LAKE LANIER IS .62 FEET OVER FULL, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & LOW 50’S


Bass fishing is fair. The weather has once again dealt us some interesting cards with all the recent rain. The lake has vaulted up more than a foot in the past day. The backs of the creeks around the lake are heavily stained to muddy right now. Up in the rivers are heavily stained to muddy. The temperatures in the backs of some of those creeks are definitely warmer than the main body with temperatures approaching the mid 50's in some instances. The ditches and pockets off the main river and creek channels should remain productive in the areas where the water has warmed or stayed warm. Keep a close eye on your Lowrance electronics for water temperature readings and note the areas that are trending warmer and focus on those. Do not be afraid to fish very shallow. The New Lowrance 3D Technology can shoot all the way to the bank and we can see these shallow fish. The warmer water will attract bait and therefore fish to these areas. With the colored water, a ChatterBait and a crankbait will be my first choices for these situations. The focus with these baits should be fairly shallow and near available cover, both of which are bass fishing standards for fresh colored water. For the crankbait, a square bill would be my choice something with a tight wobble that dives to 4 feet or so. We use Z Man ChatterBaits trailed with some type of minnow imitation. When the moving bait bite slows down, switch to a worm and a Chattahoochee jig to cover the bases and ensure you don't miss key bites. Toss these around in the ditches and pockets as well. Also, if the sun is out, look for the docks to start consistently holding fish. These are a popular staging area for the fish on Lanier. Check docks in different depth zones from deeper to shallow and concentrate on the ones in the depth range you are getting bites on a given day. Skipping a Senko or Jig around these docks can be a very productive pattern. Another pattern that remains steady is the steep rock bite. Look for chunk rock 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. On recent sunny days, the fish have been very shallow on those rock points, particularly in the afternoons. Focus on chunk rock points that receive all day sun. A small crankbait worked on these same areas can be productive if there is some wind. 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 to 60 foot sections of steeper, rocky ditches. I do have this Saturday and Sunday, February 27th and 28th open for anyone that would like to get out and enjoy the warm weather. This is a great time to learn the late winter and early pre spawn bite like we discussed in my recent seminar. Give me a call and let's go fishing! Thanks to all and May God Bless!

This report brought to you by Jimbo On Lanier 770 542 7764 www.jimboonlanier.com

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

Striper fishing is good but the weather (rain, storms, lightning and high winds) has made fishing a challenge. The rain has once again turned the Northern creeks to mud which has shut down the bite from the middle to the back of the creeks. The mouths of the creeks and the main channel is your best bet until the water clears. In contrast to the north end of the lake, there is a deep water down rod bite mid lake and south of Browns Bridge to Three Sisters including the mouths of the creeks. The bait has been at 60 to 80 feet deep and down rods fished as deep as 80 feet deep have been producing. The middle and south end of the lake is fishing like a summer time pattern. It sounds crazy to fish a summertime pattern in February but that has been the ticket for the past several weeks. The umbrella rig bite is not working and down rod herring is your best bet. Now is a good time clean and oil your reels and refresh with new line. You may also want to clean out and resupply your tackle box with quality terminal tackle and look at updating your electronics with the latest technology from Lowrance. The early spring bite is just around the corner. 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. The lake is 1 foot above full pool. To book your guide trip call us at 404 561 2564 or contact us on our web site. www.bigfishonguide.com

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

Water temperatures are inching into the fifties. For this time of year, that means we are in the pre-spawn stage. The warm rains we are currently encountering will nudge the water temps up slightly. The fish are starting to roam, and some are moving to shallower docks anticipating the spawn. We are still several weeks away from the spawn, but signs are beginning to be seen, including females starting to fatten up with eggs. Your trolling bite is now a good option to target the fish that are roaming, chasing bait. Tight lining while trolling is another way to catch crappie now, using a jig tipped with minnows, ten feet below the surface. This will require rods ten to twelve in length, positioned parallel with the water, with up to four rods on each side of the trolling motor. Your line should be vertical while going at a very, very low speed. If your line is angled or horizontal, you are going too fast. Your Lowrance down scan technology will help you find the brush piles and let you determine the depth of the fish suspended on the brush. Long lining is also working. To long line, position the shortest rods (approximately four feet in length), one on each side in the back of the boat, following with two six foot rods, two eight foot rods and two ten to twelve foot rods in the bow of the boat. Double rig each rod using multiple color curly tails, Bobby Garland 2” Hyper Grubs, or Bobby Garland 2.25” Minnow Mind’rs with a 1/16th ounce jig head on each. If you notice that one color is working consistently better, substitute a few more lines with the same body. Of course, shooting docks is still my favorite way to catch crappie, and it is working extremely well now. This time of year, some docks are holding only smaller fish. If you notice that you are catching only smaller fish, move on to another dock, where you may find bigger fish. With spring around the corner, we are beginning to see more fishermen on the lake. Do not be afraid to fish very shallow. The New Lowrance 3D Technology can shoot all the way to the bank and we can see these shallow fish. This coming weekend, there is a major bass tournament on the lake, so expect to see above normal boat traffic. So, stay safe on the water and wear your life jacket!

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