. His fish ranged from 1 to 2 pounds apiece. The vast majority were caught on crankbaits from schools of bass busting baitfish in the main lake. He even had a couple "doubles" on the crankbait.

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

Area staff said that the crappie have started biting some. One angler reported catching a nice one over a pound on Tuesday.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Blake Yarbrough fished with me Friday in the Brunswick area, and we caught a total of 47 fish (all species), including redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, and some bait-stealers. The two best baits for big redfish were copperfield Wobble Blades and live shrimp on 3/16-oz. (3/0 hook) Redfish Wrecker Jigheads. That vibrating jig style blade got a lot of attention for both of us and fooled about 5 of our 10 redfish over 25 inches. Our biggest was 29 1/2 inches (we had another 29-incher, as well). Blake started the trip with an awesome 19-inch flounder, and we added a couple more to the cooler also. Blake kept 3 founder and a redfish, and we tagged and released all the other 26 redfish. The biggest trout (19-inches) surprised us by taking a live shrimp on a Redfish Wrecker Jighead in a redfish/black drum hole. Scott Smith had a great trip Friday, also. They caught a few trout and about 30 under-slot redfish and a few black drum in the Jekyll area. 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.

HOW ABOUT A GLIMPSE OF NON-GA WATERS! AMAZON RIVER

Jeff Rawlins and some buddies had the trip of the lifetime last week in the Amazon catching peacock bass. Capt. Bert's Bucktail Jigs were a big part of their trip. The water was high, so it was tougher than it should have been, but they still caught 310 peacock bass during the week. They caught them on bucktail jigs, subsurface plugs, and topwaters. All of the half-dozen colors of bucktail jigs produced fish, but they seemed to prefer the Halloween, red/yellow, and electric chicken versions. What an awesome trip!

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 with southernfishing.com, bass fishing is good. The fish are looking up and feeding on the surface. Expect some explosive strikes on a variety of top water lures, from buzz baits to frogs. A buzz bait is a great top water lure to be efficient in covering water to find active areas along the grass lines. Local favorites are the buzz bait, Whopper Plopper and a Pop R. These lures have sharp hooks, and each one has a unique sound that makes a big difference. A hollow belly frog is a bait that has been producing with the sun high. There are a lot of hollow belly frogs out there and the Spro Bronzeye 65 is popular. Most are using the heavy bait casting outfit and braid is the ticket. Courtland Master Braid in 65-pound test will get them out. Cortland Master Braid stays true maintaining its strength, low stretch and color, cast after cast and day after day on the water.

This weekend the Florida BASS Nation Jr and High School Series was held on Lake Seminole. Anglers competed in both the Fall Trail and North Trail. The bag limit for these tournaments was 3 fish. The winning bag weights from the High School division were 13.83 lbs. (N. Trail) and 13.16 lbs. (Fall Trail). Winning bags for the junior division were 6.5 lbs (N. Trail) and 15.53 lbs. (Fall Trail). The biggest fish caught this weekend among all groups weighed in at 7.96 lbs!

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at southernfishing.com, bass fishing is fair. The Bandit 300 or Rapala Shad Rap in a natural color will work. Pull up to the points and try a crank bait. Follow up with plastic worms and lizards and then move on. Fish the same areas again later in the day. Throw the big cranks like the Norman DD22 as the fish hold fairly deep. Use the Carolina rigs also. Zoom Speed Craws, Ole Monsters and Stanley jigs will take fish out of the deep water on the grass points and take along the frogs as well. Work the jig and craw and Shaky Head and Zoom green pumpkin trick worms to the bottom and up through the cover.

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

There has been lots of interest in catfish fishing on the lake this week, so we would like to help spread some helpful tips to help you catch one if that is your interest. Top locations to search for: just above or below the dam at Warwick, the railroad trussells, sandbars just off the channel, and upstream just above the lake. Bait options that tend to get the most catches: liver, cut up bream, night crawlers, and Catawba worms. For those still wanting Crappie, they are still biting on the lake. Try using Crappie Carnivore 1/64 hand ties and looking for schools on brush piles.

