LAKE LANIER IS FULL, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & HIGH 40’S


Well for the first time in a couple of months, the lake is once again below full pool. The Corp has continued to pull water 24 hours a day for some time now, and it finally caught up with the rain. The water temps are dropping slightly with the recent cold weather, which is not necessarily a good thing heading into February. The long term forecast calls for a good warm up in the weeks ahead which is exactly what the doctor ordered to get the fish moving and in their full pre spawn routines. As the days are getting longer, and when we get on a steadier warming trend, the fish will be triggered to start their process. The lower main lake is clear in most areas, while the areas above Browns Bridge are somewhat stained still. The backs of the creeks around the lake continue to have some stain, which will help with warming, as the stained water will hold the heat better than the clear water from the daytime sun. The ditches remain semi productive, as some bait and fish remain in those areas and are catchable, particularly in the afternoons. A SuperSpin has been the ticket in these ditches. A shaky head and a jig have also been productive in those same places. The fish that remain in the ditches have been as shallow as 12 feet in the mornings and afternoons and are spread out all the way out to 25 feet. A jerkbait has been productive back in the ditches as well at times. Work the jerkbait with soft twitches and 4 5 second pauses. Another pattern that has reemerged is the steep rock bite. Look for points that offer deeper water nearby. Work a Chattahoochee Jig slowly on these areas with plenty of pauses. Use a larger trailer, like a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail, to help slow the fall of the bait. In addition, there are still a certain group of fish have committed to deep water. A jig and a worm, along with a drop shot, have been good in the 40 60 foot sections of select ditches in and around the timber lines. Here is what I have open right now in February: 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, and 24. This is a great time to learn that late winter and early pre spawn bite like we discussed in my recent seminar. Give me a call and let's go fishing!

This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com. 770 542 7764

This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of www.bigfishon.com

Striper fishing is good. The lake is fishing like two different lakes. The North end of the lake has been running several degrees colder than the South end. There is an early morning bite using Herring on free lines and planner boards on the North end creeks. Once the sun gets up, weight your lines with several split shots, deploy your down rods in addition to your free lines and move to deeper water. The primary issue on the North end has been the heavy stain and mud due to the rains. In contrast to the North end of the lake, there is a deep water (70 to 90 feet bottom) down rod bite half way back in the South end creeks. Use your Lowrance Structure Scan to locate bait and suspended fish over the creek channels and deep water pockets. Regardless of where you are fishing the critical keys are the birds and bait. The birds are key indicators and when you find both birds and bait there are Stripers in the area. The Umbrella rig bite has slowed this past week and live bait fishing with herring is your best bet. The lake temperature is in the high 40's and the water is lightly stained on the main lake with heavy stain in the backs of the creeks.

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

There are two key things to focus on related to crappie fishing this time of year. First and foremost is water temperature. Second is the stain of the water. Although water temps hit 51 degrees toward the end of last week, it has dropped back down to 46 degrees and will continue to drop over the next several days. The creeks and the rivers that are feeding our lake continue to dump frigid water into the lake. That, coupled with colder weather means the bite has slowed down. Our fish have gone a little deeper, and are holding tight to brush piles that are either under docks or close to docks. Shooting docks remains the best method of catching crappie right now (for help in learning to shoot docks, see below). With this method, one twenty fourth ounce remains our favorite jig head with a soft body jig, which aids in helping the jig skip across the surface of the water. This allows your jig to get to the darkest part of the dock. Four pound test high visibility line is a must for this method. To catch fish in current temperatures, your jig needs to present as close as possible to the school of fish. Their metabolism has slowed, and they will not chase your jig. So if the fish are holding at around twenty five foot depths, shoot your jig, take a bite of your donut, drink a sip of coffee, and then start retrieving SLOWLY. Watch your line closely for movement. This is where high visibility line will help catch more fish. The color of the water determines the color of your jig. If you are fishing the south side of the lake where the water is less stained, Bobby Garland’s Key Lime Pie, Mo’ Glo Sunrise, and Panfish Assassin tiny shad work well. If you are fishing farther north where the water is more stained, try Bobby Garland Twilight and Lights Out or similar colors.

Shooting docks requires you to practice and learn several simple steps. Hold the rod with your dominant hand, with the bail open and your index finger holding the line. With your other hand, grasp the jig head, keeping your fingers away from the barbs of the hook. Keeping the rod parallel to the water, pull the jig toward your body, bending the rod into the shape of a “C”, with the fishing line aligned with the rod. When you release the jig, it will shoot in the direction the rod is pointed. Helpful tip to practice at home: crack your garage door open about a foot. Stand fifteen to twenty feet away from the door and practice shooting your jig under the garage door. Make sure you clip the barbs for pet safety. You can also use a five gallon bucket turned on its side, and aim into the bucket. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Even when you are fishing stand alone brush piles, you will find that shooting your jig will give you more accurate placement than casting your line overhead, especially on a breezy day. Stay safe, wear your life jacket, and take a friend with you for safety, especially this time of year!

STRIPER! Seminar March 5, 2016 in Buford Georgia. See www.nutsandboltsfishing.com

We have the LOWRANCE Gen 3 Touch and 3D NEW Lowrance Technology on our boat. Bring any HDS machine only to Lake Lanier and learn it ALL in one day. Call Ken for details.

Ken Sturdivant Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE Sonar Seminar at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville Georgia on Saturday March 26 2016 at 2pm. Seminar is subject to change without notice. Be sure to see the NEW Lowrance machines coming on www.lowrance.com

For a free set up sheet for your sonar send me an e mail to [email protected]

Anglers 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 [email protected].

We offer these waypoints for sale. You get the coordinates and you load them into your GPS unit
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

Our mailing address is Southern Fishing Schools Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge Cumming Georgia 30040. 770 889 2654