CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956"
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921 912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
Captain Judy's email fishjudy2@aol.com
Click Here to View Captain Judy's Fishing Report for May 21
"The Southern Fishing Report"
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
www.havefunfishing.com
May 9, 2012
LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 6.21 FEET, THE CREEKS AND MAIN LAKE ARE CLEAR & 77 DEGREES.
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jim Mathley, Jimbo's Lake Lanier Service. 770 542 7764
Bass fishing is good. We have continued to run our post spawn pattern and have continued to see great results in terms of size and numbers. The larger female spots have pulled out to the brush and the ones that are active can be found relating to the summer brush in 15 to 25 feet of water both on the main lake and in major creek mouths on most days. We have been using walking top waters such as the Zara Spook or Sammy and wake baits such as the Wake Up Wake Shad to catch these post spawn fish relating to the brush. The swim bait bite has picked up nicely and should continue to get better and better, along with the top water bite, as the month of May continues. A Sebile has been our lure of choice in the swim bait category. A Fish Head Spin and a Wackem worm on a Davis Shaky head have also worked well when the fish refuse to come up. An erratic presentation can also help turn those lookers and followers into strikes and landed fish when you are working your top water and wake baits. Most of the largemouth are in the post spawn mode currently. Go to the back of any major creek or creek finger and throw a fluke, jerk bait, trick worm, top water bait or Davis Shaky Head worm dipped in JJ's Magic around shallow to mid depth docks and you can catch both the post and pre spawn fish. As always, once you find a creek, pocket, or main lake area holding bait and fish you may have success by rotating that area with other areas you find holding bait and fish. It is important to note that the baits we are using have been custom painted by Daniel Truit in an incredible blue back herring pattern. Daniel is a phenomenal lure painter and his attention to detail is awesome. He will paint most lures for a $10 charge. You can contact him at 678 300 4003. Tell him Jimbo sent you and he will take great care of you and turn your baits around quickly.
This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On! Service, 404 561 2564. www.bigfishon.com
Striper fishing is very good. The fish are beginning to school and there has been some surfacing fish in the early morning. However, there are lots of striper boats chasing surfacing fish and the fish are not staying up very long and will scatter in a heartbeat. You are probably better off pulling herring on points with a focus on points next to channel bends. We are pulling both down rods and free lines and catching fish equally on both. Free lines at 120 feet back weighted free lines with a couple of split shots at 70 feet back and down rods at 18 to 25 feet. Herring is the preferred bait. Put some ice in your bait tank water and do not let the temperature get above 70 degrees. If you have oxygen it is time to start using it. While you are pulling baits put someone on the front deck casting a buck tail with a shad body. We caught fish last week on umbrella rigs pulling them on the edge of creek channels with a high concentration of bait. We use a four arm three ounce rig loaded with nine one ounce jigs pulled at 80 to 100 feet back. There are fish all over the lake in the mouths of the creeks and the river channel. We have been fishing the north end but there are fish lake wide. Some places to start on the North end are Gainesville Creek, river channel from Gainesville Marina to Browns Bridge and the mouth of the Chestatee River. Shoal Creek, Young Deer Creek, Orr Creek and Mud Creek are good starting points on the south end. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call Ken Sturdivant for details. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.28 FEET, STAINED & 80 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL
Bass fishing has been poor. Fish are still scattered lake wide, but seem to improving day by day as fish group back up in their summer patterns. First thing in the morning when the shad spawn is present you can catch multiple fish on spinnerbaits and buzz baits in a shad pattern. Use sliver blades and white skirts as the water is very clear right now. Spawning shad can be found on lay downs and rocky banks near main lake and river channels. Spawning shad will happen first thing in the morning before the sun is above the trees. Once the shad spawn is over, begin covering offshore humps, road beds, and points with a Carolina rigged green pumpkin trick worm. This pattern seems to be good for numbers and will provide the occasional big fish.
