Georgia Fishing Report: May 13, 2022

We know the fishing is really good right now, but if you are out camping and fishing this Friday the 13th, and you see a guy wearing a hockey mask lurking around…best bet is to just find another fishin' hole. Be safe out there!

NEWS TO KNOW

• New State Record Fish: Four new state records have been caught since December. The latest state record fish, and pending world record tie, is a redbreast sunfish caught by Lester Roberts of Blackshear. His catch, caught on May 7 on the Satilla River near Folkston, weighed 1 lb, 12 oz and was 11 3/8 inches long, and replaces the 1998 record (1 lb, 11 oz). Congrats to Lester!
• Success at Trout Fishing With Mom: This first-time event was a huge success thanks to all the planning efforts of Sarah Baker and Georgia WRD Fisheries Management, Trout Unlimited and US Forest Service. Check out some of the fun photos and videos HERE.
• Kids Fishing Events: KFEs are in full swing for spring and summer - make plans now to attend one soon. Find one near you on the event calendar HERE and check out these tips for fishing with kids.

This week, we have reports from North, Southeast, Southwest and Central Georgia. Keep your eyes peeled for "suspicious characters," and be sure to Go Fish Georgia!

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Sarah Baker, Fisheries Biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from WRD Staff and Local Experts)

Upcoming Kid's Fishing Events: DNR sponsored or supported KFEs are a great way to introduce your kids to the joy of fishing. These fisheries are stocked and managed to promote kids fishing success. The following KFEs will be taking place in the north Georgia area during the month of May and June.

• Victoria Bryant State Park: Saturday, May 14^th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Buck Shoals WMA: Saturday, May 21^st from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Vogel State Park: Saturday, June 11^th from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Buck Shoals WMA: Saturday, June 18^th from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• City of Cave Spring: Saturday, June 18^th from 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

RIVER REPORT

"What are these goldfish in my creek?" - Check out Unicoi Outfitters Facebook post about bluehead chubs and yellowfin shiner action happening now through June!

Dark30: Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters, shares the Rabunite secret of catching fish this May in The Angler Magazine: Greater Atlanta Edition (Page 8).

Toccoa River Trout Fishing -

• James Bradley's article in May's edition of The Angler Magazine: Greater Atlanta Edition details the trout fishing opportunities on the "Upper" and "Tailwater" of the Toccoa River (Page 3).
• Josh with Arrowhead Outdoors Co.((770) 776-7066) has been wading and floating the tailwater this week and having great success with both Rainbows and Browns! He recommends fishing deeper cuts near the edge of the current and in pools 3-6 feet deep. Drift dry droppers on 6-9 feet of 5x tippet. Griffith's gnat with peasant tail or hares ear nymphs were the ticket! Pink San Juan worms have been working as well.

Chattooga River - Karl Ekberg (Chattooga River Fly Shop, (864) 638-2806)) gives some great techniques for fishing the Chattooga in May's edition of The Angler Magazine: Greater Atlanta Edition (Page 4).

DH Reminder - Delayed Harvest regulations end May 15^th (Toccoa, Ami, Smith, Chattooga).

Trout Stocking Season is Here! Make some great memories with your loved ones and go trout fishing! Make sure your fishing and trout licenses are up to date and visit our Trout page on the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division websiteto explore our interactive trout map. Grab a few yellow panther martins or white rooster tails. Cast them either upstream or downstream into pools, and then reel in to attract a Rainbow Trout!

A BIG thank you for buying your fishing licenses, tackle, and TU Brook Trout license plate to support trout management in Georgia!

RESERVOIR REPORT

Lake Lanier:(Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant southernfishing.com) - Lake Lanier is full; 70s.

