Lake level: Down 4.2 feet
Temperature: 60s
Clarity: Clear
Bass: Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is fair. Finding the bass has not been hard but getting them to commit to a bait has been the challenge.
The water temperature has been hanging in the low 70s to high 60s in recent days with the water level continuing to drop.
The shad are starting to school up and there is some top water action happening but it is scattered and often just a single fish chasing bait. We have been able to draw strikes on moving baits but often it is just a swing and a miss. I had one bass recently hit a Gunfish six times on one retrieval without hooking up. The fish we have caught have come on a variety of lures. The Jerk shad has been steady for drawing strikes. A Slick Stick, Sebile and Gunfish have also caught fish. When you see suspended fish the Spotchoker with a three Keitech is a good bait to count down to the depth of the fish. We have been working these baits over humps and long points for the majority of our bites. There has been a jig bite on shallow rocky points as well as around brush.
Don’t forget to try the drop shot around deeper brush piles and humps using a Sweet Rosy or a Morning Dawn color. With the colder weather forecast to come in, there should be some changes coming to the lake. The true fall schooling activity should be steadily picking up as well as the shallower jig and worm bite. The shad will continue to migrate to the backs of the creeks so be prepared to follow them.
It seems that there is turnover going on across the lake so if you are in an area where you are seeing bubbles or the water is a dark dingy color move to a different area for more success. It is scattered so there are still clean areas to fish.
Report by Phil Johnson, pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770-366-8845.
Stripers: Stripers are still using the river channel so your best bet is from Big Creek to Browns Bridge in the deep water.
Weighted flat lines and planet boards seem to work the best. Blue backs and medium shiners and gizzards are working. Locate an area near a bend in the river and put your baits 60 to 120 feet back and staggered to cover as much water as possible. Top water has produced some fish.
Remember to wear your life jackets.
Report by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404-510-1778.
Tournament: There will be a bass and crappie tournament on November 5, 2022 at War Hill Park. There is a 49-boat limit for this tournament. For more information go to www.crappieonlanier.com. Contact Captain Josh Thornton at 770 530-6493 or jet9323@yahoo.com This is a benefit tournament for www.fishingwitheverydayheros.org.
Class: The Forsyth County Library will host a SONAR class on November 13, 2022, at 3 p.m. Address: Hampton Park Library at 5345 Settingdown Rd. Classes are subject to change without notice. More info: www.southernfishing.com, 770-889-2654.
