LAKE LANIER IS FULL, THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR TO STAINED AND CREEKS ARE PARTLY STAINED & 46 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair. Over the past week, we have been focusing on two types of areas for our fish. Inside timber lines in 30 to 40 feet of water have produced some big bites for us recently. Typically, a jig or worm has been our best offerings. Our most consistent fish have still been coming off of rock or rock and clay mix and have been fairly shallow. Most of our bites have came between 10 and 20 feet, with some big bites still coming in less than 10 feet of water. Our best offerings on the rock and clay have been a jig, a shaky head, a crank bait and a Fish Head Spin. The main key to getting bit right now is SLOW presentations. When you think you are going slowly enough, slow down. This is a great time to come out and learn winter fishing in cold water, both deep and shallow. If you don't know these techniques, they are certainly valuable tools to add to your winter fishing arsenal. I have the following dates open next week: January 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31. Give me a call and reserve your date NOW!

This Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On Service 404 561 2564. www.bigfishon.com

Striper fishing is fair with an early morning and late afternoon bite. The problem is the freezing temperatures makes fishing very uncomfortable. Wet cold hands from putting baits out, bait tank lids frozen and ice in the bottom of the boat become good reasons to get some "honey do's" done. However, my advice is if you can go fishing: Go! After all, fishing is an outdoor sport. Keep in mind that fish are cold blooded and will seek out the warmest water. They will also "slow down" and in general are in no mood to chase fast moving baits. Consequently, consider slowing down your presentation, downsizing your baits and fish areas with the greatest concentration of bait. Keep someone on the deck casting a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke trailer all day when you are pulling baits. You can also rig a super fluke on a hook and cast it to feeding fish. If there are birds searching an area put out a "spread" of bait and search the area with the birds. Vary the distance from your boards and free lines from 25 to 125 feet behind the board/boat. Hang a couple of down rods over the side just above the bait. Both Trout and Herring will work but don't overlook downsizing your baits with some medium shiners. Focus on the sunny side of the creeks in the late morning and afternoons as they will warm and attract the baits to shallow flats. Weight your lines with two to three split shots and adjust your down rod depth to the bait. The Umbrella rig should work with a lighter setup and shallower presentation. The back of Flat creek and Four Mile Creek are always good places to start when the water cools to the low 40's. Call Ken Sturdivant about the ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar or the Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or a full day STRIPERS School. Call 770 889 2654 for details. Send an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com

This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764