• Bass:(Report Courtesy of Phil Johnson, (770) 366-8845, [email protected])- Bass fishing on Lanier is good to very good. The water temperature has warmed into the low seventies now and the fish are responding. Two things are happening right now that have a big effect on the fishing. First, there are pods of shad scattered all over the lake from the pockets to the main lake. Second, the bass are starting to come out of their typical post spawn funk. Early mornings and with the wind the bass and stripers are beginning to school and feed on the shad. These schools won't stay up for long but they will remain in the same areas. Several baits have been working both for the schools and in other areas. A nose hooked pearl white fluke has been a steady producer by using a pull and pause retrieve. The bait is one to two inches long so we have also been throwing a quarter ounce white Spotchoker with a two eight Keitech to match the hatch with good success. Several surface baits such as the spook, chug bug, Sammy and wake baits have been worked well on the schooling fish. Also check out the long main lake points as well as humps. The schoolers can be over any depth but the target range on the other areas is less than twenty feet of water. Docks and blowdowns continue to hold fish and you can use either the fluke Keitech or worms to catch these fish. They tend to be smaller but there are a lot of them. Over the next couple of weeks true full on topwater should be happening so it is a great time to hit the lake. It's also the time that all the crazies show up so be sure to wear the lifejackets and be on alert. They're biting so Go Catch 'Em!
• Striper: (From Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, (404) 510-1778) - Striper fishing on Lake Lanier is improving every day in quality and numbers. Water temperatures are rising and so are the fish so be ready for some top water activities. Have a spook or your favorite lure ready to throw into the breaking fish. The planer boards and flat lines have been producing as well as the down line. Blue backs has been the ticket over points and humps and any sudden changes in water direction around the river channel such as eddy's and curves. Fish north of brown bridge on both rivers using your electronics to locate the fish, 15 20 minutes if no action then move to another location. I've been catching fish early but not marking a lot but the fish they just show up on the baits.
• Crappie fishing is good. (From Captain Josh Thornton, (770) 530-6493) - Crappie fishing is good. I am finding crappie on the docks suspended 10 to15 feet deep over a 20 to 45 foot bottom also finding crappie in shallow brush. If you are using jigs I would recommend starting with a pink and green small body (electric chicken) or a translucent body with sparkles. Remember to retrieve slow and give the jig time to sink to the level of the fish. 10% of this week's catch came on minnows almost all jigs but I still always put out a minnows just in case it adds a few to the box at end of the day. I am setting minnows at 5 10' feet deep over schooling Crappie. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows. When dock shooting the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. I'm using the skippers jig moon jigs use (promo code heroes) when ordering. I use ATX Lure Company's jigs atxlures.com. I use 5-pound test high visibility yellow k9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber then it's the k9 6-pound high vis line k9fishing.com and a Piscifun reel on an Act crappie Stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app. Find me on Facebook and like my pages @crappieonlanier & @fishingwitheverydayheroes.

Daniel Family Fun on Lanier:The Daniel Family (Chris with sons Logan and Mason) had a great recent weekend on Lanier. They had family visiting from Bushnell, Florida who are avid anglers, but had never seen a striped bass. They boys were able to get their great Uncle Keith on his first striper! He was very excited to catch one and surprised at how well they pulled. Logan (age 6) also caught a nice striped bass, along with some spotted bass.

Fly-Fishing Lanier's Post-Spawn: Check out Henry Cowen's excellent article in May's edition of The Angler Magazine: Greater Atlanta Edition for May fishing patterns and fishing tips (Page 2).

Lake Weiss:(Mark Collins (256) 779-3387 reports) -

• Bass fishing is fair. The warmer weather has turned the fish on. A lot of fish have moved shallow into the spawning bays and creeks, shallow running crank baits and spinner baits are working well. Our fish are starting to bed.
• Crappie fishing is fair. They are being caught long line trolling, with Jiffy Jigs, JJ13, JJ17 and JJ20 are the colors that have been catching fish for me, they have moved into shallow water with the flooding. A lot of fish have spawned and started moving to deeper brush.
• Catfish are biting in the bays and creeks in 8-15 feet of water, cut bait is working best.

