A few anglers got out on the high rivers and caught some nice fish. Lakes and ponds have produced some of the best reports I received.
River gauges as of Thursday, June 11:
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 7.2 feet and falling
• Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 1.9 feet and falling
• Clyo on the Savannah – 3.9 feet and steady
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 7.1 feet and steady
• Alapaha on the Alapaha – 7.3 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla – 10.8 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 7.4 feet and rising
• Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 2.9 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 1.7 feet and steady
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 1.6 feet and falling Altamaha River – Seth Carter went out on the muddy river and caught 17 bass total. He caught them by using a scooter.
The annual catfish tournament took place at Jaycee Landing. A total of 67 boats and over 150 anglers participated in the tournament.
Kevin and Eli Carey won first place with 188.5 pounds (five fish). Second-place had 114.35 lbs., and third-place went 88.25 lbs.
Alabaha River – Justin Harrison fished out of his kayak for around four hours last week and managed to land five nice bass.
Withlacoochee River – Jim O’Conner spent around 4½ hours fishing from his kayak. The river was very high and muddy, and the current was strong.
Even so, he still caught a lot of Suwannee bass (biggest measured 15 inches long). All of the fish were caught on crayfish imitation baits.
Lakes and Ponds – I fished at a Tifton area lake and caught around a half dozen bass. My biggest weighed around 6-7 pounds.
Jimmy Zinker fished at Tired Creek Lake (near Cairo) and he caught four bass up to 6 lbs., 10-ozs. Jimmy also night fished at Lake Miccosukee and boated six bass weighing between 2-5.5 lbs.
He said that Lake Miccosukee is so low right now your boat trailer would probably drop off at the end of the ramp at Reeves Landing.
Lake Iamonia is also very low right now. Some anglers are having trouble launching boats there.
Cooper Winn and his dad fished Cherokee Lake. The bite was slow, but they were able to catch a few bass and bluegill while using Swamp Spiders and Speed Craws.
Jim Jurney fished at Banks Lake and caught three bowfin, three giant carp (on 4lb. test line), and 12 bluegill measuring between 8-10 inches long. The carp and bluegill were caught on crickets while the bowfin were caught on a small fluke under a cork.
Captain Bert Deener went fly fishing to a small local pond and landed 15 bluegill, shellcracker, crappie and a big channel catfish. A popper-dropper setup fooled them.
Okefenokee Swamp - The boat ramp on the west side (Stephen C. Foster State Park) is still currently closed with an estimated time for re-opening in mid-July before it is reopened.
Captain Bert Deener offers guided fishing trips in the Okefenokee. To book a trip with him, visit his website bertsjigsandthings.com. Latest Swamp level on the east side was 120.34 feet.
Saltwater (Ga. Coast) – Scott Smith and a friend launched at Shellmans Bluff and went offshore fishing. They caught several amberjack and Mahi-mahi, and a king mackerel.
Captain Greg Hildreth reported he is finding some keeper-sized trout, but most are underslots. He is catching them on live shrimp and mud minnows under a Harper’s Super Striker float. He is also catching some whiting on bottom in the sound.
Before your next fishing trip, stop by Winge’s Bait and Tackle located at 440 Memorial Drive in Waycross. They have all the tackle you need for a successful trip! For their hours, call 912-283-9400.
To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt). For the latest marine forecast, check out www. weather.gov/jax/.
If you have any fishing reports or fish pictures that you would like to be included in this report, email them to me [email protected] or send them through Messenger on Southern Waters Fishing Report’s Facebook Page.
