LAKE LANIER IS FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & LOW 70’S

Spotted bass fishing is very good. Most of the largemouth have finished bedding, but there are still plenty of spots on bed now and more to come. A 1/8 ounce Davis Shaky head with a 4 inch worm fished on a GLoomis NRX 822 Shaky Head Rod with Sea Guar 8 pound test fluorocarbon is a great way to catch these fish. Work the Shaky Head slowly and look for the bites to be light, which makes a rod like the 822 so important. A fluke is great tool to locate these fish. A spot on the bed will almost always rise up to at least look at a fluke if not eat it. Work the fluke slowly and give the bait plenty of time to fall on a slack line. Watch your fluke and your line for indications of a bite. If they don't eat the fluke and only swing at it, follow with the worm for a sure bite. A Senko is a good bet on these fish as well. Look for spot beds on hard clay banks and points with sandy areas being strong as well. Look for the pre spawn females to be on steeper rocky points near these spawning areas. The same baits will work, but others will catch the pre spawners as well. A jerk bait, a spinnerbait and a swim bait have all been good when the wind is up on the rocky points and shallow humps. Here is what I have left open for May 7, 12, 20, 21, 26(PM), 27, 28, 29, 30(AM). Give me a call and let's go get 'em!

This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 542 7764


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

Striper fishing is good. The open water bite we discussed last week has slowed. However, the shallow water bite in the creeks on points, flats and reef markers is getting stronger. Free lines weighted with a couple of split shots and set 50 to 70 feet behind the boat with Herring is your best bet. Also set out a couple of down rods while you are pulling free lines. We use 6.5 foot medium heavy rods with Diawa line counters spooled with Seaguar 20lb fluorocarbon main line tied with a swivel and a red bead to a 5 to 6 foot leader with 15 pound test fluorocarbon and a Gamakatsu Octopus #1 or 1/0 hook depending on the size of the Herring as a free line set up. We use the same set up for down rods by adding a two ounce slip sinker. The red bead is installed between the slip sinker and the swivel to protect the knot. On a free line the red bead is used to stop the planner board as it slides down the line and also protects the line and knot from damage. The Umbrella rig is working in these same areas and on brush piles on a 20 to 30 foot bottom. Set your rigs at 60 to 80 feet behind the boat and speed at 3.0 MPH. The fish on the brush piles have been running 2 to 5 pound range and it is not uncommon to catch multiple fish on the same rig. The top water bite is right around the corner and it is always a good idea to keep someone on the front deck casting a Red Fin, Chug Bug, Spook or a Captain Mack's buck tail jig while you are pulling bait. Buy a few extra baits and change your baits often as the Spotted Bass will attack your Herring without you noticing and you will end up fishing with dead or injured bait. The creeks and river channel points and flats on the north end of the lake from Ada Creek to Browns Bridge is a good place to start. The water temperature is in the mid 60 degrees during the day and the water is 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. For more information on the club, see our website, www. laniercrappieanglers.com

Crappie fishing is good. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s in the middle of the creeks, and low 70’s in the backs of the creeks. After approximately six weeks of the spawn, fishing seems to have slowed down to some degree. However, if you’re in the right place, fishing is good. The males are still on brush piles in two to six feet of water from the mid creek pockets all the way toward the backs of the creeks. The older the brush pile, the better your chances of finding fish on them. They are holding tight to the brush. Early in the morning and late in the day, you can cast to them either with a jig or a minnow under a weighted cork. You will notice that the color of the fish are black to purple and are mostly males. Their color darkens when they move into shallow water. We’ve been targeting the better quality fish on docks with structure, using the dock shooting technique. 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs, Sugar Bugs, or Mr. Crappie soft body jigs, all in various colors, are still working well. The fish are aggressive enough at this time of the year that the color does not matter much. Our favorite line is still the four pound test high visibility line. Always tie your jig directly to the line, with no weights or swivels. This will give your jig better action. Be safe on the water as the lake is getting more crowded! Wear your life jacket, it can save your life!

This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, Member of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059 See our club’s website, www.laniercrappieanglers.com

SONAR SCHOOL PING SPEED 16 on the console and 18 on the bow.

Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com

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