Lake Hartwell: (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant southernfishing.com) - Full, 70s. Bass fishing is very good. Have the top water baits on all day and the Pop R's and small Zara Spook Jr.'s will work. Then mid-morning, go to the Shad Raps up in the rivers. Red Crawdad with a chartreuse belly is a favorite. Locate the small chunk rock and throw the spinner baits up close. Use the 14-pound test Sufix Elite line on a medium to medium-heavy action rod. Try the Bomber Fat Free Shad sizes 5 (Fingerling 3/8 ounce) & 6 (Jr. 1/2 ounce) Bomber Fat Free Shad Citrus Shad. The Alabama rig with small jigs in pearl has been working mid-day. Also try the smaller Storm Wiggle Wart. Work the long run out points with the Warts. A lot of noise and the wide wobble will call the bass in. Stay on the windblown sides of the lake for the better action when the wind is up. Keep a ½ ounce spinner bait ready all day and use a long rod and make the longest casts possible to the points and blow throughs. As always have a Zoom pearl Super Fluke ready.

Lake Allatoona- (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant southernfishing.com by Matt Driver) - Bass fishing is great. When the bass spawn ends, the shad spawn begins. When the shad are spawning, they become easy targets. It starts a feeding frenzy for post spawn bass. May is the best month for topwater. Bass have moved to areas where they can recover from this spawn, rest and feed. Every year it's like clockwork. May is time to think shad. The white bass and hybrid join in, as well. Shad spawn in hard surfaces like rock and even debris floating in the water. The best baits this month are shad imitation baits like the fluke. Also try a jerkbait like Lucky Craft Pointer 78/100. Topwater is on fire for the first few hours of the day. Any walking bait will do but we prefer a Zara Spook or a Pencil Popper. For popping baits we like a Pop R and the Rico. Once the sun gets up, bass can be targeted with jig head worms, drop shots and finesse jigs. Watch Pepper sonar for signs of bait and active fish. The best areas to catch fish right now are Cooper's Branch, Illinois Creek and the mouth of Little River. The best shad spawn times are on the full moon.

Allatoona Linesides(Report by Robert Eidson) -- Line side fishing is good. The spawn run is to an end. Most of the fish are back on the main lake. Our fish starting to set up on a summer pattern. Big schools of hybrids can be found anywhere from the S turns to as far south as Tanyard Creek. The down rod bite is the most productive bite going on the lake. Fishing live shad at depths from 20 to 30 feet is producing for our boats from one end of the lake to the other. Our bait of choose has been big thread fins with small gizzards running a close second. These fish can be found on CoCr Lowrance on or around most points, humps and flats. Good Lowrance electronics can be a big help during the summer months. Summertime is awesome for numbers on Lake Allatoona.

Allatoona Lake Levels: Keep track of daily lake level changes HERE.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Bert Deener, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

The Satilla River produced a pending IGFA world record (tie) and Georgia state record redbreast sunfish this week. Fishing has been great in places where the extreme winds this week didn't affect your ability to fish. The Okefenokee and ponds have both been producing good catches, as well. Saltwater has been an almost complete bust this week because of the winds.

River gages on May 12th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River - 9 feet and rising
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee - 4.0 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha - 7.1 feet and rising
• Waycross on the Satilla - 5.7 feet and falling (73 degrees)
• Atkinson on the Satilla - 4.7 feet and rising
• Macclenny on the St Marys - 4.9 feet and falling

Full Moon is May 16th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website HERE. For the latest marine forecast, click HERE.

