LAKE SEMINOLE

Forecast By: Jeff Hamm

Lake Seminole Guide

770-912-7936 daltonmarineinc.com

June Fishing Report: Water temperatures in the mornings were in the low to mid-70s, reaching the 80s in the afternoons. During this time, bass were actively biting hollow belly frogs around bream beds. The May fly hatch lasted for about three weeks, resulting in explosive topwater frog bites. Bass were also feeding on chatter baits and A-Rigs in the ditches and on the first drops from the spawning flats.

July Fishing Forecast: As the water continues to warm in July, expect the bass to transition to their summer haunts. Look for them on the edge of creek channels in depths ranging from 10 to 17 feet. The crankbait bite should be productive on the humps near the channels.

Two Great Locations:

Two Great Locations:

Dalton Location

Additionally, bass will relate to balls of bait in the channels, presenting an opportunity for a quick limit when located. Keep a Zara Spook or Gunfish handy for surface action.

In July, search for offshore stumps, rocks, and brush piles in depths of 15 to 20 feet. Drag a Carolina Rig (C-Rig) or your favorite jig through these areas to target larger bass. Utilize side imaging on your fishfinder, such as Garmin LiveScope, to locate structure and use LiveScope to pinpoint active fish around brush piles. If the fish are being finicky, consider using a drop shot or wacky rig. Surprisingly, even in 20 feet of water, a wacky rig can be visible on Garmin LiveScope and prove effective.

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1117 East Morris Street

Dalton Location 1117 East Morris Street

Dalton, GA 30721

Dalton, GA 30721

(706) 226-3595

1117 East Morris Street

(706) 226-3595

Acworth Location

4725 Highway 92

Dalton, GA 30721

Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 974-0629

Acworth Location 4725 Highway 92 Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 974-0629

(706) 226-3595

Certified

West Point Lake

Forecast By: Capt. Keith Hudson Keith Hudson Guide Service hudsonprobass@gmail.com | www.LakeWestPointFishing.com 706-844-1483

Bass: FAIR - There are still a few different patterns that seem to be working right now. Top water baits such as Whopper Ploppers and Buzz Baits and Zoom Horny Toads can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds, shallow cover, and grass. A second pattern that works really well is to look for schools of blueback herring on the surface. The herring population seems to have exploded this year. So, I would expect many of the tactics that Lanier anglers use to catch open water fish to really come into play over the next couple years. Try fishing in open water with topwater lures and Zoom Superflukes. Another working pattern is to concentrate on docks and blowdowns. Try an unweighted Merthiolate Zoom Trick worm, an unweighted ZLINKY, Senko type bait or a pig-n-jig around this type of cover. Water generation can play a factor in improving the bite as the water warms up, so if you have the option, base your trips to the lake around that when possible. Some fish can still be caught deep on old roadbeds and in brush piles. Lots of spotted bass are caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with ultra vibe speed craws or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks or around the many shoal marker poles scattered around the lake.

Linesides: GOOD - Spawned out hybrids & stripes are back down lake in July. Expect the downline bite on live bait to be decent throughout the month. The linesides have started schooling a little on the main lake and can be caught on Roostertails, Pop n Cork rigs and Gotcha Swim Shad lures. Also, fish can be caught trolling with the Flash Mob Jr or West Point trolling rig.

Crappie: GOOD - Crappie like deeper water in the summer and will typically move out and hold on deeper brush & structure or under docks. Shooting or pitching under the shade of covered docks or around bridge pilings is the way to go. Tube type jigs seem to work the best. The crappie almost always like the shade on a sunny day. Night fishing is usually awesome in July as well!

Bream: GOOD - Don’t forget about our bream & shellcracker. The shellcracker population over the last few years has exploded with some really nice sized fish and good numbers. They seem to really love worms fished on the bottom. Finding an active bed can take a little effort but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycle in July. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats & stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live worms, crickets, and small jigs for the best results.

Catfish: GOOD - Lots of channel cats are being caught by the few anglers that target them. Live & cut baits (and worms of course) fished on bottom will catch cats all over the lake, as long as, fairly deep water is nearby. Jug Fishing is also fun & productive. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4–5-inch bream or large shiner and fish in the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs, as fish in the 20-30-lb. range are common. Most of the big flatheads are caught in the Ringer / Grayson’s Landing area north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee and the mouth of the smaller feeder creeks in that vicinity.

The lake is 3 feet or so below full pool. Water temps are in the upper 80’s. Water is clear over most of the lake.

OCONEE ON THE FLY-

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore - USCG Licensed www.oconeeonthefly.com

I have been asked many times about what factors affect the fishing here on Lake Oconee. In my opinion, it is moving water. Georgia Power drains the lake to generate electricity and of course this creates current in the water. They also pump water back up into Lake Oconee from Lake Sinclair to replenish what drained out.

Unlike the corps of engineer lakes like Lake Lanier, there is no announced schedule for generation. I understand that Wallace Dam here is more of “on demand” type facility and therefore there is no schedule.

A good rule of thumb is when its hot enough that folks have their air conditioning running, they will likely generate late in the day. For hybrid bass and stripers this usually triggers a good bite even if the water temperatures are high. I have seen shad coming to surface in this current and it can be quite impressive. The spoon bite on humps during these circumstances is very strong.

There are occasions when they are still pumping water back up after first light. If you are lucky enough to be there when this happens, there is usually a strong topwater bite.

Moving water is great for hybrids and stripers however, it can have the opposite effect on crappie fishing. Timing can be in your favor as you might get moving water at first light then when the pumps turn off, the crappie fishing turns on.

Forecast for July:

Crappie – Its brush pile / structure fishing time. The crappie will be tight on submerged structure. I would suggest hiring a guide for this type fishing. There may be a stand of submerged timber with hundreds of trees that are in say 30 feet deep water and are 15 to 20 feet below the surface and only a few trees that are loaded with crappie. The trick is to find those trees, mark it with a buoy, and fish in an area directly over that tree. If you fish directly over that tree, you will get a bite, go a few feet away and you will not. I think this requires a great deal of skill. You can troll jigs over the same trees and have success as well.

Hybrids/Stripers – July can be a tough time to target hybrids and stripers. As mentioned above, moving water will play a key role. Having fresh threadfin or gizzard shad is a huge plus. But if you don’t want to throw a cast net, try fishing a 7/8-ounce War Eagle spoon vertically over the humps. Late in the day if they are generating, this works well. Also, trolling a Mini Mack umbrella rig can be productive. Get them at Sugar Creek Marina.

Fly Fishing – Is largely dependent on the moving water. If you see topwater activity, throw a wiggle minnow on an 8-weight rod with intermediate line. I actually use a Betts Pop N’ Strip popper as well with a Cowen’s Somethin Else fly as a dropper.

If you are fishing the late afternoon and mark fish, use sink tip line with a 15 lb piece of fluorocarbon about 5 feet long as your leader and tie on a chartreuse and white clouser.

Final Words

Watch carefully for recreational boats, fish early or late and go on weekdays if you can. Contact me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or call 404-317-9556 to book your trip.

Tight Lines, and God Bless.