FLINT AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERS

Water levels are way down right now since we haven't had much rain. This may make putting a boat in difficult in some locations. Low water can also concentrate fish in smaller areas because they have fewer places to hide. The forecast calls for rain at the end of the week which will make fishing more exciting. Higher water levels will wash some nutrients into the water and make fish more active as they explore the new real estate available to them and enjoy the cooler water temps. Some cooler evening temperatures might make an evening fishing session more enjoyable for you too! Try your luck with a cricket for a pretty fall bluegill or try a shad-colored lure for black bass! Be sure to check those back water areas that will be available with some water level rise.

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Big Lazer PFA Information
• Surface water temperature: 74^o F
• Water visibility: Visibility is about 20"
• Water level: Water level is down 8" from full pool
• Big Lazer PFA Fishing Guide

Incoming cooler weather should increase the largemouth bass bite. Anglers should try shad type baits at several depths off the bank. A few Crappie are being caught in deeper water but they are difficult to locate and target. Bream fishing has been good. Target areas that have structure like woody brush and blow downs associated with it. The rocks along the dam are always a good spot to try and catch big channel cats. However, catfish are being caught throughout much of the lake

NORTH GEORGIA

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA

Allatoona Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, https://www.southernfishing.com): LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 5.8 FEET, 70'S. Bass fishing is fair. Fish the slower techniques like the drop shot and a small swim bait targeting suspended fish off long points continues to be best. Use small baits like the tiny fluke and big bite 3.75 jerk minnow fished on 5lb Sunline fluorocarbon with a Gamakatsu drop shot hook. Use the Lowrance Sonar and sit over the fish with the HIGH CHIRP frequency and you can spot the fish right on the bottom. Drop baits like the small Keitech swim bait on a Picasso round ball swimbait head. Try making long casts and counting it down to the depth the fish are holding. Sometimes the fish will hit the bait several times before getting it. Look on the main lake points for brush with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology. Scanning three times the depth is a good rule for this technology.

Allatoona Topwater Bassin': What's your favorite September Allatoona topwater bait? Check out Youtuber "Reel Rippin Lips'" favorite September topwater recommendation video at his YouTube channel: YouTube.com/@Reelrippinlips

Allatoona Crappie, Bluegill & Shellcrackers (This report courtesy of Jeff "Crappie Man" Albright via Red Rooster Custom Baits):

• Current Water Level
• Air Temp: High: 90 - Low: 61
• Wind: 5 mph
• Water Surface Temp: 80 - 82
• Water Clarity: Clear Green, Murky Green in places
• Area Fished: Kellogg Creek, Victoria Area, S-Turns & Blockhouse/Clark/Tanyard
• Jigs Used: Fried Pickle - Small Fry, UV Shad -Bluegrass - Small Fry, Cajun Chicken - Small Fry, Cajun Chicken - Dagger & Jive Turquee Chartreuse - Kic'n Chic'n
• Technique: Casting & Trolling

Crappie: We had a couple of nice fall mornings at the beginning of the week where we saw water temps at 78 and were able to find some active Allatoona crappie! We caught several keepers as well as small crappie. The cooler overnight temps had the crappie moving around and were eager to bite. Towards the middle to end of the week the temps rose back into the high 80's and 90 degrees on a couple of days which warmed the water a couple of degrees. The lake is dropping and is rapidly approaching the 835′ mark or 5′ down from full pool of 840′. As the water level drops and the water temps start cooling down into the 70's we are getting ready for some prime fall crappie fishing! Keep your eye on the water level and for the overnight temps to drop into the 50's…the water temps will drop rapidly in October, which will trigger some nice trolling days. We are ready to see the Allatoona temps drop which will trigger the crappie to start schooling and move off the brush & structure to the mouths and the middle of the creeks.