ALAPAHA RIVER

Stan Rhodes and his uncle Dave McGlamry fished the upper Alapaha River Friday. They said the bite was on fire before it rained at about 3pm. The hard rain dirtied up the edges of the river and slowed the bite. They caught around 200 fish total and kept 49 of them. Stan's go-to bait was a crawfish Satilla Spin in both 1/16 and 1/8-oz. His uncle pitched crickets and crawfish.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

Look for river records to fall in the next few weeks on this river. One fell this week when Herman Hill caught a 1-lb., 2-oz. warmouth to raise the bar on that species. He caught the fish on a jig while fishing the lower river on Wednesday. Brentz McGhin fished the backwaters of the Altamaha twice this week using worms, crickets, and artificials. On his best trip he had 6 catfish, 3 keeper bass, and 8 big panfish (bluegills, redbreasts, and warmouth).

SATILLA RIVER

Lester Roberts completed what I figured was possible with all the high water and low effort we have had over the last year. He broke the state record redbreast sunfish, and it even qualified as a tie for the world record through IGFA - one of the fish world record-keeping organizations. Lester was fishing a bass tournament out of Burnt Fort on the lower Satilla. While fishing with his long-time friend and fishing partner, Whitey Hendrix, the two had bass on their minds and not panfish for that particular day. Lester was casting a crankbait when the rooster redbreast hit, and he said that they both thought that he had a good bass at first. Jason Mitchell and I certified the fish at the Waycross Office that afternoon, and the fish weighed 1-lb., 12-oz. and some change. It feels really good to have the state record back in a south Georgia river! Will and Carter Steed had the river record for about a week, but what a week it has been. I would not be shocked if Lester's record is short-lived, as well. You can never take away the fact that Will and Carter held the river record at one point! That is not the only record that was broken this week. A pair of river record warmouth are also making their way through the certification process. Michael Lott caught a 1.29-pound warmouth this week, and Lane Wildes caught a similar sized warmouth the week before. Chris Nugent and his cousin floated the upper river and caught about 100 panfish. They released most and kept 40 of them for a fish fry. They had some really nice redbreasts and bluegills. They caught their fish on Satilla Spins, and bus stop was the best color. They caught quite a few on the crawfish color, as well. Jay Murray fished the middle river on Saturday. He threw crawfish-colored Satilla Spins to catch 30 redbreasts and bluegills. Four of his rooster redbreasts were over 12 ounces. The river is falling out and will be a good level for the weekend to put-put around in a boat, unless we get a bunch of rain from the forecasted system on Friday. If you go this weekend, take wading shoes, as you may have to get out and pull over a sandbar or tree limb. But, that's when the fishing gets really good on our small, blackwater river. The cool mornings this week have dropped the water temperature several degrees. That will slow the bite some, but you will still catch fish.

SAVANNAH RIVER

Tyler Finch and a buddy fished some backwaters off the river on a couple days this week and did great on bluegills. They couldn't get the fish to eat artificials this weekend, so they caught them with crickets under a float. Their biggest bluegill was 1.29 pounds. They had a total of 140 fish (all trips combined) that averaged 1/2 pound apiece.

ST MARYS RIVER

Chuck Dean fished the middle St. Marys on Sunday and caught some nice bluegills on cracklehead crawfish Satilla Spins. Tersh Harley fished the upper St Marys this week and caught redbreasts and bluegills on in-line spinners. Matt Rouse said that the fishing in the upper river slowed with the higher water and cooler temperatures this week. Catfishing was the best bet in the upper river. The Shady Bream Tournament Trail held their 4th tournament of the season out of Kings Ferry Ramp on Saturday. First place was Travis and Jordan with 8.80 pounds. Dale and Emma had 8.69 pounds for second, and third place was Ernie and Alan with 7.81 pounds. Check out the Shady Bream Tournament trail on Facebook for more information.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Tersh Harley fished the east side this week and caught warmouth and some big bowfin on in-line spinners. A Waycross angler fished the east side on Thursday afternoon for 2 1/2 hours and caught and released 22 fish. His jackfish were up to 22 inches and bowfin up to 6-lb., 15-oz. He caught them all on jackfish and crawfish Dura-Spins. He walked the boat basin after the boat off-water time and caught a half-dozen fliers up to 9 inches by pitching pink sallies around the docks. Dionte Smith fished the boat basin on the east side on Thursday evening and caught some really nice bluegills on worms suspended under a float. Okefenokee Adventures staff said that anglers have been catching lots of warmouth early and late in the day all week. They said that some nice jackfish were caught this week, also. The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120.90 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Captains Scott Owens and Teddy Elrod bass-fished a Brunswick area pond on Wednesday because saltwater was way too windy. They did well, catching 17 bass up to 6.15 pounds. Shad-colored crankbaits worked best for them. They also caught 9 channel catfish on their bass baits. A couple of other anglers reported catching bass on Christie Craws and Rat-L-traps this week. Bream fishing should be good with the coming full moon this week as a wave of bluegills should head shallow to spawn.

