I've heard the lake isn't doing so good right now. Does anyone have any info on this? I'm heading out there on the 23rd so if anyone has any tips they would be willing to share with me that would be highly appreciated!

Just left. Caught 4 or 5 schoolers and a couple more tossing a senko. Didn't get out till 1030 so I missed the best part of the day. Anyone else catching a bunch of poor looking fish?

All I can tell you is it has been tough. It's like fishing a different lake from last year. Everything has changed.

Lots of new studies are coming out about how pressure affects bass fishing. And guess what? it's not good for fishing.

I've seen the post about lake pressure, I'd hate for the lake to not be a good fishing lake anymore this is my favorite lake.

And this lake has been POUNDED for over a year now, I have counted 30+ boats on a Monday before.

Fished it Friday, worst I've seen it. It's even tough to catch schooler's.

Fishing pressure on a lake means you have to get better to catch them....that's all. The fish still eat. They don't migrate to a different lake. They are there....just as many as last year. They just don't want to eat spinner baits and senkos. They have bad memories from those baits. Lol.

I fished 2 weeks ago and did great. Just find the grass edge off main lake points with your graph and pitch a jig right on it and you will catch fish. This was about in 12 feet of water. The jig I used was a 1 ounce all terrain grass jig in green pumpkin with a green pumpkin rage craw trailer.

And about a thousand of your closest friends.

My son and I fished it Friday also. I found a lot of fish mid lake after wasting about one hour down by dam.
Caught about twenty or so up to about 2 1/2. Nothing big.
Lost a heavy fish on a T rigged worm off some deep timber.
Used swim baits, under spins and little clear topwater lures..
I don't think I'll go back until fall. Its a great little lake but there is too much company to fish there for me.
Good luck to those who stay with it.

They are biting good, went last week 2 people we had over 80 fish and some good ones.

Caught a lot of schoolers and our bigger fish on a foosball jig and a magnum finesse worm and heavy shaky head

Was there from 2am-noon yesterday (Sunday) fish bit really well. Caught 13 during the night, 11 topwater fish throwing frogs and poppers, and then went searchin and caught 43 schoolers (kept a clicker for count)! All in all a great day and the schoolers cooperated with me and my dad!

I was out there Fri- Sat & Sunday
Fishing was good, better than it has been. Sunday morning at 6am there were more boats to unload than I have ever seen for a Sunday. Usually Athens is not busy early on a Sunday, you know church and all.
Friday night the area near the golf course looked like a pot of boiling water the size of a football field. 1-2# bass boiling the water like a crawfish boil. The big fish may not be biting lures but there are plenty of small fish in Athens. Next winter should be good.
I would just bet everyone is starting to fish deep out here. I caught 8 nice fish between 6-8am both Saturday & Sunday very shallow in the grass right on the bank. Just got to find the right bait

fishing is good still. fish edge of grass lines and watch for schoolers and follow them around. have fun, and stay committed. u will get bit