Lake Allatoona News, Events and Information

DNR Ranger First Class Mark Stephens (left) and Corporal Jason Roberson -- 2012 DNR Ranger of the Year ~~ Photo by Robert Sutherland — DNR Ranger First Class Mark Stephens (left) and Corporal Jason Roberson — 2012 DNR Ranger of the Year ~~ Photo by Robert Sutherland

This is National Safe Boating Week.

From now until May 24, 2013, governmental, local and national groups will inform the public about ways to stay safe on America’s waterways.

You don’t need to be a brain surgeon to figure out the most effective way to stay safe while boating: wear a flotation device.

Statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard show that drowning was the reported cause of death in 75% of recreational boating fatalities in 2010. Of those who drowned, 88% were not wearing life jackets.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division Ranger First Class Mark Stephens and 2012 DNR Ranger of the Year Corporal Jason Roberson met with the public over the weekend at Lake Lanier Islands to prove that Rangers are both professional law enforcement officers and nice guys too.

Georgia received a $3,400 grant from the National Safe Boating Council’s “Wear It!” campaign to produce and display stand-up banners, plastic signs with the “Wear It!” logo, large custom banners and more to help Rangers promote water safety all year long.

If you drink, don’t drive … cars or boats. Please. We only want you to meet Rangers Stephens and Roberson under pleasant circumstances.

About the National Safe Boating Council

The National Safe Boating Council represents over 330 U.S. and Canadian organizations committed to reducing boating accidents and enhancing the boating experience. Visit www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com.

Click Here for New Boating Regulations in Georgia

Click Here for Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Allatoona

Robert Eidson’s Lake Allatoona Fishing Guide Report is provided by First Bite Guide Service of Lake Allatoona. When you’re ready to catch stripers and hybrids, contact Robert at 770-827-6282 or by e-mail: eidson6260@gmail.com.

Lines-side fishing is Good!!

The lake is still out of its banks, but is going down. If we don’t have any more rain this week, I think the loading docks will be usable by the end of next week.

The debris is almost gone. The strong winds we had earlier this week blew most of it to the banks. There is still some on the main lake from the dam to Little River. So, be careful if you’re heading to the lake this weekend.

The bite up the river has returned and there are some very good numbers of Hybrids being caught up the Etowah. These fish are feeding best on live shad fished on the bottom.

The main lake bite is also very good. My clients have caught very good numbers aboard our boats this week fishing main lake creek mouths as far north as Little River and as far south as Clark’s Creek.

Our best bite has been on Thread Fin Shad fished on down-lines and free-lines. Main lake points and humps are also holding some decent schools of Hybrids.

Trolling has been very good for me this week. I have been pulling Mack Farr U-Rigs 50 – 70 feet behind the boat and have had as many as five on at a time. The trolling bite is really starting to heat up and will only get better as we enter summer.

The overall bite is really good. We still have plenty of openings aboard our boats. Let’s go fishing!

Contact Info

Phone: 770-827-6282

E-mail address: eidson6260@gmail.com

Website: First Bite Guide Service

You’d think that maybe after the first 100 or so poachers are caught shooting game from inside their trucks other poachers might catch on.

Nope. Another batch was hatched and busted recently by Rangers from GA’s Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.

Here’s their latest report:

Trapping without permission, out of season - Liberty County
Hunting from a public road, hunting from motor vehicle – Polk County
Violation citations – several counties

The Wildlife Resource Division protects Georgia’s wildlife by enforcing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to:

game and nongame animals
threatened and endangered plants and animals
exotic animals
boating safety
litter and waste control
and other natural resource issues.

We appreciate DNR’s efforts to keep the wild outdoors as tame as possible.

Click Here for Law Enforcement Reports

The future for Lake Allatoona is sunny and bright.

One of the chilliest spring seasons on record in many areas and rainfall that caused flooding, damage and many closures seem to be over. For now.

According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, the lake (as of 5-15-2013) is about 4.5 feet above full pool.

The high water has receded enough to allow for the reopening of all campsites at McKinney and Victoria Campgrounds.

The beaches are still underwater, but the ramps and beach areas at Galt’s Ferry and Victoria Day Use Areas are also back open.

