by Josh Garrison
Striper fishing on Nottely right now is tough. With the short weather breaks when guys can actually get out no one has really been able to find a consistent pattern of fish. February in the mountains can either be brutal or the start of spring with fast rising water temperatures.
Things to look for if you do get a chance to get out: birds, birds, birds. Right now with the active fishing driving bait balls to the surface where the loons, seagulls, blue heron, and yes I have seen it crows feed on them. If you are on a warming trend, go shallow, and if you are on a cooling trend, head deep. The other thing to watch for is fish feeding on small bait. Often times during these cold winter months the smallest of the baitfish aren’t strong enough to survive and they head for the surface to die. Stripers take advantage of this and pick off the easy prey. Try sizing down even to a bass shiner if you are on fish that just won’t eat what you are offering. Keep your tackle light with the clear water on the big end of the lake and go slow. The other thing to look for (and my personal favorite) is blue-backed herring running the banks. If you can find this, there will be stripers close by. Look for a constant flow of herring only a few feet off the bank and usually on the sunny side of the lake.
My favorite part about the herring running the banks is the topwater and jerkbait action that can be had by casting along the shoreline. I am always a Redfin fan and use them this time of year, but what really seems to work are the suspending baits. Look for a Husky Jerk in blue and chrome or blue and copper and match it to the size of the bait. Work a true jerk and stop retrieve. If you want to take a break and grab some coffee between yanks go ahead. The longer it sits the better your chances of getting the rod yanked out of your hand. If you are working deeper fish, wobble spoons and flukes on a jig head are the way to go. Also, a new product that I am playing with is the Recoil Rig. Check out their videos on Youtube and give one a shot the next time you are experimenting on a school of fish sitting on a point.
Start planning ahead now and book your trip for this upcoming spring. Dates get full fast as soon as someone says 60’s. Hughes General Store has everything you need for a successful trip from fresh, hot biscuits, ethanol-free gas, tackle, rods reels, and more. 2014 is setting up for this to be our biggest year yet and we look forward to seeing you guys on the water.
Josh Garrison
N. Georgia Premier Fishing Guide Service
wwww.fishgarrison.com
(706) 745-4802