Find Crappie in Deep, Cool Waters Right Now

The brief Georgia winter provides a great opportunity to get excellent results for crappie fishing, and several reservoirs across the state offer rewards for anglers willing to brave the bitter cold temperatures.

“Anglers searching for crappie need to concentrate on cold weather ‘hot spots’,” says John Biagi, chief of Fisheries Management for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Crappie fishing brings a lot of action which means it is an excellent time to engage the entire family and/or to introduce someone new to the fun aspect of the sport.”

During the winter cold, crappie tend to congregate in deeper water, generally 15-30 feet deep, near the mouths of major tributaries and in the main lake. Large schools are easily located with sonar electronics.

As the water warms in March, crappie will move to more shallow water toward the middle and back of major tributaries, preferring to congregate around woody cover such as stumps, logs, downed trees, fish attractors and creek ledges. Minnows and small jigs are favored bait, and light spinning tackle spooled with 6 or 8-pound test line is recommended.

Cool weather hot spots

In northwest Georgia, visit Lake Allatoona and look for the man-made fish attractors, especially those in the Kellogg Creek, Illinois Creek, Tanyard Creek and Sweetwater Creek areas. Fish attractor location maps are available at www.gofishgeorgia.com . The Coosa River, which begins in the city of Rome and flows roughly 30 miles west-southwest before entering Lake Weiss, is another area to target; concentrate in the river immediately below Mayo’s Lock and Dam Park and the tributary backwaters off the main river channel, especially in the Brushy Branch area of Big Cedar Creek. 

Northeast Georgia offers three different reservoirs for targeting crappie. Metro area anglers should look to Lake Lanier, located just 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The upper part of the reservoir, especially the Chattahoochee River arm, Wahoo Creek and Little River are considered hot spots. Anglers should also consider the upper part of Lake Hartwell, located on the Georgia-South Carolina border near Franklin and Hart counties. The Eastanollee Creek area is considered a crappie haven. The manmade fish attractors around the upper half of Lake Nottely rank as another active location.

Several east-central area lakes offer prime crappie habitat, including Clarks Hill Lake where excellent fishing is predicted for the year, especially at Soap, Fishing, Grays and Newford creeks, and the Little River arm. On Lake Oconee, Beaverdam, Sandy, Rocky, Richland and Sugar creeks and Appalachee River arm are good target areas. At Lake Russell anglers should concentrate at Rocky River, Beaverdam, Coldwater and Allen creeks. Lakes Blalock and J.W. Smith in Clayton County offer good bank fishing opportunities near boat ramps. Areas of standing timber are key targets at Lake Blalock while J.W. Smith offers good boat fishing around the Panhandle Road Bridge, the overflow structure near the dam and the submerged pond and dam on the south side of the lake. Anglers can count on Lake Varner for good numbers of crappie and Randy Poynter Lake for larger crappie.

Wildlife Resources Division biologists recommend five areas in the west-central area of the state for crappie fishing - West Point Lake in Troup County, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Big Lazer Public Fishing Area in Talbot County, Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area in Bleckley County and Lake Sinclair just north of Milledgeville. At West Point, concentrate around fish attractors, deep water areas, mouths of creeks and bridges. Visit Bennett, Shepherd or Margery Lake at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and look for deep water and flooded timber or fish attractors. At Lake Sinclair, Beaverdam Creek provides good opportunities for early spawning due to the warmwater discharge from the steam plant. When temperatures warm, anglers should target larger islands such as Optimist, Budweiser and Goat. Sinclair bank anglers should concentrate on the riprap along Highway 441 at Little River, Beaverdam and Rooty Creek. Additionally, the riprap at Twin Bridges and Potato Creek along Highway 212 also provide good bank access. Big Lazer and Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area anglers should seek flooded timber near the creek channels and deep water.

