LAKE LANIER IS .74 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & MID 40’S

Bass fishing is good. There have still been fish shallow as well as in mid depth and deep ranges. The ditches with standing timber in 45 feet or more should still be your first check. They are not everywhere, but when you find them they are schooled up nicely on most days. Check for bait in these likely areas. If there is no bait, move to the next ditch. In the early mornings, start shallower in 15 feet or less in pockets or the back of productive creek ditches with a Spro McStick or a 1/4 ounce SuperSpin. A spoon, a Chattahoochee Jig, a Shaky Head worm, and a drop shot are all good potentials out deep and have remained consistent producers for us. Focus on timber edges and work your baits SLOWLY! With the days getting longer and the weather stabilizing on the warm side for the next 10 days, look for a move of fish to the shallower staging areas at the mouths of creeks. More to come on this pattern as it continues to emerge. This is still a great time to learn how to fish the deep timber on Lanier. How and where to find the most productive timber, how to fish it, and with what lures. This is also a great time to learn the art of fishing the winter to spring transition on Lanier. Here is what I have open next week: Feb 9, 10 and 11. Give me a call and let's go bust some fish.

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 is good. However, the weather continues to be tough with the cold temperatures and more importantly the high winds. With the wind and cold temperatures being the bad news the good news is there is an afternoon bite with both bait and umbrella rigs. If you can get on the water early and are able to handle the cold temperatures, pulling bait on free lines and boards before sun up on flats in the back of the creeks can produce a big fish. As the sun gets up move over deeper water and weight your free lines and drop a couple of down rods over the side. Vary the depth of your baits depending on the bottom. Herring remains the top bait producer but do not overlook small shiners or better yet; net some threadfins. As the afternoon approaches you can switch to Umbrella rigs and pull humps and points from the mouth of the creeks to half way back in the creeks. With the umbrella rigs, always start with both chartreuse, pearl or white trailers on buck tail jigs. Biased on your results you can determine the preferred color and switch your umbrella rigs to the most productive color. We use 4 inch shad bodies but worm trailers also work well. Feel free to use different colors and trailers but day in and day out white/pearl and chartreuse tend to work best. There are fish in every creek with high concentrations of bait. However, Flat Creek, Balus Creek and Four Mile creek are hard to beat this time of year. The lake temperature mid to high 40's and the water is lightly stained on the main lake and the backs of the creeks. The lake is one foot below full pool.

We have posted an article explaining the effects of barometric pressure on our web site. The following is the link to the article. http://www.bigfishonguide.com/2011/07/using barometric pressure and the thermocline for striper fishing.

The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.

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