My very favorite time of year is here.
It’s arrived a bit later this year than past, but I’ll take it.
All a man (or woman) needs to take to the lake is a bait casting rod and a chrome colored Zara Spook…okay, a chrome Sammy or Chug Bug will also work.
The top water bite is phenomenal; the fishing is exciting; the scenery is spectacular. Lakes Lanier, Chatuge, Burton, Hartwell and Carters are all on fire.
For the next several weeks find a high spot near the mouth of any creek or feeder cove, but still on the main channel, and make ultra-long casts to the shallowest spot. Work the topwater vigorously for about ten seconds, then reel in and cast again.
If nothing happens after ten casts, relocate and try it again.
Simple, no?
The biggest challenge you’ll face (if you are a dedicated bass fisherman) is weeding through the stripers that will out-compete the spotted bass to attack your lure, but that is a “fun” problem to have.
Understand that spotted bass hanging out with schooling stripers will be giants; smaller spots get eaten by the stripers. Over the past ten days, on average, my fishing partner and I have caught three stripers for every spotted bass we hook, but the spots have all been “toads”, three-and-a-half-pounds or greater.
You’ll see fish on your sonar but don’t waste time dropping a plastic bait; after hundreds, maybe a thousand or more such attempts, we have yet to get one to bite, and you’ll miss being ready for surfacing fish nearby.
Get out and enjoy some of the most exciting angling you’ll encounter.