Southwest Georgia also offers key areas for crappie. Lake Walter F. George, located on the Georgia-Alabama state line between Columbus and Ft. Gaines, provides good fishing at the mouths of Pataula Creek, Rood Creek, Sandy Branch and Sandy Creeks. On Lake Seminole, in the southwest corner of the state, anglers should fish the main river channels around Ford Scott Island, the Chattahoochee River mouth between river miles three and four, the mouth of Spring Creek and the old river channels and submersed structures. Lake Blackshear, an impoundment of the Flint River north of Albany also offers good fishing for black and white crappie. Good areas to try are Swift Creek, Collins Branch, Cedar Creek and the numerous sloughs located off the main river channel between Highway 27 and Highway 30.

For more information on crappie fishing in Georgia, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or call a Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management office.

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Potential Records, Reduced Expenses Expected To Lure Anglers To Wisconsin

(NAPSI)-While, like the rest of the nation, Wisconsin has felt the pinch of the recession, one segment of the state's economy could stand to benefit--the recreational fishing industry.

Many anglers who've traditionally gone to Canada for big-time fishing action may cut their travel expenses and opt to visit the lake-filled Midwestern state instead. Literally millions of anglers are expected to fish Wisconsin's waters, and they'll be chasing more than just dinner. They'll be trying to make history, encouraged by a recent season that included several world fly-rod records for the legendary muskellunge (musky).

And that might just have been the beginning. As a relatively new way to fish for musky, some experts believe that world fly fishing records could fall in several categories this year.

"Last year, there were several line-class fly-rod musky records broken because it is a fairly new way to fish for musky," said Emmett Brown, executive director of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. "Some of these line-class records were relatively small, in the low 40-inch range, so I expect that you will see even more fly-rod line-class musky world records fall."

When the record does fall, there's a strong chance it will happen in the "Musky Capital of the World"--Hayward, Wisconsin.

Home to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the catch site for last year's fly-rod record, the Hayward area waters are the stuff of legend. The most famous is the Chippewa Flowage, where the all-tackle world-record musky (a 69-pound, 11-ounce monster) was caught some 60 years ago.

Though it's arguably the state's most high-profile fishing location, Hayward is just one of many fishing hot spots throughout Wisconsin. Home to 15,000 inland lakes, 42,000 miles of streams and rivers, plus two Great Lakes and 260 miles of the Mississippi River, Wisconsin offers anglers plenty to choose from. About 1.4 million fishing licenses are sold in Wisconsin each year, making the state second only to Florida in the number of days nonresident anglers spend fishing.

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data, Wisconsin is the top fishing destination in the Midwest. Approximately 88 million fish are caught in a license year; an impressive number in and of itself, but even more so considering Wisconsin has just 5.6 million residents.

"All across the state, we have good populations of major game species such as walleye, bass, pike and trout as well as plenty of panfish like bluegills, crappies and yellow perch," said Mike Staggs, Wisconsin DNR's fisheries director. "The great thing about fishing in Wisconsin is that there are species biting somewhere on almost every day of the year."

"Musky is our Wisconsin state fish and we have over 700 lakes and 50 different rivers where anglers can find them," said Staggs. "But these days, a lot of anglers are looking for a few fish to take home for dinner and you'll find those here also."

Anglers can start with salmon, steelhead and lake trout that are plentiful in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Many of the state's coastal communities have large charter fishing fleets, offering visitors a "deep sea"−type fishing experience--and, potentially, a cooler full of delicious filets.

Wisconsin also boasts some of the nation's best fishing for tasty walleye, including the world-famous Winnebago chain (including lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts and Poygan) and the Mississippi River.

"Anglers should not overlook the opportunity to harvest a few bass or trout," said Staggs. "We have some areas where trout and bass are doing so well that our fish managers would like folks to take a few home so they don't become stunted. And anglers shouldn't forget that we have abundant panfish populations in lakes all across the state. Our Fishing Report can give anglers some ideas on where to find some fish for dinner."

For more information about fishing in Wisconsin, Wisconsin travel information and travel-planning guides, visit travelwisconsin.com or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's toll-free number, (800) 432-TRIP/8747.

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Georgia Top Black Bass Fishing Destination

T2F Note: Memories of long, hot lazy days fishing with the family bring sweet smiles. Go make your own memories as the Fayette Front Page designates the wonderful streams, lakes and rivers in Georgia with the coveted Fayette Front Page Day Tripper Award.