Hybrid and striper fishing is good. It is time to begin focusing on humps and road beds down lake in depths from twelve to twenty feet deep. You will spend more time looking at your depth finder than actually fishing. Once you have located fish down line live shad to schools of feeding fish. Throughout the day keep a top water Rebel Pop R in a shad pattern ready for schooling fish.
Crappie fishing has been fair. There are two patterns working. Locate deep water brush piles in ten to twelve feet of water. Once you have located brush downlink live minnows to locate fish. You may have to check multiple brush piles, but once you find a brush pile holding fish, catching multiples is common. The second pattern has been fishing bridge columns as night beneath lights. Boat traffic will be much less and the bites can really heat up at night. Use live minnows dropped below floating lights for best action. Most of the bridges lake wide are currently producing. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
LAKE ALLATOONA IS FULL, CLEAR AND 71 DEGREES
This Bass fishing report is from Matt Driver 404 456 6094 www.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing is back in the good range with the waning moon and stable temperatures. The fish are beginning the transition to early summer patterns. Bass are done with the spawn and are move slowly away from those areas. The best post spawn baits that are working well now are creature baits like the Big Bite Kriet creature fished on a jig head or Carolina rig on primary and secondary points. Also, top water baits like a buzz bait early can be protective. Slow down when you find a school and pick it apart.
This Lake Allatoona fishing guides report is bought to you by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service. www.firstbiteguideservice.com 770 827-6282.
Line side fishing is fair. The Super moon we had this pasted weekend really did slow down the bite. The fish are still in the places they where last week, but just on the finicky side. The bite should pick back up before the weekend and hopefully we will be back to catching good numbers. The fish will be staging on the flats and schooling up at areas like The Delta. The mouth of Little River should be loaded with stripers and hybrids. There has been a good early morning top water bite in the Little River area, and there's also lots of action on top at Victoria Landing by the sailboats. Again the super moon slowed this bite down, but we look for it to pick back up any day now. Also, look for fish from Iron Hill to the spillway. Fish flat lines and planer boards early, and then switch to down lines dropped to between 18 and 24. Bait has been a pain to catch this pasted week do to the full moon. A Mack's four arm umbrella rig with chartreuse jigs pulled between 2.7 and 3.1 mph is good once the sun gets up. While you're trolling, keep your eyes open for white bass coming up in schools, and have something ready to throw to them. A Rooster Tail or Zara Spook are both good. See May's Issue of Georgia outdoor news on page 56 for a full feature on May tactics on Lake Allatoona. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call Ken for details. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 8.1 FEET, STAINED & 73 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and the cool weather and wind slowed the bite mid week. The fish are close to the wood, docks and points mid lake to the dam. There are lots of bass shallow almost all day and spinner baits, Super Flukes, worms and floating worms are working. Use red shad Culprit worms on a Texas out to 15 feet. Cast on points and wood the 3/8 ounce Enticer Blade spinner baits and the 1/2 ounce Stanley dark jig and the Uncle Josh #11 trailer. The up river fish are on the points and secondary points. Use the blacks and silver colors in these jigs and cast them shallow on the points and docks up lake. Work these baits slowly. The backs of the up lake creeks are key areas and go to the warmest water in the creeks. The Zoom u tail worms in the green pumpkin and red shad on a Texas rig are fair. Use a watermelon seed lizard on the short 2 foot leader on a Carolina rig. Use an egg sinker in 1/2 ounce sizes are best on the rig. Work coves right off the river. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 9.1 FEET, 73 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair and the fish are shallow on overcast days. Use the green Zoom trick worm or a Lunker Lure buzz bait with silver blades and a white skirt. Early, go to the main lake bridges up and down lake. Then mid day, go up rivers and fish the on deeper creeks on points and 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 spinner bait with gold and silver combinations in willow leaf blades. Mid day fishing is fair in the creeks on the ends of points. Worms in smoke and red colors of a Carolina rig is fair. Cast to any bank cover with the watermelon green floating trick worm half way in the creeks and the off river coves. Keep a Super Fluke ready any time of the day. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 2.9 FEET, CLEAR & 72 DEGREES
