Lake temperatures are in the mid 70’s. The lake level is 1,057.7 feet , or less than 13 «-feet, below full pool at 1,071 feet. The main lake and creeks are stained to clear and the Chattahoochee River is clear.
Bass fishing is fair to good and the fish are in a post-spawn pattern.
The post-spawn period can be either feast or famine.
Top-water action has started but is not in full swing quite yet. Many of the bass are chasing top-water plugs without hitting them.
This can be frustrating to an angler but there are ways to get these followers to actually eat you offerings.
Remember that when a bass chases a lure there is something that he likes about it.
There are a few ways to get these fish to bite.
First, try working your lure at a different speed to see if this entices a strike. If that does not work you may try using a smaller version or different color of the same type of lure that the bass are chasing.
The third thing to try is to use a completely different style of lure.
For instance, this past week the bass were chasing my SPRO Dawg but only a few were hooking up.
I tried changing speeds and even threw a smaller version with only limited success. I switched over to a Zoom Fluke, which is a subsurface bait, and the bass responded with vicious strikes.
This week, start out your day on main lake points and work a SPRO Dawg or Albino-colored Zoom Fluke rigged with a No. 5 EWG Gamakatsu hook.
Work either of these baits with a zigzag retrieve on the surface of the water.
The bass will hit these two lures all day long but sometimes after sun up you may get better results with a cranks bait, Fish Head Spin or even a white Rooster Tail.
I may sound like a broken record but the Finesse Worm on a SPRO K-Finesse or Tru Tungsten Ike Spike Jig Head will continue to catch bass around the docks and points.
Live shiners fished on a flat line from the docks or out of the back of the boat will almost guarantee success.
Striper fishing remains very good.
Shane Watson and Hammond’s Fishing Center say that the large bluebacks on a flat line have been the best method for a couple of weeks.
Run your bluebacks 60-to 100- feet out behind the boat on a flat line (no weight or float-just a hook and bait).
The stripers have been attacking these offerings and the strikes have been increasable.
If you prefer to fish with lures then try a Red Fin.
SPRO Dawg 125 or a Zoom Fluke and fish these baits on the surface around any main lake point or in the mouths of the creeks.
The top-water action has been best in the mornings so when the sun gets up you may wish to switch over to live bait.
Some anglers are reporting that stripers are still biting at night on the Bomber Long A’s.
Crappie: Keith Pace of Micro Spoons says that the biggest crappie are relating to the docks that have 20 feet of water at the ends.
The crappie will move up and down in the water column so he suggests trying different depths and let the crappie show you what they prefer.
Keith likes to "shoot" his crappie jigs and Micro Spoons up under the docks with light line. Try tipping your lure with a live crappie minnow for increased success.
Trout fishing is great and the fish are easy to catch.
A live night crawler fished on a small hook with a split shot attached three-feet above the line will work well all year long.
Fish small inline spinners in the rapids for a quick limit.
Eric Aldrich is a part time outdoor writer, bass fisherman and is sponsored by Humminbird, SPRO, Gamakatsu, Tru Tungsten and Hammonds Fishing and Boat Storage. Reports are based on personal experience and permission from a close network of friends. Contact: esaldrich@yahoo.com.