LAKE LANIER IS FULL, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR THE RIVERS AND UP LAKE COVES ARE MUDDY TO HEAVILY STAIN. 50’S DOWN LAKE AND 60’S UP LAKE. WATCH FOR FLOATING DEBRIS LAKE WIDE.


The backs of the major creeks are still stained, and the main lake below Brown's Bridge is still clear. The waters above Brown's Bridge are more stained in the main river areas than the lower lake, and the further you go north, the heavier the stain. Many options to catch fish still exist and you can pretty much chose your approach, although one will work better than another on any given day. A Picasso Shake down head and worm combo is hard to beat right now for bites, as is a Ned rig. We have also found a good fluke bite this week, which is always a blast. A whacky rigged Senko has also been a player this week. Secondary points, 45 degree banks, docks, as well as grass filled pockets are all holding fish right now, and the aforementioned array of lures will catch them, along with others things I'm sure. Creeks and main lake are both producing, and as usual, focus more on the main lake or mouths of creeks for the bigger fish, and back in the creeks for numbers, but you are apt to catch a big fish anywhere right now. The docks are holding fish. Check those docks back in creeks or pockets that are in 15 feet of water and less. Look at the last 2 or 3 docks in any creek arm or pocket for those largemouth. Look for the fish to be under the docks when the sun is up, and more just around the docks in low light or clouds. A Picasso Shake Down head and worm combo, a Ned rig, or a fluke are all good choices around the docks.

This report brought to you by: Jimbo Mathley Jimbo on Lanier www.jimboonlanier.com





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


Striper fishing is fair. I was all prepared to write a report stating how the temperature had stabilized with the water temperature in the low 60’s, the fish were biting and then another arctic blast moves in and drops the water temperature into the 50’s. Consequently, the fish moved from the shallows and developed another case of lockjaw. The good news is the spring will arrive and the fishing will improve. Look for the shallow water bite to fire up with free lines and planner boards being the key technique. The baits of choice are currently Blueback Herring and Medium Shiners but keep a larger Gizzard Shad tied on for that big fish roaming the bank looking to pack on some weight. Fish free lines and planner boards shallow with the bank side planner board set at 20 feet behind the board, free lines at 70 to 100 feet behind the boat and the deep-water boards at 50 to 80 feet behind the boards. Use split shots on some of the lines to ensure depth coverage. We are using a 5-foot 15lb. test fluorocarbon leader on our lines. Keep your trolling motor speed between .6 and 1.0 miles per hour. Also, keep someone on the front deck casting a Captain Mack's ½ ounce buck tail jig with a fluke. The water is clear on the main lake and stained in the back of the creeks. The lake level is .7 feet below full pool. The water temperature is in the high 50’s. To book your guide trip call us at 404-561-2564 of contact us on our web site at www.bigfishonguide.com.


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


This time of year we often hear the comment “if the dogwoods are blooming, the crappie are biting”. Even though most of the dogwood blooms are gone, fish need to eat all year, so we target them all year using various methods. Current water temps are in the mid-sixties which is ideal for catching crappie. Fishing is good to excellent. We are now fishing the post-spawn, and as we have said many times, crappie ALWAYS relate to structure. They may leave their habitat in pursuit of bait, but they always return. That is why you can target fish using several different methods right now. If you prefer using crappie minnows under a cork, the blowdowns and brush piles close to docks in shallower water, along with areas nearby are still going to be your best bet. Blowdowns are beginning to produce quality fish, especially if you see a few surrounding weeds. Do not overrule using a jig. In my opinion, it may work better. As stated in the past, some of these blowdowns are in 10 feet of water, but some are in 20 feet of water, depending on the size of the tree. Look at the size of the trunk, compare to nearby trees and estimate the height of the similar trees. Also look at the slope of the bank. All these factors, along with your electronics, will help you determine the location and depth of the tree below the water line. Make sure you fish the blowdown at every possible angle before moving on. After you finish fishing a blowdown, ride over it with your downscan and it will give you the accurate depth of the tree as a reference for your next trip. Especially when the fish are shallow, we avoid going over them prior to fishing a spot. If the spot was a good producer, you may also want to mark a waypoint on your electronics. Hair jigs and soft body jigs are working well. Long line trolling, is also working well. The fish chasing bait are the targets of this method. If you are a dock shooter, game on! We are catching them inside docks at various depths with structure (both deep and shallow) and getting photos of impressive catches from our members. Warmer days together with good fishing is a great recipe for an awesome time on the lake. Lately, the changes in weather and the resulting wind is challenging since we get the best results using light to medium action rods. Also, the wind makes it difficult to keep consistent distances from the docks with your trolling motor. We hope that as the weather stabilizes, the winds will lay down and allow more enjoyable fishing. Take advantage of any calm days that you can get out on the water and enjoy some good crappie fishing.


Wear your life jacket it can save your life.


Ken Sturdivant will be hosting FREE! Fishing seminars at 4 Forsyth County Library Branch’s. These seminars will cover Bass fishing, Striper fishing, Crappie fishing and SONAR. These are the dates and times. Registration is NOT required. Come 30 minutes early. Events at Cumming Library Branch Cumming 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040 Session 1 Tuesday, June 12 at 7pm Bass Session 2 Tuesday, July 10 at 7pm STRIPERS! Location is Sharon Forks Branch Sharon Forks 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30041 Session 3 Sunday, June 24 at 2pm Crappie Session 4 Sunday, July 22 at 2pm SONAR! Location is Hampton Park Branch Hampton Park 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming, GA 30041 Session 5 Saturday, June 16 at 2pm Crappie Session 6 Saturday, July 7 at 2pm SONAR! Location is Post Road Branch Post Road 5010 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040
Session 7 Saturday, June 2 at 2pm BASS Session 8 Saturday, July 14 at 2pm STRIPERS!


LOWRANCE TIPS: New software for the Lowrance Elite Ti, Gen 3 and CARBONS is now on the web site. This software will add the new FISH REVEAL feature on the DOWN SCAN. There will new STRUCTURE SCAN palettes available too. There is also a new software for Lowrance 3D STRUCTURE SCAN AND DOWN SCAN technology. All this software is free.

Now is the best time of the year to run into deeper creeks and coves and use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology to scan an area. This technology “sees” the bait, the fish and the structure as far out as 250 feet away. Set the DOWN SCAN on the red palettes and the SIDE SCAN on the blue palettes. DOWN SCAN in AUTO DEPTH. STRUCTURE SCAN at 5 times the water depth. Learn this and more on out ON THE WATER ELECTRONICS in one day. 770 889 2654.


We have all the details for our On the Water SONAR School on our web SCHOOLS page. We have the LOWRANCE CARBON and 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. See our Southern Fishing Schools page for the latest screen shots of the LOWRANCE 3D technology. See bass over a ladder in 10 feet of water 158 feet from my boat. www.lowrance.com


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 800 972 8057


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