Bass is fair and the warm weather will spark a lot of feeding. Pop R's in any color can be an all day lure. If you want more fish on a top water lure, get the Rico in any color and use some braid so the high dollar lure does not get taken away from you. The fishing has been getting better this week. The bass are still feeding heavy on shad in the creeks and ditches. During the warmer days the bas can be caught on a small shad colored crank bait like the #5 Shad Rap on points in 5 to 10 feet of water. Mid day go to the Carolina rigged Zoom 5 inch green pumpkin lizard around brush and standing timber. On the main river, use a small Zara Spook in bone on any reef marker and any bridge rock and pilings. If there are fish on the rip rap, use a drop shot rigged with a Zoom G Tail Ringer or Meathead worm will work well as the fish begin to set up on main lake points and at the mouth of the creeks. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken
May 9, 2012
LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED & 77 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and they are cruising the banks and on the ends of points. Fish are shallow around any wood and cast baits to shadows all day. Use a gourd green Zoom u tail worms down lake on Texas rig and use the brass and glass on the rig for more sound. Look in the mid lake half way back in the creeks and use the Sluggo with a glass rattle in it and throw it on the grass. A plastic rat will work on the matted grass. Work the heavy brush and the fish are on the shady corners. Up the river the fishing is good and use a 1/2 ounce Stanley spinner bait and add a large trailer. Use Zoom worms in the u tail style in red bug worked slowly on wood and docks. Use a Texas rig and add some Jacks Juice. Drop an all black Zoom trick worm in and around the grass beds. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing On the Water fishing schools. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN 1.55 FEET, 76 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair and anglers could use a frog most of the day. If this bite dies, go to the creek and river ledges with a deep running crank bait like a Mann's 20+. The fish are feeding on threadfin shad around the ledges, and some sort of structure on the ledge really helps. If you can't get them on the crank bait, try fishing a big worm or a jig very slowly. There are a lot of small 12 to 14 inch fish out there and encouraged anglers to keep these small fish and eat them. Early try the small shad imitating top water bait. Work the areas about halfway back in the creeks where the creek channel swings in against the bank. Look for shad and fish activity on the surface. Once the top water bite is over for numbers and quality fish use the crank bait on shallow main lake and creek channel ledges in the 6 to 10 foot range. A Spro Little John MD in the spooky shad color is a good choice. Fish areas where the shad schools are and look for key structural features such as channel intersections, stumps and brush piles. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Learn how to use the new GEN 2 Lowrance HDS machines. Call for details. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken
May 9, 2012
LAKE WEISS IS DOWN 2.64 FEET, 76 DEGREES BY MARK COLLINS GUIDE SERVICE
Bass fishing is good and the large mouth are in the back of the creeks and coves and a lot of Bass have spawned. Pitching a jig or tube bait to any shallow brush or stumps is working well. Any shallow brush or stumps can be holding bass right now. A Texas rigged Lizard is also catching a lot of fish. Flipping shallow docks with a jig or tube bait is producing some good Bass also. Spotted Bass are still being caught on secondary gravel and rocky points and humps on Rat L Traps and shallow running crank baits and Carolina rigged plastics.
Crappie fishing is fair and the spawn is pretty well over and the crappie have moved back to deeper cover in 10 to 14 feet of water on brush and stumps in the flats and creek channel ledges. Spider rigging with live minnows is producing some good fishing. A lot of crappie are still being caught shooting docks with jigs. Crappie are being caught under lights at night in 8 to 12 feet of water on the river channel in Little River and off of docks under lights at night.
Striper fishing is fair and they are starting to be caught at the Cave hole in Little River on live shad down lined and flat lined. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.99 FEET, 72 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.