Seventy-seven years later Georgia still holds the coveted title for the world record largemouth bass – a 22-lb., 4-oz. catch lured out of Montgomery Lake in Lumber City in 1932. Yet, the world record catch isn’t Georgia’s only bass bragging right. Georgia also remains the only state in the nation where anglers can target six of the seven species of black bass.

The most sought after, the largemouth bass, is just one among the state’s black bass population, including smallmouth, spotted, shoal, redeye (or Coosa) and Suwannee.

“Fishing for bass is an all-time favorite passion of many anglers in Georgia and is the most popular type of freshwater fishing in the nation,” says John Biagi, Fisheries Management chief for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Bass are appealing because they are relatively abundant in most water bodies throughout Georgia, they grow to a quality size, are aggressive fighters and provide a fun challenge to catch.”

Species breakdown by locale, technique

Largemouth

The most widely distributed and popular member of the black bass species, largemouth bass are easily distinguished from other black bass species by their elongated lower jaw that extends past the eye and a wide stripe running down their sides.

They commonly are found in the sluggish waters of rivers, lakes and ponds and are more tolerant of turbidity and salinity than other black bass. Consequently, they are found in most areas of the state.

Largemouth bass anglers can choose from a variety of methods, including plastic worms and jigs, topwater plugs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Fishing with live shiners is popular for those seeking trophy-sized bass. Success typically increases when fishing near some type of cover, such as submerged trees, plants or rocks.

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends the following locations: Cedar Creek Reservoir, Walter F. George Reservoir, Lake Blackshear, Lake Seminole, Silver Lake WMA, Altamaha River, Ocmulgee River, Paradise PFA, Dodge County PFA, Hugh Gillis PFA, Ocmulgee PFA, Rocky Mountain PFA, Weiss Lake (Georgia portion) and the Coosa River (main channel).

Spotted

Spotted bass, commonly known as Kentucky bass, are a smaller species that live in streams and rivers and often are found in lakes and reservoirs. They closely resemble largemouth bass, but differ in that they have parallel rows of spots below the lateral line and a tooth patch on the tongue.

Spotted bass are a popular target and are known as willing biters and aggressive fighters. Angling techniques vary depending on habitat, but stream fish can be caught using plastic worms, small crankbaits and spinners in flowing water. In reservoirs they commonly are caught in deep water using small plastic worms or jigs, or by crawling a large spinnerbait or crankbait over deep river channel ledges.

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends Lake Lanier and Carters Lake.

Shoal

The quintessential Georgia black bass, shoal bass are native only to the Apalachicola River basin, including the Flint and Chattahoochee River systems in Georgia. They also were introduced into the Ocmulgee River below Lake Jackson, and therefore can be found all the way to Macon.

Shoal bass are dark olive green on the back, fading to a light green on the sides, with 10-15 vertical dark blotches on the sides. Shoal bass are similar to spotted bass with noticeable rows of spots on their lower sides below the lateral line, and usually a dark blotch on their tails. They are distinguishable from redeye bass in that the tail of shoal bass lacks the white margins characteristic of redeye, and they also lack the redeye and spotted characteristic of teeth on the tongue.

Solely found in rivers and streams, shoal bass are a fly angler favorite and are easily caught on a variety of wet and dry flies and popping bugs. Other lures, such as plastic worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and flukes, can be very effective. Most shoal bass are caught in shallow rapids and rocky shoals, with a few taken each year below dams or in deep pools.

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends the Chattahoochee River (above Lake Lanier), lower Flint River (between Blackshear Dam and the Big Slough near Bainbridge), the upper Flint River and the Ocmulgee River.

Redeye

The smallest member of Georgia’s black bass group, the redeye or “Coosa bass” look similar to spotted bass in that they have a tooth patch on their tongue and rows of spots along their lower sides, but they lack the spotted’s lateral stripe. They easily can be distinguished from other black bass species by the iridescent white or frosted orange color along the outer margins of their tail.

They inhabit upland warm streams in northern Georgia, and are native to small streams above the Fall Line in the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Savannah, Oconee, Ocmulgee, Ogeechee and Chattahoochee River systems.

