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UNTING, FISHING * CAMPING What are the top IO best bass lakes in Georgia? According to Ronnie Garrison, expert bass fisher 1. Clark’s Hill Lake I grew up on Clark’s Hill and still have a place there. Built in 1950, this 72,000- acre Corps of Engineers lake has a lot of public access and camping areas. Bass fishing is good year round but is outstanding in the spring when the blueback herring spawn. Look for schooling fish on humps and around islands in April and May, throw Spooks and Flukes. During the summer, fish long points and hydrilla beds. Fall fishing- is good on clay and rocks with crankbaits. In the winter, jig spoons. 2. Lake Hartwell Hartwell is a 56,000-acre Corps of Engineers lake. It has good public access with many boat ramps and campgrounds. Bass feed on blueback herring here in the spring when they spawn. Fish islands and high spots with topwater in April and May. After the herring spawn you an “call up” bass in the same areas with topwater baits all summer long. Fall fishing is good with crankbaits in the creeks and jigging spoons and bucktails are excellent on the lower lake in the winter on long points. 3. Lake Oconee My best catch of bass ever came from Lake Oconee in a March club tournament - 9 bass weighing 37 pounds in two days. This 19,000- acre Georgia Power lake has pumpback so current flows both ways many days. Current is important. Fish humps and points with Carolina rigged worms and big crankbaits in the summer, fall and winter. Docks hold fish year round, too. Flip or pitch jig and pig or plastic worms to them. In the spring go to the backs of coves siwth spinnerbaits. Riprap is good year round. 4. Lake Sinclair Lake Sinclair is a 15,000- acre Georgia Power lake directly downstream of !Hfl Lake Oconee. It has current flowing both ways, too. It is a great winter lake due to the warm water discharge from a power plant. Fish crankbaits and jig and pig around shallow cover like docks all winter long. In the spring go to the backs of coves and grassbeds with spinnerbaits and worms. Docks can be good in the summer, too. Try crankbaits around rocks and clay in the fall. Carolina rigs on points work year round. 5. Jackson Lake Georgia Power’s Lake Jackson is 4,750 acres and one of the oldest lakes in Georgia. It used to be extremely fertile with sewage runoff from Atlanta and was fantastic for big bass -1 caught my first two 8 pounders there in the 1970 s in January tournametns and my biggest ever, a 9-7 came from there in Feb 1991. It is still a good lake but has lots of spots now. Fish crankbaits in the fall, winter and early spring. Try docks and points in the summer, and backs of EVANS NEWSPAPERS, INC. coves and creeks in the spring. 6. Lake Lanier Lanier is a Corps of Engineers lake of 38,000 acres. Spotted bass have become prime targets and spots weighing 5 pounds are common. Fish spinnerbaits and topwater on points and humps in the late spring for bass feeding on blueback herring. Spots can be caught year round on that pattern, drawing them up in the summer and using jerk baits for them in the winter. Spots bed on humps and points so fish them in the spring as well as pockets with tubes and lizards. The clear water helps bed fishing. 7. West Point Lake West Point is a Corps of Engineers lake of 26,000 acres and hosts many national tournaments. It has great structure and many manmade brushpiles. Summer fishing is good on main lake structure while current is moving. Big see Lakes pg. 8 irer?AMa-Tsiiui.i B rri'Miw 1 / >4*# / Middle Georgia’s Oldest Ford Family 800-777-9142 1-75 Exit 122 • Unadilla x qt£ : ic?' * Jr*:*® SSf* Hi it. fe dr < ’OSM 3/F**t* j .1 . . * 'mHHk mtK'k \< m 1 m. # fe i m I w. I iJ! ff" f I W l ; JHbLt ' I Xwmk' Ml■ , ** j - - I ..If M • - v 1 * ' r ’ v ■' K.- ' 4 : • liiil"' i fIK Save Big Bucks during the JNOOF YEAR CLEARANCE!! Watch JARROD and his family on AARONS OUTDOORS TU for some exciting hunts! SEPTEMBER 2007 I 52546 5