Bass fishing is picking up and early top water is good. Buzz baits in the creeks and a top water prop bait will draw strikes. After the sun is up, head to the creek and flip docks with a Texas rigged worm. Use larger worms in dark colors and add some Jack's Juice in the garlic flavor and hit the same spot with several casts. On the lower lake, use a large Berkley Power Sand worm in and around the docks. Work the backs of these docks and later each day, the banks and sea walls on the northwest side of the lake will warm from the sunlight. Also a 7A Bomber in crawfish or fire tiger colors right on the docks and get the lures under these docks with accurate casts. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale. We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken
May 9, 2012
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL & 74-80 DEGREES.
Bass fishing is fair. The lake is full and 74 to 80 degrees. The main lake is clear, stained up the rivers. Start the day with a white or a white and chartreuse buzz bait. Fish it along the sea walls and rip-rap. After the top water bite ends move to the docks and start to work a Texas rigged Zoom u tail worm in a dark green or pumpkin under deep water docks. You can also work any wood structure on the banks with the same Texas rigged worm. Some fish are starting to show up on the points in the mouths of the creeks and coves. Fish these areas with a Carolina rigged Zoom u-tail worm in the same dark green or pumpkin color.
Lake Oconee Line Side report brought to you by Mark Smith at Reel Time Guide Service. 404-803-0741. wwwreeltimeguideservice.com
Line side fishing is good. Fish are still at the dam but they are starting to show up in other areas of the lake. If the dam area is not producing one day then start looking up the lake on humps and long points. Most fish are still coming on live thread fin shad as well as Capt. Mack u-rigs. The umbrella rig is a good search bait and will help you locate the fish that have moved from the dam.
Crappie fishing is good and the fish are starting to stage in the tree tops. Look for the fish in the tops of the trees at about 10 to 15 feet deep. Use you Lowrance to locate the fish in the trees and drop a minnow down to the fish. This pattern should hold until summer. Sugar Creek Marina has a complete line of striper gear, crappie jigs and all the bass tackle you will need. The spring striper bite is on and now is a good time to stock up. We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details at 770 889 2654 for details. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. Come to Lake Lanier for a day and see the Lowrance HDS machines at work. Call for details 770 889 2654.
May 9, 2012
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN 4.1 FEET, CLEAR & 72 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair. Several patterns are producing a few fish, but none are dominant. Some larger bass are still being caught on top water baits first thing in the morning. Fish main river sea walls that have deep water very near. Work a Pop R or buzz bait fast to cover a lot of water quickly. The few fish that are shallow early seem to be aggressive and will take the bait without repeat casting. Later in the morning, look for fish on the sides of main river points. Deep crank baits and Carolina rigged worms are the baits to use. In the central and upper lake, try hard baits like a No. 6 or No. 7 Fat Free Shad, Poe's No. 300 and No. 400, Norman Deep Little N or DD22, and Mann's 15 and 20 Plus. Shad and chartreuse patterns both can work. A June bug finesse worm works well on a 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jig head. If you want the best DVD on Lowrance equipment see this web site, www.hightechfishing.com and use this code when you order 5 Ken. We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details at 770 889 2654 for details.
Our DVD, Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass are now on sale for only $25.00 including shipping. Send a check payable to Southern Fishing Schools Inc. to: Southern Fishing Schools Inc to 106 Hickory Ridge Drive, Cumming Georgia. Please allow 14 days for delivery.
Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE! Sonar Seminars at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville Georgia. The BASICS OF SONAR seminars are held on the last Saturday of each month at 2pm. All seminars are subject to change without notice.
If you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net and ask for the Sonar Setup Quick List. See the new Lowrance machines at www.lowrance.com. Lowrance Announces HDS Gen2. See them in action at Bass Pro Shops in Lawrenceville this Saturday from noon until 5pm.
We have these BASS FISHING books for sale: BASS FISHING LAKE LANIER, BASS FISHING LAKE ALLATOONA, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE, BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE and BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL. These books are written exclusively for Bass and each book covers every week of the year. Each book $39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
Copyright 2012, Southern Fishing Schools Inc. calls us to set up a school, Maps and Depth Finders or SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details.www.havefunfishing.com 770 889 2654.