LAKE LANIER IS FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & UPPER 40’S

Bass fishing is tough but it is showing definite signs of improvement as the weather continues to warm. The long term forecast would suggest that spring is on its way. Finally! We have been concentrating on the shallower water over the last week. In the early mornings, start in 15 feet or less in pockets or the back of productive creek ditches with a Spro McStick, Aruku Shad, or a 1/4 ounce SuperSpin. If the moving baits do not produce, switch to a shaky head and present plastics such as a creepy crawler or worm. The dock bite is improving and both largemouth and spots can be taken around docks in 18 feet or less. A shaky head with smaller worm choices have been the best producers around the docks. Skip these baits around docks and work the bait SLOWLY. The water is still very cold, so your presentation should match the conditions. Look for the docks with the black floats and metal poles, as these will hold heat the best, and therefore attract the bait and fish more readily. This is a great time to learn the art of fishing the winter to spring transition on Lanier. My March is filling up quickly. Please give me a call ASAP if you are looking to shake off the stench of winter! Here is what I have left open in March right now: 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31 Give me a call and let's go get 'em!

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

The DVD's from my January 17th Seminar are now available. They are $39 each. Give me a call if you are interested in purchasing one: 770 542 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 very good. As predicted, the weather started to turn this week and the fishing has picked up. We did have a minor Threadfin shad die off due to the temperatures dropping into the low 40's in the main lake and high 30's in the back of the creeks. However, there is plenty of bait in the creeks and the lake is healthy. This could be one of the best spring time fishing seasons we have ever experienced based on what we have seen to date. Live bait continues to be your best bet. There is a shallow water early morning bite using Herring, Threadfin and Gizzard shad on free lines and planner boards. Once the sun gets up, weight your lines with several split shots, deploy your down rods in addition to your free lines and move to deeper water. This pattern should hold as long as the water temperature continues to warm. We have not used Umbrella rigs this week. Live bait fishing has been working to well to pull out the rigs. However, there is no reason the umbrella rigs should not work especially in the afternoons. There are fish in every creek with high concentrations of bait. Flat Creek, Balus Creek, Latham creek, and Johnson Creek are good places to start. The lake temperature mid 40's and the water is lightly stained on the main lake with heavy stain in the backs of the creeks.

This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, Member of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. See our club’s website, www. laniercrappieanglers.com

Crappie fishing is good. Lake level is just about full pool. Water temperature is 48 degrees with some spots a degree or two warmer. A combination of warm temperature and warm rain has raised the water temperature a whopping ten degrees in one week! To top that off, it is a full moon! This means “grab your tackle and head to the lake!” Tomorrow will be cold, but after the front moves out, the extended forecast is low sixties for the next ten days, which indicates the spawn is near. Over the next few weeks, schools of fish will be constantly moving back and forth from the backs of creeks into the shallows to check out their spawning grounds, looking for a prime spot (a packed clay bottom or gravel bottom in the shallows, with exposed weed lines a plus). The bite should be improving every day. The fish are active and will bite just about anything right now, including live bait, soft body jigs, hair jigs, and road runners. The change from the winter pattern to the spring pattern has begun, so expect some of the best fishing of the year over the next several weeks. Be mindful that the females are holding our future fish, so if you are going to keep fish, try to target the males, and return the females to give them a chance to spawn. The males will have the darker color this time of year. So get out on the lake and have some fun! Be safe on the water and wear your life jacket, it can save your life!

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 Stop by www.gon.com on the forum page for current events.