LAKE LANIER IS .23 FET OVER FULL, THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR TO STAINED AND CREEKS ARE PARTLY STAINED & 47 DEGREES

Bass fishing on Lanier the past week has been fair. We have been starting our days in the creek arm ditches for the most part. The fish have often 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 fairly shallow. Our best offerings on the rock and clay have been a jig, a shaky head, and a Fish Head Spin. In the ditches, it has been a Fish Head Spin, a Dude, a jerk bait and a Davis Shaky Head worm soaked in Clear JJ's Magic. The real key to getting bit right now is moving your baits slowly very SLOWLY. Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology can help cut the search time to find bait and fish. The deep bite has been very erratic so far this winter. Some days they are there, and some days they are not. It's really all about the bait. 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 with a jig and a Davis Shaky Head. 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 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Give me a call and reserve your date.

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 great one day and awful the next. Cold fronts followed be high pressure sunny conditions can turn the fish bite on and off like a light switch. We really need some weather stability. My advice is if you can go fishing: Go! Keep in mind that fish are cold blooded and will seek out the warmest water. They will also "slow down" and in general are in no mood to chase fast moving baits. Consequently, consider slowing down your presentation downsizing your baits and fish areas with the greatest concentration of bait. Keep someone on the deck casting a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke trailer 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 will work but don't overlook downsizing your baits with some medium shiners. Focus on the sunny side of the creeks in the late morning and afternoons as they will warm and attract the baits to shallow flats as the day warms. Weight your lines with two to three split shots and adjust your down rod depth to the bait. The umbrella rig should work with a lighter setup and shallower presentation. The back of Flat creek and Four Mile Creek are always good places to start when the water cools to the low 40's. Call Ken Sturdivant about the ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar or the Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or a full day STRIPERS School. Call 770 889 2654 for details. Send an e mail to [email protected]

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