The lower overnight temps are triggering the crappie to move around a bit and are becoming more aggressive. We were able to throw larger jigs like the Red Rooster Small Fry around the brush and catch some nice keepers on those larger jigs. Now that the water level is dropping the deep water brush is sitting in 15′ of water and the crappie are suspended in 8′ - 10′ above the brush. When this happens, you need to throw a 1/32nd or 1/24th jig head so that it doesn't sink to fast. We threw towards the brush and counted down 7-10 seconds and slowly reeled the Small Fry in Fried Pickle and Bluegrass colors just above the brush and got whacked! We were on the water by 0700 before the sun got high. Once the sun came out around 0900 the crappie would not chase the larger bait so we switched to the Red Rooster Dagger in Cajun Chicken, Watermelon Red and a test color we call PayDirt which is brown with gold flake and an orange tail. Crappie fishing is about to take off once the water cools a bit! Our buddy Crappieman trolled some areas in the north end of the lake and had several crappie on a Cajun Chicken Small Fry and a Jive Turquee Chartreuse Kic'n Chicken.

Bluegill: The bluegill should be in the shallows in the early morning and then moving a little deeper to 4′ to 8′ in the afternoon/evening. We found several schools of bluegill around shallow brush such as old Christmas trees. The early morning bluegill were aggressive and hit a Red Rooster Dagger. We paired the Dagger with a 1/32nd jig head and swam it slowly around the brush and they came up and whacked it. The tried-and-true method is to use a #4 - #6 gold Aberdeen hook with 4 - 6 lb. test fishing line and a bobber set about 8″ - 12″ above your cricket or worm in the morning and then changing the bobber depth as it gets later in the day to pick up some deeper bluegill.

Shellcracker (Redear sunfish): We haven't fished for shellcracker too much this summer, but we tried a few times this past week as the water is cooling down and caught a couple of nice ones fishing around docks and slowly dragging worms along the bottom around stumps and shallow brush. Now that the water is cooling down and the lake level is dropping, we will start looking around at shallow brush to try our luck. The rig we use for shellcracker is a #2 hook on 4 - 6 lb. test fishing line and a #5 clam shell split shot pinched on the line about 12″ - 18″ above the hook. We are primarily using either a red wiggler or nightcrawler.

Lord willing we will have a better report for you in the coming weeks! We are ready for fall weather and cooler water temps!

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

Lake Hartwell Bass Report (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, https://www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. Some wind has been blowing across the lake on and off throughout the week and this has the schools of bait fish, shad and bluebacks, on the move. A good crank bait bite will become a reality over the entire lake in just a few weeks. Quality fish are coming from the South end of the lake, especially at the Richland Creek Recreation Area. If they won't bite, try the Storm Stick 18 Sexy Shad. The mouth of larger feeder creeks are still producing a lot of bass. Swimming the Rapala X Rap and Husky Jerk bait will catch those shallow water bass and the Glass Fat Raps and Shad Raps will catch those bass a little deeper off the points. Cast the Livingston SgredderS3 Sxee Shad Jerkmaster 1 AYU. Use the smaller Lucky Craft Square Bill Live Threadfin Shad Blue Gill 5/8 ounce. Look on the main lake points for brush with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology. Scanning three times the depth is a good rule for this technology.

