LAKE LANIER IS .53 FEET DOWN FROM FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & CREEKS ARE PARTLY STAINED & 49 DEGREES

Bass fishing has been steady over the past week. Fish can still be found in the back of creeks and on secondary points at the mouth of creek arms as well as pockets near the main creek channels. A jig, a Davis Shaky Head and a jerk bait have been the most productive lures. The dock bite is starting to pick up as well. Look for the docks in the 15 feet range at the front to be the best right now, and if brush is around, even better. Also, look for the rocky areas in creek that receive all day sun to continue to produce as well. These areas still need to be next to deep water for the most part. Now is a great time to learn prespawn fishing on Lanier. I have the following dates open next week: March 11 and 12.

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

Striper fishing is good as the lake water temperatures begin to rise. With a little luck we can say goodbye to the freezing temperatures. The lake is clear with the back of the creeks slightly stained and the water temperatures are ranging from 48 to 50 degrees. The forecast looks favorable for this week and the fish will become more active in search of the warmest water and the greatest concentrations of bait. Points and flats half way back in the creeks to all the way back will be your best bets. With the warmer temperatures we can start to increase the size of our bait and begin to pull shallower. Herring, gizzard shad and trout will be the primary bait once the temperatures reach mid 50's. Flat lines and planner boards have been the best technique. Use split shots and vary your distance from the boat on some lines to cover a range of depths. Don't forget to cast a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke while you are pulling baits. There is also an umbrella rig bite on points and flats. Try downsizing your umbrella rigs with 1/2 ounce jigs and pull them shallower and slower. Flat Creek, Balus Creek, Johnson Creek and Latham Creek and River Forks have been producing and are good places to start.

This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404-425-4059

Crappie fishing is good. It’s all about water temperature. A known fact: in the last thirty days or so we were literally using our boats to crush ice north of Clark’s Bridge boat ramp. Water temperature below the ice was 39 degrees. We then witnessed the combination of warm spells and warm rain, and in the very backs of the stained creeks saw temperatures in the last week or so as high as 58.4 degrees. Our average temperatures over the past month ranged in the mid forty degrees, which is the current water temperature. There are two groups of fish you can target right now. Mother Nature is telling the females (obviously the bigger fish) to prepare for the spawn, although still several weeks away. They are roaming the flats. Areas to target are the backs of Four Mile Creek, Two Mile Creek, Sardis Creek, Wahoo Creek and Yellow Creek. The best way to catch them is trolling with long lines, using darker color curly tails with some chartreuse. Another way is to tight line, using four 10 to 12 foot long rods, with a 3/8 ounce egg sinker (or lighter if there’s no wind), a 2 foot leader, a number 6 hook and crappie minnows. This way you are covering a lot of water because the females are on the move and are constantly feeding. For those of you who enjoy shooting docks, you will be after mostly males. Target docks in 15 feet of water toward the backs of the creeks. Jiffy jigs and 1/24 ounce jig heads are working well. If you’re a beginner, try using soft body jigs, which tend to skip the water and make it easier to shoot the docks. Your bites will be mostly on the fall. Use 4 pound high visibility Mr. Crappie line. Your Lowrance side imagery really comes into play this time of year, helping you locate the schools much quicker. Another statistic: even with the drastic temperature changes, members of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club have caught well over a thousand fish in the past month. This past Saturday one of our members, David Smith, won our monthly Challenge, weighing in seven fish for a total of 12.52 pounds, setting a club record. Stay safe on the water, and always wear a life jacket. Dan Saknini is an avid fisherman and President of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club. See our club’s website, www.lakelaniercrappieanglers.com

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