The extended drought has significantly lowered our lake levels. We are now at 10½ feet low. For running fast, you should stay between the main channel buoys marked by red and green. Outside of the main channel, run slower and watch your depth finder. Everyone is wondering which boat ramps to use. 

The link below has extremely helpful information that provides a list of the open and closed boat ramps in the area. 

http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/Thurrampstat.htm

The lower lake levels, on the other hand, are actually making the fishing better, especially black bass and crappie.  This is because the the fish are more concentrated.  I have had a lot of reports last week of crappie fisherman doing well.  Go the the back of your creeks and ease around dropping minnows and jigs.  Keep an eye out for brush and when you catch one, turn around and take a good look at the area before moving on.

Remember, with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

.....And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.  Hey, we'll see ya on the lake!

If you enjoy making pottery, you are sure to enjoy cavestone pottery making from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Mistletoe State Park in Appling, Georgia on November 3rd. These pots look like they were hewn right from the wall of a cave, but they're really a mixture of cement, parlite and moss. Class size is limited to 10; children ages12 to17 welcome with a parent or guardian. The pottery will take three days to dry, so bring a large tray or plywood to take your creations home. You may want to bring small shells, tiles, marbles or other items to make your pot unique. Register by October 31. The website below provides further details:

 http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=27725&s=119426.0.1.5

The warmer than normal fall has kept the hybrids and stripers in the same pattern.  They are holding in the main lake areas, especially near the mouths of the major creeks.  Soon, they will begin to move up those creeks and wind up far  upstream during the winter.  There are always some fish especially, large stripers, which will stay in the big water.  Go look for your fish near the mouths of South Carolina and Georgia Little Rivers as well as Soap Creek and and Keg Creek.  Again, look for birds or any breaking fish and watch your depth finder.

Crappie fishing has been on the upswing.  They are biting in a variet of spots.  They are being caught under some of the bridges and tree tops in deep water.  They are also showing up in the creeks in 20 to 35 feet near brush.  I actually caught two large crappie on herring in the middle of hypbrid schools.  I've never done that before.  It shows how much they have been feeding lately.  In the next few weeks, you can even find them on shallow brush.  I wouldn't go any more shallow than 10 to 12 feet, however.

Remember, with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

.....And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.  Hey, we'll see ya on the lake!

Get your taste buds ready on Sunday, October 21, 2007  from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for an interesting, dinner made from wild ingredients. For even more fun, search online for "wild edibles recipes" and make a dish to share. Click on the website below for more information.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=27724&s=132783.0.1.5

Since last week's report the fishing has been on and off.  On Wednesday and Thursday, with cloudy skies, the fishing was excellent.  On Wednesday afternoon Mike Dewberry and I were lucky enough to get on big fish on three occasions.  We did manage to catch a cooler full of 3 to 12 pound fish.  We also lost 2 fish to the trees.  I had one on that was near 20 pounds that had the hook pull free before being able to net the fish.  These fish were caught on herring and spoons.  The fish are hanging out over tree tops.  The magic depth has been on or near 38 feet.  You need to put your herring height above the trees and the fish will come up and get the herring.  The best areas are near the dam or from Bass Alley to Shriver Creek.  The old river channel is lined with trees left standing when the lake was flooded.  You must have a good depth finder and a good pair of binoculars.  Any schooling fish or birds indicate a spot to investigate.  On Wednesday, we had already done well and headed in.  I spotted one seagull nearly a mile away.  We went to investigate and the bird left us.  As we watched the depth finder, it showed a large school beneath us.  We immediatley started catching fish. 

On Thursday afternoon, I went out for two hours and found a school near Bass Alley and caught and released ten fish that averaged six pounds, my largest was around ten pounds.  All these fish were caught on  zara spooks, hopkins spoons, and thing poppers.  The fish were surface schooling and stayed up for an hour. 

As soon as the heat wave leaves us, I expect the fishing to be exceptional until the lake turns over, which should happen before Thanksgiving.

Remember, with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

.....And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.  Hey, we'll see ya on the lake!

Mistletoe State Park will be the place to go on Saturday,October 20th from 5:00 to 10:00 PM for a Family Fall Fest.  Enjoy music, a pumpkin scavenger hunt, apple bobbing, marshamallow roasting, night hikes, and a haunted shelter. Visit the website below for more information:

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=26398&s=661.0.1.5

I can personally attest that the really big stripers and hybrids have finally turned on.  There couldn't be a better chance to go than now, especially until the clouds lift.  That isn't predicted until Monday.  I am writing this Wednesday morning so if you read this, you need to go.  Any signs of fish, go to it and watch your depth finder.  Tuesday afternoon, Mike Dewberry and I had the lake to ourselves.  It was windy and raining on and off.  Finally around 4:30 PM, the wind layed down a little.  We saw a fish or two three different times and rowed to them and put the troll motor in.  (Always stop before you get the fish.  I know sometimes its hard to hold back, but you should, especially if no one else is chasing the fish).  All  three times we grapled hundreds of fish 25' to 45' in the water 70'.  They were hanging out over trees that came anywhere from 15' to 40' from the surface.  We caught fish from 3 to 15 pounds each time on live herring and hopkins spoons.  We also lost 2 fish to the trees and one really large fish to a hook pulled out.

With one hour left, we decided to go home, an 18 mile run, and look for schooling fish. I had just said that we had not seen any seagulls today and immediately spotted one off in the distance.  We went o investigate it and again put our troll motor in.  The seagull left, but he had given the fish away.  The depth finder showed 107' and hundreds of arches from 25' to 60' deep.  We dropped to 50 to 55 feet and hooked up the biggest fish of the day  just before dark.  We also caugh a 3 pound crappie in this spot.

The catfish are still biting real good on worms and liver.  Bass are chasing bait aggresively and hitting trick worms over grass beds.  Crappie have also started hitting on brushpiles in 20' of water.

If you want to know where we caught the fish, you can call me at 706-284-5796

Remember, with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

.....And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.  Hey, we'll see ya on the lake!