Hartwell Striper Report (This report courtesy of Captain Cefus McRae, 404-402-8329): Water Temperatures range from mid-70's to low 80's. Lake Hartwell is a couple feet down right now. The surface water temperatures are still quite warm. On sunny days, first thing in the morning, you'll see mid 70's, but by mid- morning the temps will rise to 80 degrees or more. This is definitely typical for this time of year, and we're just waiting for some cooler air temperatures to help bring those numbers down. More importantly, the warm water temps are prevailing well below the surface. At 30 feet, the water is still in the upper 70's, and you'll need to go really deep…like 60 feet to find some cool water. And by the way, that's where the majority of stripers are hanging after the sun gets above the tree line. Early morning you can find stripers and hybrids feeding on shallow humps off the main river channel and major creek mouths. Although some fish are beginning to follow the bait into the creeks, the suggestion is to hang out on the river side of the creek and set up a buffet of live baits where the creek channel intersects the main channel. And this has been working from the Tugaloo/Seneca split down to the dam. Use a combination of down-lined baits and at least one bait free-lined under a balloon. There's plenty of bait schools in both the main river and up the creeks. The stripers don't have to move too far to get their bellies full. Just keep moving around until you see bait pods that have actively feeding stripers underneath them. If you need to cover some ground and search for schooling fish, follow the main channel and troll a fully loaded Capt. Mack's umbrella rig about 100 to 125 feet behind the boat at 2 to 3 mph. If you see treetops above 30 feet deep, speed up the boat to 5 mph and that will raise the rig higher in the water column, so you don't hang up. Then slow back down once you are past the trees. Deeper pockets that are devoid of trees, just off the main channel in 100 to 120 feet of water, have been very productive the past couple weeks. Frisky blueback's about 40 to 60 foot down have been doing the trick so far. And as the water cools, expect to see fish gradually moving shallower. A brief top water explosion may happen at any time. So be prepared and have a MirroLure Top Dog tied on just in case. If you'd 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.

Hartwell Mixed Bag (This report courtesy of the guides mentioned below):

Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that in September bass usually begin to get on a bait pattern where they are chasing schools of bait over deep water as well as humps, and both patterns were coming on in August. Topwaters, flukes and swimbaits will all work. As with most of the year, you can also catch some spotted bass on drop shot rigs fished around brush piles. To close out August there was also some improvement in the shallow buzzbait bite and that should continue.

Striper and hybrids: Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that by the end of August most of the fish had moved into the main Savannah River channel and suspended over deep water, but as often happens the bite had gotten a little off-and-on. You could mark tons of fish in a small stretch of water, but some days they were reluctant to bite. This month expect the fishing to become more consistent on down-rods and trolled baits - especially once fish start to split out of large schools and head into the creeks.

Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in September fish will be found over brush in 15-25 plus feet of water in the creek runs or around deeper natural timber, but there can also be some fish much shallower around docks and other structure. While jigs will work, minnows may be more effective at times this month.

Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that during September channel catfish will continue to bite well in 15-plus feet of water on a variety of baits including cut herring and nightcrawlers, but once temperatures begin to cool blue catfish and flatheads may move out of the deep timber and become more catchable.

LAKE LANIER

Lake Lanier Bass Report (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via https://www.southernfishing.com): LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 3.8 FEET, 70'S. Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently two and a half feet below full pool, and the water temperature is running in the upper seventies. Overall, the lake is clear. The water temperature has been rising but there is still good top water action across the lake. The main areas to concentrate on are long points, humps and off reef poles with deep water close by. Having structure on these areas in the thirty-foot range is an added bonus. The Skimmer, Spro E Pop 80 and a Lip Thrashin Riser have been the most effective surface baits for the week. One key factor is to use the wind to your advantage as the bite seems slower with calm water. A fluke is a good choice particularly in calm areas but will also draw strikes in the wind. It seems there are windows for catching them right now with early morning being a prime time for working top water baits. There may be a lull after the early bite that will cause you to have to search more areas to locate feeding bass. Check around the deep structure for suspending bass and work them with a three eights ounce Spot Choker and a three-inch paddle tail bait. The worm bite has picked up some on the docks nearer the deeper water or mouth to middle of the coves. Any of the green pumpkin combinations on a three sixteenths Shakey head should get you bit. Once we through this end of summer hot spell, the lake should really be turning on.

