LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 4.5 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR THE RIVERS ARE MUCH COLDER AND HEAVILY STAINED. 50’S DOWN LAKE AND 40’S UP LAKE.


I am still getting out a few days a week, but have not been able to run a normal full schedule due to the weather of late. We are still seeing some more ditch activity this week, mainly out deep. The timber edges in and around 30 to 40 feet have been productive with a Picasso Shake Down Head and worm combo. We have been dropping directly on the fish we are seeing on the Lowrance electronics. Casting in these areas can also be effective, but the drop down has been best, targeting specific fish we see on the graph. A drop shot is also working on these deeper fish. I have been favoring minnow imitations lately, like a fluke. The spoon bite is still there on some days as well, so make sure to keep that in your arsenal and ready for action. It just depends on the day, so be flexible in your choices. The steeper rock points and banks on the main lake and in the creeks have been productive at times also. The Picasso Shake Down head/green pumpkin worm combo along with a Chattahoochee Jig have done well in these areas. We have been presenting these baits very slowly in these steep rock areas. Look for the fish to be shallower in these areas on sunny days, and deeper on cloudy days. When the wind is up, try your SPRO Little John DD on the rocks as well for some fish. Don't expect a lot of bites, but some good ones. Don't miss the opportunity to throw a SuperSpin in the same places as well. Also of interest, in the afternoons of sunny days, we have found some biting fish in smaller, shorter pockets close to deep water. These fish have been in 15 to 25 feet and often around docks. Look for the areas that are protected from a north wind and get lots of sun. This pattern is just like an early spring pattern, so think in those terms as you pursue it. Sun and warming water is the key. It's still a great time to learn the deep winter bite and really learn the keys to catching fish when the bite is tougher. While the catch rates for trips this time of year is not as good as others, I believe the learning opportunities are at their best right now. And don't forget, that fun pre spawn bite is just around the corner

This report brought to you by: Jimbo Mathley Jimbo on Lanier


Jimbo is out of town and the reports will resume next week.



This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Big Fish on Service. To book your trip call Captain Ken at 404 561 2564 or contact us on our web site. www.bigfishon .com


Striper fishing is slow. This is a good week to lubricate your reels and replace your line. It is also a good weekend to eat some chicken wings and watch some football. We have been stuck in this slow Striper fishing pattern for several weeks. If you are brave enough to fish, your best bet is to fish the bait. Find the bait and deploy free lines and planner boards when you find shallow (less than 20 feet) bait and down rods for the deeper bait. Downsize size you bait to medium shiners and Blueback Herring and set your trolling motor speed between .3 to 1.0 mile per hour. Vary the distance of your baits behind the boat/boards and the weight on your free lines to cover a variety of water depths. We use split shots to weight some of our free lines. If the bait is deep deploy your down rods and fish bare spots from just above the bait to the bottom. If you see fish and they will not bite try moving your baits up and down to increase the action of your bait and trigger a bite. As always, the winter time “go to creeks” are Flat Creek, Four Mile Creek and Balus Creek. However, the creeks with high concentration of bait will hold fish. The water temperature is in the low to mid 40’s. The water is clear on the main Lake and lightly stained in the creeks. To book your guide trip call us at 404 561 2564 or contact us on our web site. www.bigfishonguide.com


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

Full Moon! That is probably the most positive aspect of this report, as crappie fishermen look forward to fishing around the full moon. The bait is typically roaming during a full moon and the fish are usually aggressively in pursuit of food. But the extended periods of cold overnight temperatures are keeping the water temps in the mid forties and below, causing the fish to go much deeper than normal. We were hoping that he rain we received over the weekend would act as a warm blanket and help bring the water temp up a few degrees, but continued low overnight temps have prevented that. Your best bet to catch fish right now are marinas, community docks in deep water, and river channel docks. The bite early in the morning tends to be a bit shallower. But, as daylight arrives the fish are going deeper. That does not really make sense to us, but that is the current pattern. Even with the bait so deep, using your electronics to locate the bait will lead you to the fish. Follow the bait. Eventually things will change, but right now, catching crappie is tough.


Stay safe on the water and wear your life jacket.


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.


We recommend Transducer Shield and Savers. Protect your investment.


We recommend Spider Diapers for your protecting your boat in your dock.
www.shadetreefabrics.com 800 9728057


We have these books for sale BASS FISHING ON 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


Ultrex and Cable Guard protects external Transducer cable for remote control trolling motors. The cable guard will allow the transducer cable to turn kink free and the shaft can be raised or lowered without pinching the cable. No more messing with cable ties or black tape. For Factory Direct Pricing contact Precision Sonar at 270 703 613