Allatoona what am I missing?

[rhinobait]

Okay - I realize I might get ridiculed or whatever. I just need to know because I am defiantly not a from birth bass fishermen, nor have I had someone one teach me. So, most of my education comes from reading, videos, trial/error and my 3 years experience on Allatoona. I know some of you all have been on this lake forever and are catching bigger then average 1-2 spots.The only thing I know is up the river in the heat of summer. Seems to me everything that I think should work does not. Is there some secret to Allatoona that I am not understanding? Or is Allatoona for numbers and not weight? Basically, if you where to describe Allatoona to someone, how would you tell them it fishes? Sorry had a bad day today, bent my prop pretty good. Luckily I carry a spare prop on my boat with me. 

[zbmw]

Fished this lake on and off for the last 22 years and I've never been able to put a good pattern down even for numbers so 'numbers' is still good enough for me around here. Biggest fish I've ever pulled was between 3.5lbs and 4.5lbs on 8lb test with a bobber and a cricket when I was just a kid. Hook bent straight and the fish dropped the second I got it in the boat- But the biggest bass I can find anymore are about 2-3lbs, which is still a feat! Resorting to ponds/ private lakes for bigger bass seems like a better idea for a PB. But then we have those like the anomalous Bucca who figured out an amazing way of pulling giants from our waters. I believe there is a correct way to fish this lake(like any other body of water0, but it is a code to crack than many. Would love to venture to a lake that has bigger and hungrier bass but it is not always easy to go a state away for some fish! Keep on keepin' on!

[rhinobait]

Yeah. That's what I am talking about. I watch all the local tournaments and see people are pulling "Big Bass" out of the lake and then yes Bucca. I just wish I had some sort of a hint. I feel like sometimes I am going around in circles - haha. Do not get me wrong or anything, 1 to 2 pound fish is great. I would just like to get to the point on Allatoona to consistently catch 3 plus pounds with one fish.

[pheonix819]

This time of year you are running staging areas and spawning areas. The fish will be at creek mouths to the very backs of the creeks. The spots will spawn out deeper and on some main lake stuff to. C-rigs to flukes or anything in between will work, it won't be long before they start working there way back out for the shad spawn. Normally on LM the will stom on the first deep hole with a hard bottom, with toona that could be anywhere.

[rhinobait]

Okay. Let me ask this. Since the deeper end of the lake is on the dam side. Is that where the better fishing is and is that why all the tournaments run out of Gatewood? Typically, I am always fishing the Little River side, S-Turns and Etowah (levels permitting). The biggest bass I caught was up Etowah. For me though that is only roughly at full pool. So, I start thinking to myself. Well, is Toona only good for me at full pool and I should be going to other places the rest of the year. I know I really need to focus on learning my electronics better. I just have not gotten to a point to trust myself on what I am seeing. I also understand it takes time and practice. Maybe it was luck when I caught that bass at Lanier. However, that bass was exactly where it was suppose to be when I caught it.

[pheonix819]

I normally fish the north end, there is times one end will be on and the other isn't.

[rhinobait]

Hmm, okay, last question for now and this one is a doozy. North end as in Red Top mountain (McKaskey Creek Campground, stamp creek) or North end as in Etowah river, Fields landing. Seems stupid I know, however, I have had mixed conversations with people about this.

[Bob Smith (Porko)]

Apr 3, 2017 17:56:47 GMT -1 rhinobait said:

Hmm, okay, last question for now and this one is a doozy. North end as in Red Top mountain (McKaskey Creek Campground, stamp creek) or North end as in Etowah river, Fields landing. Seems stupid I know, however, I have had mixed conversations with people about this.

I have been here for ten years and I still get confused when I talk to the guys who have fished this lake all of their lives. My understanding is the "north end" is what they normally refer to when talking about the Etowah river, Knox Bridge, and that area. I agree with you, that it seems like the area north of Bethany Bridge would be North as well.

[rhinobait]

Apr 4, 2017 12:51:35 GMT -1 Bob Smith (Porko) said:

Apr 3, 2017 17:56:47 GMT -1 rhinobait said:

Hmm, okay, last question for now and this one is a doozy. North end as in Red Top mountain (McKaskey Creek Campground, stamp creek) or North end as in Etowah river, Fields landing. Seems stupid I know, however, I have had mixed conversations with people about this.

I have been here for ten years and I still get confused when I talk to the guys who have fished this lake all of their lives. My understanding is the "north end" is what they normally refer to when talking about the Etowah river, Knox Bridge, and that area. I agree with you, that it seems like the area north of Bethany Bridge would be North as well.

Perfect thanks for the clarification. 

[pheonix819]

I consider the north from gaults ferry on up, the fish are unpredictable there for the most part. But this time of year there they will be around spawning areas. Weather it's a stump field, blow down, docks or any others protective area. The spots will spawn on point and humps as long as there is some kind of structure. This is the one time of year the fish are predictable. I hate fishing in April period but finding them usually isn't a problem with the proper mapping or knowledge of the lake.

[rhinobait]

Apr 4, 2017 15:06:16 GMT -1 pheonix819 said:

I consider the north from gaults ferry on up, the fish are unpredictable there for the most part. But this time of year there they will be around spawning areas. Weather it's a stump field, blow down, docks or any others protective area. The spots will spawn on point and humps as long as there is some kind of structure. This is the one time of year the fish are predictable. I hate fishing in April period but finding them usually isn't a problem with the proper mapping or knowledge of the lake.

That's what I was kind of thinking. Thanks for the info

[TheTunaOfToona]

pheonix819, Why do you hate fishing in April when you say it is when the fish are most predictable? I would think predictable fish would make for good numbers