Lake level: Full (1071)
Clarity: Heavy stain north, clear in main lake
Temperature: 50s
Bass: Bass fishing is good. Can you say spring! The lake is clearing from previous rains and the warmer temperatures are having effects on the bass. There are still fish in the 35- to 60-foot range of water but there is also movement to shallower areas. Many of the bass on Lanier are beginning their pre-spawn migration and with that bringing more tactics into play. Over a recent weekend there were several bags weighing more than 20 pounds with several largemouths over six pounds. There was even a six-pound spot to hit the scales. It’s becoming the time of year to just pick your favorite bait and go fish. There is still a good Spotchoker bite from 50 feet all the way up to the 15-foot range. The three eights Silver back or the White with red eyes trailed with a three/three Keitech worked slowly will produce both numbers and size. Crankbaits like the DT6 in a Shad or Crawfish color are drawing strikes on the rocky points and banks as well as the red clay banks in the sun. A jerk bait worked down the banks of the pockets is also starting to draw strikes from the prespawn fish. Use a jerk bait in the shad pattern that runs in the three- to five-foot range.
A three sixteenths SpotSticker with a watermelon red trick worm or a green pumpkin Senkos will get strikes on the rocky areas as well as on the docks in the backs of pockets.
Don’t pass up any blow downs that you see as they can also be holding fish. A crawfish colored jig with a twin tail trailer is a great bait to choose if you want to target the largemouth bite. Work all the structure you see on the banks leading into the backs of pockets and creeks to find this bite. Spring is almost here and the fish are beginning to feed up for the spawn.
Report by Phil Johnson, 770 366-8845, pjohnson15@hotmail.com.
Stripers: Stripers on Lanier were hard to find and catch during the recent full moon phase. Using your electronics locate the bait and fish in the center of the bait ball using blue backs on the down lines. Mini Macs on planers can increase your success. Pull 30 feet behind the boards at 1.5 mph over points and humps.
Remember to wear your life jacket.
Report by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404 510-1778.
Crappie: For crappie, docks have been the ticket in recent days.
Look at docks in 20 to 40 feet of water. Try several color combinations until you find one that works and that will probably be your color for the day.
One color combo that has been working well is pink and chartreuse. The bite is slow and soft so keep a close eye on your line. You may see the line swimming away before the rod bends.
Crappie Minnows work well year round. Try a free line minnow (no sinker) when the crappie are schooling near the top. I am setting minnows 10 to 12 feet over brush. Look for covered docks that have brush under or nearby. A good depth range would be 20 to 40 feet of water and near a main channel. Use your electronics to 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. I use ATX lures with a five-pound test high visibility yellow k9 braid unless I am using a bobber – then it’s the k9 six-pound high vis line and a Piscifun reel on a Acc crappie Stix.
Report by Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.
