Though much less abundant than spotted
bass, largemouth will typically weigh-in at larger sizes. The
average fish will be around 1.25 pounds, with few reaching more
than 5 pounds in size. Largemouth abundance in Allatoona
fluctuate little from year to year, so expect similar numbers to
past years.
Technique
Baits vary from season to season, but a
good arsenal of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits or plastic
worms are all good baits to start with.
Target
Target the coves and backwaters in the
Little River, Etowah and Allatoona Creek areas of the reservoir.
This is where some of the better largemouth habitat is found.
Largemouth may also be found holding in the numerous shoreline
habitat improvement sites scattered around the lake. More than
700 shoreline trees have been toppled at these sites since
2007.
Spotted
bass
Prospect
Spotted bass are the dominant black bass
species, making up 80 to 90 percent of the black bass population
in Allatoona. Sample data show better numbers of 14-inch, 1-
pound spots in the population this year. Larger 4-5 pound spotted
bass are caught each year, but these veteran fish are not common
at Allatoona.
Technique
Drop-shot rigs with small baits like a
4-inch zoom tiny fluke or robo worm, or vertical jigging spoons
(flex-it or hopkins shorty's) are both excellent approaches to
targeting spots year-round. Live minnows are also a great means
for consistently hooking-up with Allatoona's spotted bass
year-round. In the cooler months of spring and fall, when spots
can be feeding aggressively, use more reactive baits like shallow
to medium diving crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, or even
larger swimbaits. In addition to these baits, fall anglers can
try senko baits in light, natural colored patterns. Wintertime
anglers may provoke spots to hit using subtle float and fly rigs
that imitate a dying minnow. Traditional shad patterned
crankbaits retrieved over rocky shorelines is another good winter
spotted bass bait.
Target
Spotted bass tend to remain in deeper
habitats than largemouth. Spots will move to shallow depths
during their April-May spawning period. In summer, try fishing in
and around the more than 36 deepwater fish attractor locations
placed in the reservoir by the DNR and the COE. These fish
attractors are best fished from fall through spring. In fall, the
key to success will be locating schooling shad in creek mouths.
With the onset of winter, spots are again deep. Target steep
bluff walls and large chunk-rock shorelines for wintertime
spotted bass.
Hybrid
Bass
Prospect
Increased hybrid striped bass stocking in
recent years continues to be a success on Allatoona. Recent DNR
sample data indicates hybrid striped bass abundance is currently
at an all time high. The average hybrid will weigh around 2
pounds, but a fair number of 5-6 pound fish will be
available.
Technique
White or shad patterned spinners, spoons,
jigs or crankbaits will produce hybrids, but serious hybrid
anglers should slow troll with 4-6 inch live shad on simple
free-line or down-line rigs. During fall, winter and spring, live
shad remain very effective techniques, but trolling umbrella rigs
or vertical jigging with spoons can make for a good "white fish"
outing. For the bank angler, winter hybrids can be caught using
cut shad fished on the bottom near Allatoona dam.
Target
Hybrid fishing is available year-round, but
is best for numbers during the heat of summer. Low summer
dissolved oxygen in Allatoona’s depths typically
concentrates hybrids in the 20-30 foot range. While summer is
good for numbers, winter hybrid fishing is typically
characterized by catches of larger individuals. Though possibly
found anywhere in the lake chasing shad, the mile of lake above
and below Galt's Ferry boat ramp is a year-round hot spot for
hybrids.
Striped
Bass
Prospect
Between 30 and 60 thousand striped bass
fingerlings are stocked annually in Allatoona. Higher than normal
stocking rates in 2007 led to an abundance of medium sized
stripers this year. Anglers should expect members of this large
year-class to be 20 to 23 inches long in 2010. However, due to
severe drought conditions in 2007 and 2008, anglers should expect
fewer catches of large stripers this year.
Technique
Though striper fishing techniques abound,
slow trolling live shad on free-lines or weighted down-line rigs
is a favored approach to consistent catches at Allatoona. Striper
fishing is best from October-June when water temperatures are
relatively cool. Though stripers may feed at anytime, concentrate
your efforts during the early to mid-morning hours to maximize
your chance of encountering actively feeding fish.
Target
In winter, stripers will be in the main
body of the lake, but will migrate to the upper reaches during
their spring spawning run. As summer heats up, smaller stripers
(less than 10 lbs) will remain in the main lake, while most
larger linesides will migrate up the Etowah River seeking cool
water in which to beat the summer heat. Then, with the onset of
fall and cooling lake waters, these large stripers migrate back
into the main lake, again feeding voraciously as they pack on
pounds lost during the hot summer months.
