LAKE LANIER IS .18 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & 83 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair. The recent rains and cooler weather have the lake up and cooled the surface temperatures. In turn, this has made the bite HOT!! My best bite this past week has been with the swim bait. We have been working this fast over brush in 20 to 30 feet of water. A Sworming Hornet Bite Sized Herring and a Sebile have been our best choices. Top water has worked some, but not nearly as well as the swim baits of late. We have been crushing big fish in good numbers on the swim bait. We have abandoned the deep drop shot bite for now as the swim bait is rocking. I am sure however that there are some good fish holding out there. Sometimes just singles, but sometimes in small packs. When you see these out deeper, take the opportunity to drop on them as these are often good fish. Even though I have not been running them much the last week, the spot tail minnow fishing is still strong. That bite has been great for both number and size. If you have not done it in the past, you should definitely take the opportunity to do it. I have the following dates left open in July. I have had some cancellations and switches, so here is the updated list: 28 (PM), 29 (PM), 30, 31 (PM), and August 1 full day. Give me a call, and let’s go fishing.

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

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

Striper fishing remains very good. The cold front and rain dropped the surface temperature to below 80 degrees which sent most of the fish into the trees. The key has been trees in 70 to 100 feet of water just off the creek channel. The single 30 foot fish are difficult to catch with bait but the fish at 50 to 80 feet will bite if you can find a bald spot void of trees. Trolling Captain Mack's buck tail jig with a 4 inch shad body will trigger a reaction bite if you can stay out of the trees and get your jig down to the fish. Lead core at 8 9 colors and Umbrella rigs at 140 to 160 feet back are your best bets. We use a 3 ounce, 4 arm rig with 9, 1 ounce buck tail jigs with white and chartreuse 4 inch shad bodies for my Umbrella rigs. If you have downriggers drop them down to two feet above the fish. Your Lowrance fish finding sonar, structure scan and GPS electronics are critical tools for locating summer time stripers. Pay special attention to your down scan and look into the trees for deeper fish. Look for the fish to become a little more active with the increase in water temperature and start to school up off the river channel from Browns Bridge to the Dam. Flat Creek, Two Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek, Big Creek and Flowery Branch are good places to start. The lake temperature is in the low 80's. The water is lightly stained in the back of the creeks and clear on the main lake both North and South.

Meet Lowrance Pro Staffer, Ken Sturdivant at the new Cabela’s in Acworth, Georgia, August 21 though 24, 2014. Ken will be hosting these FREE! Seminar: FRIDAY August 22, 2014 at 3 pm and 7 pm: Fishing Georgia Lakes for bass. SATURDAY August 23, 2014 at 3 pm and 7 pm: Finding Fish with Lowrance technology. SUNDAY August 24, 2014 at 3 pm and 5 pm: The Bass Anglers Tackle Box. Located at the Cherokee Village at I 75 and Highway 92, Kennesaw Georgia

Anglers we have a new Bait Shop on Buford Dam Road at the Buford Dam Quick Stop at 2595 Buford Dam Road. Open daily from 6 to 6 they have Herring and other baits like shiners ready to go to the lake. 706 867 5102

Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Pro Staff, will be at Dreher Island State Park, 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity South Carolina 29127, August 13 through 17, 2014. Ken will doing Lowrance demonstration rides from 8am until 2pm Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday at the park.

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