The lake level is at 1070.05 (.95 feet below full pool) with water temperatures from 79-80 degrees and the main lake is clear. Water temps had reached their normal summer temps, but the recent cool nights and rain has severely reduced the lake temperatures. The lake is definitely setting up a thermocline at the 35 foot depths closer to Hwy 369 and closer to 45 feet of water closer to the dam. Most of the stripers have pushed down below the bridge and are in their normal summer time hangouts. South end creek channels like Orr, Flowery Branch, Two Mile, Young Deer, and Bald Ridge all have fish in them. In early August there will still be some fish in primary creek pockets and main lake pockets in 45-75 feet of water first thing in the morning, but as the sun gets up they will move out to the creek channels and the river channel in 90-120’ of water. The best bet for catching these fish is a down lined herring placed 30-80’ down, over and in these fish. The key to catching fish in August is to make sure that your bait is as lively as possible. The herring are easily stressed out so give them plenty of leader to swim on. Attach a Striper Tackle 1.75 oz Pro Pencil sinker to your main line and then 8-10’ of 12# fluorocarbon leader to a #1 octopus or octopus circle hook and change your baits out every 3-5 minutes as well. This long, light set up will allow the herring to swim as natural as possible without stressing it out dragging a big heavy leader and hook around. You will go thru a lot of herring this time of year if you want the best bait possible down there, so make sure you are prepared to bring along a bunch. We will be taking around 6 dozen baits for a four hour trip knowing that we will be sending down fresh baits often. The power reeling bite will also be a go to technique as the schools get bigger and bigger as the smaller schools get pushed together. A Striper Tackle Hawg spoon or a 2 oz Capt Mack’s Chipmunk jig with a 6” white or chartreuse u-tail trailer will be the best choices for power reeling to these fish that are stacked up under the boat. Drop down past the school and start cranking it back up thru the school and hang on because when that fish eats it will try to rip the rod out of your hands. A lot of time, especially with the spoon, they will eat your artificial as it is going down, so make sure you are watching and feeling that line for any sort of difference as it falling. This technique is a great way to keep a school of fish fired up as you will be keeping them interested in eating because of the movement of the baits down and back thru them.
In the gospel of John, Jesus says who he is seven times. Finally in Revelation 22:13 he says I AM one more time when he says he is the Alpha and the Omega. Strategically, it is good to be first sometimes and at other times it is best to be last. Jesus is both all the time. He was here before anything was created and he will be here after everything is gone. He is our eternal king and our faith is founded on him and will finish with him when we complete the race that he has set in front of us. It will be hot this month so make sure you have lots of water with you when you get out there to catch em up.
Call us today at 678-300-4865 or visit our booking page to book your Striper Experience!