Still more rain in the forecast as of this writing, the lake just went past 840' MSL this morning and still rising (over the last week and a half that's about a 15' rise!). The positive take away is that both ramps are open at Gatewood (lol) and launching & loading go smoothly! We have a 30% chance of rain showers and 57 degree temps forecasted for Sunday, but we all know that can change (hopefully to sunshine!). Come on out and play with us anyway!
Fees are unchanged, $20 to the tournament which includes a $5 Big Bass, and a 1-5 payback (6 places after 25 no matter how many) and a $10 side pot (optional but everyone gets in it!). Rules are simple: you decide individual/team/how many in the team, 3 fish limit per entry, 1 dead fish allowed and Big Bass must be alive, no live bait and be courteous and friendly. Most of all, HAVE FUN!
The park manager wanted me to remind you guys that this is not a COE ramp and the COE passes will not work here. Please either get an envelope and put your money in the box down by the ramp on the right, or get the Bartow County launch pass ($5 a day or $40 for the annual).
All events are 1PM till 5PM until the daylight savings time shift in March then we finish out at 1PM till 6PM.
All tournaments are held out of Bartow County Gatewood Park: Exit GA-20 exit on I-75 and turn east, Turn south at the light (right from I-75, left from Canton) next to Wendy's onto Spur 20. Go about 2 miles and turn left on Jim Knight Rd., Turn left when it dead ends at the Bartow Beach Rd. (right in front of the COE maintenance yard). Stay on the Beach road and stay to the left past the park Manager's house and follow the signs to the left to the boat ramp

Overcast, SE breeze and temps in the upper 40s at tournament start. The main lake from Bethany Bridge back up and around the Etowah side is mud!! The water start clearing up the further up the Allatoona Cr side you go to at least the Blockhouse. Still high with water temps 47 to 48 degrees. We had 14 paid entries with 28 anglers slugging it out this afternoon. When it was all done we had 23 fish weighing a total of 40.07 lbs (avg 1.74 lbs) with one largemouth bass, the rest were spots!
WE only paid three places this afternoon along with Big Bass and the Side Pot. Here are the results:
Big Bass went to Justin and Tom with the largemouth weighing 4.40lbs for $70
3rd place was Jonathan and Ryan with 3 fish for 4.94 lbs and $42
2nd place was Wayne and Corey with 3 fish for 5.58 lbs and $63
1st went to Steven and Deron with 3 fish for 6.57 lbs and $105 and the side pot of $150
Congrats to the money spots and thanks to everyone that came out today. We will be watching the lake levels all week long and cross our fingers that Gatewood will remain open.
If you like keeping up with levels and things like that, here's a handy link for the upper and lower lake levels for the ramps around the lake:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lg..._Tyo5jy58Cn_zWTsCQJapDIPVk2LSqPMiEdd5YG0