SALTWATER (GA COAST)

This was another windy week on the coast. It blew 15 to 20 knots pretty much the whole time this week after the weekend front. The best bite I heard of was from the Jekyll Island Pier. Several folks caught a whole host of species, but flounder was the best-eating species I heard of being caught in good numbers. Brenda Hampton fished the pier for her birthday on Tuesday and caught her personal best flounder, a 20 1/2-incher, on a mudminnow. Capt. Greg Hildreth caught a few trout on Monday, but the bite has been slow. For guide trip information, call Capt. Greg Hildreth at (912) 617-1980 or check out his website (georgiacharterfishing.com). For the latest fishing information or live shrimp in the Brunswick area, check with J&P Bait and Tackle on Hwy 303 (912-282-9705).

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Emilia Omerberg, fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

Bream fishing at Lake Blackshear is really hot right now. We recently welcomed in a new lake record redear so now it's time for you to get out there and try your luck. Many anglers are having success with crickets and worms. Anglers suggest using pond worms fished off the bottom to fill that bag up. If you are fishing from the bank, give veterans state park a try. There is lots of open real estate there to fish in a variety of habitats. If you are fishing from a boat, try the mouths of creeks and along the edge of vegetation and submerged structure. Shady areas with sandy bottoms are the best areas to find bedding bream. If the wind is right, you can even smell them. Keep your nose open for a fishy smell and follow that to wear its strongest. This should be in about 3 feet of water or less. Catfish fishing is also hot right now. Anglers are suggesting red wigglers but any type of smelly bait like a hot dog or liver should get you a bite. Both Channel cats and Flatheads are hot right now.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

• Bream: Bream fishing in Lake George is heating up. As fish start to bed follow the fishy smell to find their location. Redear sunfish are hitting crappie jigs and anglers are finding that they are catching redear and crappie interchangeably in the same place and with the same equipment.
• Bass: Bass fishing on Lake George has been tough. The fish are there but getting them to bight has been tricky. Try fishing the edge of the grass with jigs rigged with white and chartreuse trailers to mimic the shad. Keep an eye out for bird activity and shad breaking the surface and cast there. Shallow cranks, chatterbaits, and lipless crankbaits have all been providing some action. Be sure to cast past the school of shad and work your way back through it towards the boat. A top water lure above the shad should keep them active as well.

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (More Info HERE)

Surface temps are in the low 80's, and water levels are decreasing. Please make sure to read the updated regulations which have been posted at each boat ramp at Silver Lake PFA. Speaking of boat ramp, the DNR Boating Access Crew is hard at work with major improvements to the Silver Lake South boat ramp. We expect construction to be completed just in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

• Bass: The warming and receding water tends to pull some of the larger fish out of the buttonbush to find mid lake cover. Rattletraps around standing timber are working well in Panic Pond and Cutoff Pond.
• Catfish: Frog Pond was recently stocked with channel cats ranging from 5 inches to 5 pounds, and these whiskered fish are happy to swallow everything from worms or crickets to chicken livers and live bluegill.
• Bream: House Pond continues to produce quality bluegill. Most are in the 6-7-inch range with several 10+ inchers landed, photographed, and released in the last few weeks. Roostertails and beetlespins are the best way to target those larger bluegills.
• Hybrids:The hybrid striped bass are also adding to the excitement.