Update

As of 3:40 PM, 5-15-13:

Clark Creek South, Knox Bridge and Old Hwy 41 #1 ramps have reopened
The beach at 41 #1 will remained closed.
All sites – except site 31 — at McKaskey Campground have reopened.
All but four sites at Payne Campground have also reopened. These areas remain closed: Tanyard Creek and Cooper Branch #1 ramps; Sweetwater Day Use Area, and the majority of sites at Sweetwater Campground.

One thing never changes: everything changes.

The water went up. The water is going down. It’s all part of life.

We can all be thankful that we can begin to enjoy summer on Lake Allatoona … unless something changes.

Click Here for Status of Parks on Lake Allatoona

blood on the wall — Uhhh, yeah. The blood on that wall is a clue, dude.

That was a lot of rain, huh?

Who would have believed Lake Allatoona would be too full to host the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour event for this weekend, but that’s the deal.

The whole shebang (yes, that’s a real word) is flowing over to Lake Acworth Beach at Acworth, GA’s Cauble Park.

Most of us do not wakeboard … because most of us are not out of our minds.

Pfft. This video makes wakeboarding look hard. I’ll bet we could do this after a lesson or two.

Most of us, however, love trainwrecks, NASCAR crashes, seeing people beat up in MMA fights and watching dudes and dudettes wipe out on local lakes.

Yes, this is American entertainment. We are a sick people, but we know how to have a good time, huh?

Survivors of the wakeboard event are invited to a dandy Block Party to be held in Historic Downtown Acworth. There will be award presentations from the Pro Tour event, live music, outdoor dining opportunities and lots of amped grommets in gnarly doggers!

The Block Party will run from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Parking will be available in Historic Downtown Acworth and shuttles will be running from various locations to bring visitors down to the park.

Lake Acworth will not be able to accommodate public access to the water by way of boat.

(No, I’m not sure what that means either. Sorry. I copied it from their website.)

All of the loyal spectators who planned to line the course on Lake Allatoona can join the crowd on land to enjoy:

tons of great food
music
athlete autograph signings
chances to win free stuff and
shopping at cutting-edge stores for water-sports equipment including boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions.

It Ain’t Cheap

$13.00 for ages 13 and older
$5 for ages six to twelve and
kids five and under are admitted free.

No, they won’t check your toddler’s ID, but if your kids say, “Wassup, dude,” they probably won’t pass for five.

Got a question? Call the Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department at 770-917-1234.

Click Here for Event Info

New skirmishes in the water wars between Alabama, Florida and the great state of Georgia are being reported by Ray Henry of The Associated Press.

The federal government is involved. Again.

A draft of the 2013 Water Resources Development Act could undermine the court decision that allows Georgians to use Lake Allatoona, for example, as a water reservoir. That previous appellate court decision wisely alleviated a potential crisis for those in Georgia who drink water or who use it in their daily lives.

Due to the heroic efforts of Republican Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia, it is believed an agreement was reached to uphold the court’s findings and not restrict the legal and proper use of Lake Allatoona’s water for those of us who reside in the great state of Georgia. Senators from lesser states — notably Alabama and Florida — might continue their quest to restrict the use of our water for our citizens, however. A vote in the Senate could be taken this week.

In a joint statement, Senators Chambliss and Isakson said, “We have always believed that this dispute must be solved at the state level, not in Washington.”

The original plan called for the US Army Corps of Engineers to obtain congressional approval for requests made by municipalities or industries if their combined usage to the approved federal reservoir water storage plans changed by 5% or more.

Water withdrawals from Lake Lanier could also be affected, should the original plan be approved.

We are grateful for the valiant efforts of Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.

Lines-side fishing is Good!!

The lake is about eight feet above full pool and there is debris floating everywhere. So if you’re heading out this weekend be careful.

To my surprise the water has very good color from Kellogg’s all the way to the spillway at Lake Acworth. The bite this week is also surprising. The overall bite is really good. Dodging all the debris can be challenging but rewarding if you’re willing to put in the time. The rivers are blown out and probably will be until sometime next week.

The best bite going right now is probably the bank bite at the spillway. Bank anglers are having a field day right now. I talked to the DNR on 5/7 and they said they have been seeing some really good catches coming from the banks at the spillway. I rode over there on 5/8 and watched about a dozen Hybrids being caught on both live bait and artificial.