Catfish
Prospect
Channel, blue and flathead catfish are all
found in Allatoona. Channel catfish are the most abundant, while
flatheads and blues are fewer but typically larger in size. The
average channel cat is around 14 inches and 1-pound in size.
Larger channels will tip scales in to the 5 pound range.
Flatheads and blues are less numerous, but most caught will be 5
to 10 pounds or larger.
Technique
Use chicken livers, worms or cut bait for
channel cats. Switch to live bait, such as bream or shad, for
flathead and blue cats.
Target
Pursue catfish on the rocky banks in the
Etowah River arm of the lake. The numerous rip-rapped banks found
around the lake are also good areas to target for catfish. Such
habitats are common around bridges and fishing jetties. Catfish
may also be found in the recesses of the woody debris jams that
are often found in the very backs of Allatoona’s
coves.
Bream
Prospect
Bluegill, redbreast and redear sunfish are
all present in this reservoir. Bluegill are the most abundant of
the three. They average 5 inches, with few being more than 7
inches in length. Though fewer in number, redear tend to be
larger than either bluegill or redbreast sunfish. Larger redear
can top 9-inches in length.
Technique
Crickets or worms fished under a bobber or
on the bottom, micro-jigs or flies are all common baits used to
catch bream. When on bed, nesting colonies of bream can be wary
to an angler's approach and cast. Approach slowly, casting first
to the periphery of the nesting group, so as not to disturb them.
Make subsequent casts further into the congregated fish as you
go.
Target
From early to mid-summer, bream will
speckle the bottom of shallow coves with their circular nests.
These nests are commonly visible to anglers, and nesting often
occurs in the same general areas year-after-year. The best
locations are often associated with some type of woody debris
that offers a level of nest protection.
Crappie
Prospect
Crappie fishing should be consistent with
years past in terms of numbers. The average fish should measure
around 9 inches, and weigh about 1/4 pound, but larger 1 to 2
pound slab crappie are available.
Technique
Small jigs or live minnows fished beneath
bobbers are both proven methods for catching crappie. Trolling
jigs is a good way to cover a lot of water and locate actively
feeding schools of fish.
Target
Target spring spawn crappie from March to
April in the shallows of Kellogg, Illinois, and Stamp Creeks, as
well as the Etowah River area of the lake. During summer, seek
deeper brush piles or other fish attractors located on humps and
channel ledges, as crappie will concentrate in deeper habitat
during this time. Also try night fishing with lights using light
tackle around docks and bridges. During fall and winter, target
crappie near old stream channel ledges in Allatoona's many
coves.
Other
Species
Prospect
Carp and gar are numerous. Carp are widely
distributed and grow to moderately large sizes. Most will be
around 5 pounds, with the biggest common carp usually weighing no
more than 15 pounds. Gar are strong fighters and abundant around
Allatoona. Gar 3 feet in length are typical, but 4-footers can
also be found.
Technique
Carp should be fished for using bottom rigs
with offerings of prepared “dough” baits, corn or
worms. For gar, live shad or minnows fished just below a bobber,
or sight fishing with hookless handmade lures, constructed from
6-8 inch pieces of frayed cotton rope, will work well.
Target
Target carp in shallow flats and in the
backs of coves, especially around submerged timber. Gar are often
seen cruising shallow flats and tributary mouths, but can also be
found ambushing prey on rocky main lake points.
Additional
Information
The COE, DNR and local
volunteers actively work to improve fish habitat in Allatoona.
Anglers can find information and current maps showing the
location of these deepwater fish attractors and shoreline habitat
improvements on the DNR Web Page.
In late 2008, DNR began stocking lake sturgeon in Allatoona in an
effort to re-establish this native fish to the upper Etowah River
system. Anglers accidentally catching a lake sturgeon should
release the fish immediately. Fish hooked deep will often survive
if anglers cut the line near the hook and release the fish with
the hook. Those wondering what impact sturgeon will have on their
favorite game species can rest easy. Because of its low
reproductive potential, sturgeon do not establish themselves as a
prominent species making its impacts to other fish negligible. If
you catch or otherwise see a sturgeon, please contact the Calhoun
DNR office (706-624-1161) to report the location from which the
sturgeon was caught. Such information is valuable to biologists
assessing the survival and dispersal of these magnificent
fish.
Good: 
Fair: 