A secretive fish, they usually remaining close to heavy cover such as undercut banks, logs and aquatic vegetation, and like shoal bass, are generally intolerant of reservoir conditions. Anglers can catch redeye bass by wading in small streams and casting crankbaits, jigs and spinners. Due to the small size of redeye bass, lure size should be very small (two inches or less).

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends the Chattooga River (between Hwy. 28 down to Lake Tugaloo) and the Cartercay River (a tributary to the Coosawattee River).

Suwannee

The rarest of all, Suwannee bass only are found in the Ochlockonee and Suwannee River systems and generally only in the Ochlockonee, Withlacoochee and lower Alapaha rivers.

Though sometimes mistaken for smallmouth, redeye or spotted bass, the Suwannee has some very distinctive features, like a shallow dorsal fin notch, a jawbone that does not extend past the back of the eye and several diamond-shaped vertical bars along its sides. The most distinguishing attribute is the turquoise tone on the cheeks and breast.

Anglers can use similar methods as described for shoal and redeye to catch Suwannee bass, but lures and baits fished near the bottom usually out-produce other offerings.

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends the Ochlochonee River (Thomasville to the state line), Withlacoochee River and the Alapaha River (below Statenville).

Smallmouth

Smallmouth bass are usually bronze-colored, often with dark bars on their sides and their eyes are commonly red. As their name suggests, the mouth is smaller than the largemouth bass and the lower jaw does not extend past the eye.

They typically inhabit clear rocky creeks, rivers and lakes, and usually prefer areas with current in moving water. Anglers should target mountain rivers, creeks and reservoirs in the northern part of the state.

Aggressive and scrappy fighters, smallmouth can be caught using a variety of methods, including plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Downsizing the lures to accommodate their smaller mouths will usually lead to greater success.

This spring, the Wildlife Resources Division recommends Lake Blue Ridge.

For more information on bass fishing in Georgia, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com .

Take Me Fishing! ™ A recent national survey indicated that 87 percent of Americans believe fishing and boating have a positive effect on family relationships. So take your family fishing and you will always have something in common.

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Make Your Next Fishing Trip An Eco-Friendly One

(NAPSI)-The next time you go fishing, be an environmentally conscious angler and keep your favorite fishing spots clean to ensure that future generations can reap the many rewards of the sport, says BP Pro Bass Angler Judy Israel, an 11-year veteran on the professional bass fishing circuit. On tour 120 days a year, Israel spends the majority of her time fishing and she has some simple tips on how to make your next excursion more enjoyable and eco-friendly:

Lighten your load before you hit the road and the water

An eco-friendly fishing trip begins before you hit the water, so be sure to prepare your tow-vehicle (or car) and boat for the trip. Before you tackle the drive, get the "junk out of your trunk" and leave nonessential items housed on your boat at home. "You can save fuel by taking simple steps like lightening your vehicle's load and keeping your tires properly inflated," said Israel. "And, don't forget to stop at your local BP to fill up with quality fuel. With continuous use, quality fuel, like that at BP, can clean up a dirty engine caused by the use of low quality fuel, resulting in smoother acceleration, less hesitation, restored fuel economy and reduced emissions."

Before you cast your line, bait with the right hooks

Oftentimes, an angler's hook can get caught in a fish's mouth; by using bronze hooks, which rust out over time, you can reduce the risk of injuring the fish. Avoid stainless steel hooks, since they are very durable and have a higher chance of lingering within a fish's mouth after it has been released.

While on the water, choose lead-free sinkers

Sinkers are easy to lose and can end up sitting at the bottom of fishing spots for years. Most are made from lead, a highly toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of fish. Recently, eco-friendly alternative sinkers entered the market that are lead-free and some are even invisible to fish.

After you've reeled-in the "big catch"… release it

Be sure to release your fish after catching it, to help reduce bass mortality and to ensure this popular sport maintains a healthy fish stock for future generations. "Taking proper care of the species is the number-one priority of environmentally conscious anglers," said Israel. "It's exciting when you reel in a great catch, but releasing your fish back into its natural environment will keep the sport of bass fishing alive for a long time to come."

Although it may take some small, initial changes to make your fishing routine green, Israel says it pays to make the switch.

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