There is also a decent bite in the mouth of all the major creeks right now. Main lake points and humps are also holding some decent schools of Hybrids. The bite is a mixture of down lines, planer boards and free lines, with most of the fish coming off the down lines after 8 AM.

Trolling has been decent, but should get really good once the water temperature hits 70 degrees.

Overall the lake is flowing out of its banks and there is floating debris everywhere. But spring is an awesome time to be on the water and the lake will drop back down to normal levels soon.

Grab the kids, give us a call and let’s go fishing.

Contact Info

Phone: 770-827-6282

E-mail address: eidson6260@gmail.com

Website: First Bite Guide Service

open gates — Spillway gates open at Allatoona Dam in May 2013. ~~ Photograph courtesy of US Army Corps of Engineers

The US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) has opened the spillway gates on the dam at Allatoona Lake. Temporarily.

What a sight!

ACE says the best views are from the Allatoona Lake Project Management Office or at Coopers Furnace Day Use Park.

Heavy rains have flooded Allatoona’s shores and caused many campsites to be closed.

Things should be back to normal pretty soon — which means you’d better not dawdle if you want to experience the rare sight of torrents of water gushing over Allatoona Dam.

The Lake Allatoona Visitor Center is a fascinating place to visit anytime, but especially now.

Click on the link below for information and directions.

One more thing. We can stop praying for rain — at least for a little while.

Click Here for Lake Allatoona Visitor Center

High water from heavy rains has caused the Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Allatoona to close a few campsites, but all the parks themselves are open, according to Chief Ranger of Recreation Linda Hartsfield.

Numerous campsites, portions of day use areas and boat ramps are partially submerged and will be unavailable for use until the lake water recedes.

Again, LakeAllatoona.com was told no campgrounds are closed — only individual campsites.

These campsite are closed due to high water until May 18, 2013:

McKaskey Campground sites: 18, 19, 24-33, 38-42
McKinney Campground sites: 16, 18, 19, 23-28, 31-40, 86-90, 96, 97, 113-115, 121-127
Payne Campground sites: 5, 7-13, 22-36, 43-54
Sweetwater Campground sites: 1-95, 98-103, 106-118, 123, 125, 127-130, 132, 134-136
Victoria Campground sites: 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

All other sites in the above listed campgrounds are expected to remain open.

Several parks, including:

Clark Creek North
Old Hwy 41 #3
Upper Stamp Creek

are expected to open for the season on Friday, May 17th.

We’re looking forward to another great season of camping at Lake Allatoona.

Click Here for List of Open Parks on Lake Allatoona

The men and women who enforce Georgia’s laws deserve our support.

OK. Maybe not the ones who hope to catch you speeding at the bottom of a huge hill.

I mean the ones from Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division who venture into woods and swamps to catch perps like the ones who do the stuff below.

Thanks, Rangers.

Here are a few highlights from their recent Law Enforcement Report:

Taking a protected species, great blue heron shot - Fulton County
Illegal crab traps confiscated – McIntosh County
Violation citations – several counties

The Wildlife Resource Division protects Georgia’s wildlife by enforcing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to:

game and nongame animals
threatened and endangered plants and animals
exotic animals
boating safety
litter and waste control
and other natural resource issues.

We appreciate DNR’s efforts to keep the wild outdoors as tame as possible.

Lake Allatoona

Category Archives: News

National Safe Boating Week on Lake Allatoona

Click Here for New Boating Regulations in Georgia

Click Here for Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Allatoona

Lake Allatoona Fishing Report (5-16-13)

Contact Info

DNR Law Enforcement Report (5-15-13)

Click Here for Law Enforcement Reports

Update: Lake Allatoona is Open for Business

Update

Click Here for Status of Parks on Lake Allatoona

Wakeboard Event Moves to Cauble Park

Pfft. This video makes wakeboarding look hard. I’ll bet we could do this after a lesson or two.

It Ain’t Cheap

Click Here for Event Info

Water War Battles Continue

Lake Allatoona Fishing Report (5-9-13)

Contact Info

Allatoona’s Dam Sight

Click Here for Lake Allatoona Visitor Center

Flooded Campsites on Lake Allatoona

Click Here for List of Open Parks on Lake Allatoona

DNR Law Enforcement Report (5-6-13)

Click Here for Law Enforcement Reports