Lake level: Full
Clarity: Clear
Temperature: 70s
Bass: Bass fishing on Lake Lanier has been up and down. When it’s up the fishing is great with lots of top water action. When it’s down they just seem to have lockjaw.
Oddly the weather doesn’t seem to be the deciding factor. There are many areas on the lake showing signs of the turnover. If you are in an area that the water looks brackish or you smell sulfur you should move to a different area. The bass are definitely following the shad into the creeks now and will continue to do so with cooler temperatures. There are still a lot of fish schooling across the lake throughout the day.
Sebile’s, Spooks, Chug bugs and Flukes are good choices for these fish. The key is to hit right on them while they are up feeding. The Spot Choker underspin with a white Fluke junior has also been very effective on these fish recently. I’m throwing the 3/8th size with either a white pearl head or a lavender head to these fish. The fish are just scattered. There are still plenty of fish around the brush in the 15- to 30-foot range but also on the humps and long points. As the bait moves, so do these fish.
The Dropshot has been a steady producer around the brush with the Prism Shad and Blue Lily being the most consistent colors for the week. The shallow bite is picking up on secondary points and docks in pockets. A 3/16ths Spotsticker with a Green Pumpkin Speed Vibe worm or a watermelon trick worm is drawing the majority of the strikes.
As the turnover finishes and the water temperature continues to drop look for the top water activity to get stronger.
Report by: Phil Johnson, pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.
Stripers: Stripers are moving north on the river channel. Using your electronics, locate the bait and any structural change in the bottom and drop down lines 30 to 40 feet deep using blue back herring. A weighted flat line trolled at .05 mph and down lines are good choices.
Keep your favorite top water handy because when they come up you might get a couple of cast at the most so be ready.
Report by: Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404 510-1778.
Crappie: Minnows are the first choice of the crappie in recent days with a 70/30 ratio, minnows to jigs. The jigs I had success with were dark blue over silver or dark purple with a chartreuse tail.
I am setting the minnows 8-10 feet over shallow brush. Look for covered docks that have brush under or nearby. A good depth range would be 20 to 30 feet of water and near a main channel. Use your electronics locate structure or bush piles. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows.
When dock shooting the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. Let your jig sink and give it time to get down to the fish and retrieve your jig slowly. I’m using ATX lure company plastics with a five-pound test high visibility yellow k9 braid for my line (unless I am using a bobber) and a Piscifun reel on a Acc crappie Stix.
Report by: Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.