Lanier Stripers (This report courtesy of Jack Becker, aka Ga. Waterdog, [email protected]): I heard reports of stripers moving up from the dam, so I went out one morning and fished in the river channel near Browns Bridge. We marked very few fish, but plenty of bait. The bait balls were from 37 to 45 feet deep. Using blueback herring, we put lines out 35 feet behind our planner boards. We also had downlines to keep the bait at that depth. We drove very slow, .2 to .4 miles an hour, and added a heavy split shot to the planer board lines. The morning started off very slow and by 9 o'clock we only had 4 spotted bass and no stripers. I'm pretty stubborn and won't leave bait to find fish. I always believe stripers will find the bait over vast distance as they travel every day keeps reminding me to stay with the bait and they'll find us. In the next four hours things changed fast. We had several more spots but also netted four stripers (3 over 30-inches and 1 at 23-inches). We were fishing the same area, but it did get cloudy, and a little wind came up. It had been dead, calm earlier. Keeping a slow speed and the added weight kept the bait down in the range where we were marking bait. Hope this information helps you the next time you go out. Jack Becker aka Ga. Waterdog. [email protected]

Lanier Stripers Too (This report courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404 510 1778): Lake Lanier stripers are schooling from Big Creek to River Forks. Water temperature is 80.1. As cooler weather moves in, water temps will begin to cool, so be ready for some top water action and have your favorite lure ready. The down lines are still working with blue backs at 35 to 50 feet deep in the morning over the channel. Flat lines will start to produce some bigger fish as the sun rises. Remember to wear your life jacket.

Lanier Crappie (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton 770 530 6493): Lake Lanier Crappie fishing is good, with water temperatures in the mid 70's up lake. The fish are active early in the morning right at sunrise. Standing timber in 25 to 40 feet of water has been producing, but not in big numbers, so get a few and move to the next spot. The deep fish are biting better than the shallow fish. Docks are holding large groups of crappie at depths of 10 to 25 feet above a 25-to-40-foot bottom. The jig color combo that we most often use is 1.5-inch atx lure company d2d jig. For your best fishing experience consider using the following equipment: a one-piece ACC Crappie Stix rod and reel paired with 4- or 6-pound test K9 line with a Atx lure company jigs. Further optimize your efforts with a Garmin LiveScope.

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.

Lake Weiss Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, https://www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. Some good fish are being caught up under docks. To catch numbers of fish but much smaller in size use a 1/4-ounce Rat L Trap in chrome black or chrome blue and work the bait between docks with a slow retrieve. Use a Strike King jig 1/4 ounce and add a black blue with a Zoom Salty Chunk in the pumpkinseed or watermelon colors in the clear water. Use a 1/4-ounce jig in the green pumpkin with the same salty chunk in the stained water. Cast the Livingston SgredderS3 Sxee Shad Jerkmaster 1 AYU for suspended fish. Pitch or flip this bait as far as possible up under docks and watch the line while fishing this bait slowly. Work the bait as slowly and work the baits all the way back to the boat.

WEST POINT LAKE

West Point Bass Report (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, https://www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is getting better every day. The lower part of the lake is clear, and the bass are scattered, but moving. The largemouth, spots, hybrids and whites are mixed together and moving and feeding. During the early morning and late afternoon, the bass are moving into the coves and can be caught with shad imitation lures like Rat L Traps and rooster tails. During the day the bass are moving out deeper and can be caught using crank baits and Carolina rigged worms. There is some top water action early and late up in the coves of the main lake. Cast the Livingston SgredderS3 Sxee Shad Jerkmaster 1 AYU for suspended fish. Use the smaller Lucky Craft Square Bill Live Threadfin Shad Blue Gill 5/8 ounce. Look on the main lake points for brush with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology. Scanning five times the depth is a good rule for this technology.

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.

