LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 10.4 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 50’s


Bass fishing is good. The lake has started to drop again after a brief rise after last week's rain. The surface temperatures are back on the way up with all this warm weather we are having and projected to have over the next several days. The ditch bite continues to be good and we are catching them using the traditional ditch fishing methods like the SuperSpin, SPRO Jerkbait, SPRO Crankbait, Jig, and Picasso Shake E Head. Start back shallow in these ditches early, and then move out deeper in the ditches as the day progresses. We are starting in these ditches first thing and remaining flexible as the day progresses. Some days we adjust to much deeper water within those ditches, and on others, we are finding the fish are staying shallow in and around those ditches as well as up around docks. We are starting with a SuperSpin tipped with a boot-tail type trailer right in the ditch. Also, a Spro McStick or McRip has been a good choice as far as jerk baits go. A Spro crankbait is never a bad choice either, both in the ditches and around rocky/clay points as well. A finesse worm on a Picasso Shaky Football Head or a Chattahoochee Jig has been a good alternative if the fish are not as aggressive. If the ditch bite does slow, we have been shifting to steeper rocky points and finding success with a jig and worm as well. We have also continued to spoon up a few fish out of the timber, or near the timber, in creek arms and ditches in 30 to 50 feet. Check for bait and fish out deeper in the ditches as the day progresses. If you see fish out deeper, a spoon, jig, or shaky head can be a great way to catch them, depending on how they are positioned. We have a great winter experience in store folks.

The ditch bite is here and the fish are positioning around the timber. If you are wanting to learn the deep timber bite, now is the time. Give me a call and let’s get out and have some fun! Thanks to all and May God Bless.

This report brought to you by Jimbo On Lanier 770 542 7764 www.jimboonlanier.com

I am now guiding in a Brand New Xpress Bass Boat – 21’3″ powered by a 250 Yamaha SHO and equipped with the latest Lowrance HDS Gen III units featuring 3D Structure Scan technology. Come take a ride in this beauty!

This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Captain Ken West 404 561 2564. Contact us on our web site. www.bigfishonguide.com

Striper fishing is fair. There is an old saying that “every day is a new day when it comes to striper fishing”. This saying has been the rule over the past several months. The weather has been anything but stable with the temperatures fluctuating between 12 degrees one day and 70 degrees a few days later. The fish are moving and can be found in the back of the creeks, to the mouth of the creeks including main lake points and humps lake wide. They can be found in less than one foot of water on the banks to 50 feet deep over the channels. One day they only want small baits and the next only larger Herring. This unpredictable pattern requires you to be prepared to fish multiple techniques based on where you find the fish. You’re Lowrance HDS and the Sea Gulls are great tools in finding the fish. Trolling live bait in areas with a high concentration of bait will also work in finding fish. Load your boat with all of your tackle. Down rods, free line rods, planner boards, and casting/spinning rods with top water baits, spoons and bucktail jigs. Include live bait both small and large. Also include Umbrella rigs and rods. There are stripers scattered lake wide however the old winter time creeks like Flat Creek, Balus Creek, Four Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek and Mud Creeks are good places to start. The lake is 10.3 feet below full pool. The water temperature is in the low 50’s. Call Big Fish On Guide Service at 404 561 2564 to schedule a guided fishing trip on Lake Lanier.

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

The water temperature is 48 degrees in the lower parts of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee. If you go above Laurel Park on the Chattahoochee side or north of Thompson Creek on the Chestatee you will notice that the water is more stained as you get into the “S” turns. Also, the water temperature drops a few degrees at this going. The river channel docks with warmer water temperatures at 46 to 48 degrees will be your best options. The bait is between twenty and thirty feet deep, and the fish are holding on the deeper docks. Our dock shooting technique is producing well. We’ve been catching better quality fish on the Chattahoochee side of the lake, however if you want to catch greater numbers, the Chestatee side of the lake will be your best option. The bite is starting deeper at fifteen to twenty feet, but it is amazing how quickly the entire school will shallow up if they decide to feed, sometimes up to eight feet below the surface. The best advice is to pay attention to your Lowrance, noting the depth the fish are suspended and work the jig directly above their heads. The way the eyes are positioned on the crappies’ heads, they are always looking up. Therefore, if the jig is below them it is difficult for them to see and respond to it. Jiffy jigs in a variety of colors and hair jigs are working well, but the soft body Bobby Garland jigs tend to skip the water easier. This will assist you in getting your jig all the way to the back of the dock when using the shooting technique. My preference however, is still the darker color jigs right now. The fish are holding tight to the structure and it is very critical to keep the jig in their strike zone. With the colder temperatures, their metabolism has slowed and they are not willing to chase your jig. You will also notice that the color of the crappie has turned to pale white, which is an indication they have gone to deeper pockets. The females have begun to develop eggs and you will see their bellies starting to become distended, even though the spawn is still a good distance away. The bait will lead you to the fish, so pay attention to your graph. Threadfins are the bait of choice for crappie.

Stay safe on the water and wear your life jacket!

Another reminder: if you are on the water in cold weather, it is even more important to wear your life jacket, as a fall can be serious with the threat of hypothermia. Be safe on the water, bundle up and enjoy fishing during the lower traffic winter months.

Ask for a free sonar set up sheet by sending me an email to ken@southernfishing.com. Please tell me what model machine you have.

We recommend Overboard Designs for 2956 Waterworks Road Buford, Georgia 30518 Phone 678.714.7122.

Advantage Boat Center in Cumming Georgia offer sales, service and storage close to Lake Lanier. 678 771 8745. Ask for Myra.

We recommend Transducer Shield and Savers. Protect your investment.

We have the LOWRANCE Gen 3 Touch and the game changing technology in the NEW 3D Lowrance Technology on our boat. Bring any HDS machine only to Lake Lanier and learn it ALL in one day. Call Ken for details.

Ask for a free sonar set up sheet by sending me an email to ken@southernfishing.com Please tell us what machines you are using.

Anglers we have these books for sale BASS FISHIN LAKE LANIER, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE, BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE and BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL. These books have lots of bass fishing and covers every week of the year. Each book $39.00. If you would like a sample of any book send us an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com.

We offer these waypoints for sale. You get the coordinates and you load them into your GPS unit for
Lake Allatoona for $99.00 Lake Lanier for $99.00 Lake Oconee for $99.00 Lake Weiss for $99.00 Lake Hartwell for $99.00 WAYPOINTS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE

Saturday, March 18, 2017 2pm at Bass Pro Shops in Lawrenceville, learn BASICS OF ELECTRONICS BY LOWRANCE PRO STAFF, KEN STURDIVANT

The Atlanta Boat Show is next week at Georgia World Congress center January 12 thru 15, 2017. Meet Lowrance Pro Staffers, Tom Branch Jr, Captain Mark Smith, Al Bassett and Ken Sturdivant.

SPECIAL THANKS: Kathy and R. C. Barker of ProBass Networks (800 510 3139) our web masters for a great year. They have been on hand anytime we need counsel, service and advice. Ken and Karen Sturdivant