LAKE SEMINOLE

Water levels are changing frequently at Lake Seminole as rain comes down the rivers from the entire state. Generally, we are holding at a foot or so under full pool but with major fluctuations throughout the day so be sure to watch out for submerged obstacles. The Flint River arm is stained and about 80 degrees, the Spring Creek arm is clear and about 82 degrees, and the Chattahoochee arm is stained and muddy and holding at about 80 degrees. The shad spawn on Lake Seminole is making bass fishing hot! Spinner baits and topwater lures are wear its at. Most of the bass are off their spring beds and hanging out more consistently in deeper water just off grass points or floating islands. Bream beds should also produce some nice larger sized bass too. Use a frog here and work it very slowly across the area. Bream fishing is hot. Just follow your nose down the Spring Creek arm to find them just about everywhere. The crappie bite is also really hot right now. You can find them in 8-10 ft of water off the end of the vegetation. Try white a white lure to land these guys. White rooster tails and white spinner baits are angler preferences right now.

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA (More Info HERE)

In general, May water temperatures at Big Lazer have warmed up and so has the fishing. May and early June are one of the best times to fish Big Lazer PFA because spawning fish move into shallower water. Also, early summer is a great time to not only fish but also picnic at Big Lazer with the whole family.

• Bass: The bass fishing is pretty good right now. We recently sampled many largemouth bass about 5-10 feet off the bank and in 4 to 6 feet of water. Bass will be finishing up spawning and switch their focus on feeding. Try throwing spinners and crankbaits at about 4-6 feet of water. Fishing plastic worms and lizards near spawning beds could still produce decent bites. You may have luck by locating feeding shad near the banks and throwing a crankbait or spinner in the area.
• Crappie: The crappie bite has cooled some over the last two months. However, there are still a few being caught. Minnows are still your best bet. You can also try trolling with bright colored jigs and minnows at varying depths to find bunched up crappie. Fish for crappie deeper than you do for bass.
• We have had some good reports of bream catches lately. May is traditionally a great time to fish for bream on bed. Look for bream beds in the backs of shallow coves. Red worms and crickets are still your best bet for bream. Woody structure and areas near the pier may produce some good bites.
• Catfish: Catfish fishing is improving as of late and should continue to do so. Try using livers or worms at or near the bottom of the lake. Woody structure as well as the rip-rap near the dam may be your best bet at a good cat. Many large channel catfish were recently stocked in the big lake (10 lb and up).

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Steve Schleiger, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Reservoir Fishing Reports Courtesy of Southern Fishing with Ken Sturdivant.

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL 70'S

Bass fishing is fair. Fish the rip rap and the smaller islands. Shad Raps in silver, black and gold and Fire Tiger colors are working and use the #5 and #7's. Expect all the fish to be spotted bass. Have the Super Flukes in pearl in the regular sizes and smaller sizes ready on light spinning rod and reels. Offshore hotspots for spotted bass have continued to produce with drop shot rigs. Cover a lot of water with shallow crank baits and spinnerbaits. Look for red clay points and rocky banks with sunlight on them most of the day. Most of these points and banks will be northeastern shorelines. Make long casts with crank baits and spinnerbaits on the shallow ends of points. Slowly reel baits making sure to keep continuous contact with the bottom. The best crank baits are a Bomber 4A and Bandit 200 series in a red craw pattern. Spinner bait patterns can be a 1/2-ounce War Eagle in white with double willow leaf blades gold and silver. Keep a ½ ounce spinner bait ready all day and use a long rod and make the longest casts possible to the points and blow throughs.