SMALL LAKE REPORT

Rocky Mountain PFA (This report courtesy of Fisheries Technician Richard Childers):Like many of Georgia's state run Public Fishing Areas (PFA), the staff at Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area maintain a number of fish feeders on the facility's three lakes. Needless to say, these feeders are great at attracting fish like bluegill, catfish, and carp looking for an "easy daily meal". As such, anglers setting up shop near one of these feeders can often cash in on hungry fish lurking nearby.

State Park Lakes: Want to enjoy some late summer fishing potentially close to home? If so, Georgia State Parks has got you covered. Small lakes can offer great summer fishing opportunities close to home. Here are a few north Georgia State Parks with small lakes you may consider fishing this weekend.

• James H. "Sloppy" Floyd (Chattooga Co.).
• Fort Mountain (Murray Co.)
• Vogel (Union Co.)
• Unicoi (White Co.)
• Black Rock Mtn. (Rabun Co.)
• Fort Yargo (Barrow Co.)
• Sweetwater Creek (Douglas Co.)

TROUT REPORT

Stocked Trout (This report courtesy of Trout Stocking Coordinator Chris French): In recognition and celebration of National Hunting & Fishing Day on Saturday September 27, the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division will be stocking several thousand Rainbow & Brown Trout into various locations across North Georgia. Several popular locations from eastern, central, and western North Georgia will be stocked in time for National Hunting & Fishing Day, which is also one of Georgia's 3 annual Free Fishing Days where 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. Planned stockings include Johns Creek in Floyd County, Rock Creek in Fannin County, Cooper Creek in Union County, the Chattahoochee River and Smith Creek in White County, the Tallulah River in Towns and Rabun Counties, and Moccasin Creek in Rabun County. Stay up to date with the most recent trout stockings and information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

Trout and More (This report courtesy of Unicoi Outfitters): Check out Unicoi Outfitter's regular "Angler Management" fishing reports at blog.angler.management to get the complete story and more!

Trout Slam Trio (This report courtesy of Fisheries Biologist John Damer): Last week I managed a wild Trout Slam (more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/trout-slam) fishing two small streams for a few hours one day after work. Water levels were low and clear, but the fish were hungry enough that I did not have to downsize my 4x tippet. All fish were caught on a tan size-16 X-caddis dry. The first creek produced several browns and rainbows, including one big 10" rainbow that was camera shy and flipped off the hook before I could pull out my phone. It was unfortunate because the colors on that one were stunning. As the afternoon light faded, I hiked across the valley and above the barrier falls on the second creek in search of the brookie that would complete the slam. I missed a couple fish before bringing a respectable 8½" speck to hand. With my mission accomplished and my stomach growling I made my way back down the mountain. A stop at the local Mexican place capped off another great trip in the GA mountains.

Georgia Trout Slam: If you have the skill to successfully catch all three species of trout (brook, brown, rainbow) in Georgia within a calendar year, consider giving the Georgia Trout Slam a try. All successful submissions will receive the coveted Georgia Trout Slam Sticker and be entered into a drawing for an annual grand prize. Program details can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/trout-slam.

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.

MISCELLANEOUS REPORT

How Healthy is My Fish? With each fish at the end of their line, avid anglers often ask themselves a simple question: How healthy is this fish? One way that fisheries biologists answer that question is by looking at the relative weight of a fish. Most fish have a relative weight between 90 and 100. A value below 80 means the fish is very thin, while anything over 100 means its relative weight is above average. Be in the "know" by checking out this handy relative weight calculator for ten common Georgia sportfish at GeorgiaWildlife.com/how-healthy-my-fish.

Aquatic Nuisance Species Are No Joke! Remember, moving live fish, aquatic plants, or mussels from one body of water to another can cause irreversible damage to the existing ecological balance of Georgia lakes, rivers, and streams. Releasing unwanted aquarium species or other non-native species into a water body can have severe negative impacts on Georgia's native fish and fauna. Learn more about aquatic nuisance species, how to stop their spread, and ways to report them at GeorgiaWildlife.com/ans.