LAKE LANIER IS UP 1.68 FEET, THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR AND CREEKS ARE PARTLY STAINED & 50 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good. The Corp of Engineers has been pulling water all week which has contributed to a good bite. There are now plenty of fish in the creek arm ditches and the backs of creeks as well. They have been shallow in the backs chasing bait in the mornings. They have been in the 5 to 15 foot range in the early mornings and out deeper as the day progresses, all the way out to the timber line or wherever the best concentration of bait is based on the day and conditions. Our bigger fish have still been coming off of rock or rock and clay mix and have been shallow. Our best offerings on the rocks have been a jig, a shaky head, and a Spro Little John DD crank bait, and a Fish Head Spin. In the ditches, it has been a Fish Head Spin, a jerk bait and a Davis Shaky Head worm soaked in Clear JJ's Magic. The deep bite showed some strength this week as well. We look for this bite to become king as the ultra cold weather moves in the next few days. As always, it is important to stay flexible, as the fish on Lanier change daily. Keep an open mind about where and how to fish. This is a great time to come out and learn the Fish Head Spin bite in the ditches as well as deep timber fishing. If you don't know these techniques, they are certainly valuable tools to add to your winter fishing arsenal. I have the following dates open next week: January 6, 7 and 9. Give me a call and reserve your date NOW

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

This Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On Service 404 561 2564. www.bigfishon.com

Striper fishing is good. The pattern continues to be an early bite with the birds giving up the fish. Find the birds and fish there continues to be your best bet. A 3/8 to 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke trailer has been working well for early morning fish. Keep someone on the deck casting all day when you are pulling baits. You can also rig a super fluke on a hook and cast it to feeding fish. If there are birds searching an area put out a "spread" of bait and search the area with the birds. Vary the distance from your boards and free lines from 25 to 125 feet behind the board/boat. Hang a couple of down rods over the side just above the bait. Both Trout and Herring are working equally well. I have been mixing my bait with both without any clear difference. We have had some reports of a down rod bite but all of my fish this week have been on free lines behind the boat and on planner boards. The early bite will last until 9:00 am and then the birds will sit down. Now is the time to focus on the creeks with the largest concentration of bait. Weight your lines with two to three split shots and adjust your down rod depth to the bait. There is also a late afternoon bite from 4:00pm until dark. We pulled umbrella rigs this week without any success however; it was midday which has not been a very productive time this week. If you are marking fish and they will not bite go to the umbrella rig and try to get a reaction bite. The back of Bald Ridge Creek, Flat Creek, Latham Creek, Johnson Creek, Gainesville Creek and pockets off the river channel from the mouth of the Chestatee to Thompson Bridge are good places to start. Don't forget the Atlanta Boat Show starting January 9 through 12, 2014. I will be there presenting Striper fishing seminars each day. Stop buy and say hello to Captain Ken West from Big Fish On Guide Service.