LAKE LANIER IS 2.2 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & 83 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good especially for late summer. We have been working top water and swim baits fast over brush in 20 to 30 feet of water. A Sworming Hornet Bite Sized Herring and a Sebile have been our best choices on the swim baits and a Gun Fish and a Zara Spook have been best on the top water side. The wind definitely helps this bite. There are some fish holding out deep so don't hesitate to try them on the DS. That 40 to 45 area foot area at the timberline seems to be best. I have the following dates open for the remainder of September: 15, 17, 19, and 26.

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 very good. The mouth of the creeks from Orr Creek to the Dam has been the ticket. A good number of fish were also caught just off the river channel. Most of the fish are being caught with blue back herring on down rods at 50 to 80 feet down over a 90 to 130 foot bottom. We are rigging the down rods with a 2 ounce weight and a 7 foot 12 pound test Seaguar fluorocarbon leader with a Gamakatsu Octopus hook number 1 or 1/0 depending on the size of the herring. A buck tail jig with a 4 inch shad body with lead core line at 8 to 9 colors is improving and almost as effective as bait. White has been the preferred color for the shad bodies on both lead core and umbrella rigs. Umbrella rigs at 170 to 190 feet back will work but most of the fisherman are using lead core. Flowery Branch, Big Creek and Two mile Creek are good places to start. The lake temperature is in the low 80's in the morning to mid 80's in the afternoon. The water is lightly stained in the back of the creeks and clear on the main lake both North and South.

Anglers stop by the 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

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