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 70'S

Bass fishing is good. The fish are up on top water early. The all-white buzz bait or Bang A Lures in silver and black back on banks and wood has been good. Cast to the shallow banks with a Rattlin' Rouge in the shad or bream color. Spinner baits with willow leaf blades in silver and golds on the banks can draw strikes. Worms on a Texas or a short Carolina rig are fair in greens or smoke colors, but fish slowly in and around brush. The down lake fish are biting blue back Shad Raps crank baits on the points and humps. Try the white skirts and silver blades on a Strike King 3/8-ounce spinner baits up the rivers in coves and hit wood on the banks. Keep a ½ ounce spinner bait ready all day and use a long rod and make the longest casts possible to the points and blow throughs. As always have a Zoom pearl Super Fluke ready.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70'S (This Lake Oconee fishing report is by Captain Mark Smith, Reel Time Service) -

• Bass: Bass fishing is good. At first light look for spawning shad around rip rap. Find the spawning shad and the small top water baits like a Pop R will draw a strike. When the sun gets up look around any wood structure, or boat docks. Spinner baits worked around the wood or docks has been the best producer over the past few days. White or white/chartreuse have been the best color. Small crank baits fished around the docks will draw a strike. A chrome Rat L Trap, or a small Shad Rap number 5 or 7 in fire tiger, or shad color will work depending on watercolor.
• Striped Bass: Striper fishing is good. The fish are starting to move away from the dam. Look on the humps and points up the lake from the dam. Live bait, umbrella rigs and spoons are all working well. Use the Lowrance to locate the schools on the humps then drop a live bait or a spoon down and hang on.
• Crappie: Crappie fishing is good. The fish are starting to move into their summer locations. Look on the creek ledges as well as in the deeper timber. Once the fish show up on the Lowrance, long line (troll) over them or drop a live bait into the school.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.3 FEET, 70'S

Bass fishing is good. Bass are biting the all-white spinner baits or buzz baits early in the creeks up and just off the river. Middle of the day fishing is run and gun with shad colored trick worms halfway in the creeks and the off-river coves. Down lake in the creeks the Rebel Deep Wee R in the parrot color is fair and cast it around any dock or bank cover. On overcast days the all green Zoom trick worm or a buzz bait with silver blades and a white skirt is fair. Up both rivers and on deeper creeks on points, use a bright Shad Rap in the #7 size in both shad and black back and baby bass. Down lake work the main lake points with a Fat Free Shad in baby bass or a Lucky Craft Redemption spinner bait with gold and silver combinations in willow leaf blades. Day fishing is fair in the creeks on the ends of points. Worms in smoke and red colors on a Carolina rig is fair. Soft plastic crawfish imitations are working. Berkley has the PowerBait Gilly and use it on a drop shot rig and use dark colors next to docks or shallow cover for a fast strike. Cast to any bank cover with the watermelon green floating trick worm halfway in the creeks and the off-river coves. As always have a Zoom pearl Super Fluke ready.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 1.0 FEET, 70'S

Bass fishing is good. Keep a ½ ounce spinner bait ready all day and use a long rod and make the longest casts possible to the points and blow throughs. As always have a Zoom pearl Super Fluke ready. Trick worms can work all day and use green pumpkin and school bus yellow with no weight. The fish are on small finesse worms and jigs on the blown down trees and docks with brush. Look for the best action in the lower lake's creeks. Flip docks with a Texas rigged Culprit black shad worm. Use the larger worms in dark colors and add the Real Craw scent. Try the Bomber Fat Free Shad sizes 5 (Fingerling 3/8 ounce) and size 6 (Jr. 1/2 ounce) in Citrus Shad. Cast to the same spot with several casts. Try the larger dark Berkley Power ribbon tail worm in and around the docks. Work the backs of these docks as well as the bank cover and the sea walls on down lake. Later in the day, use a 7A Bomber in crawfish or fire tiger colors right on the docks and get the lures under these docks with accurate casts. The upper rivers are slow, and fish are tight in brush.

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