Lake level: Down 4.7 feet
Temperature: 50s
Clarity: Clear
BASS: Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. It seems that it is boom or bust right now, though, with some fishermen finding 18-pound bags and other’s struggling to catch a fish. It is definitely the transition time of the year.
The topwater/swimbait bite has been a hit or miss situation. There is some schooling activity but it tends to be one or two fish at a time that are up and gone very quickly. If you can get a Slickbait or Sebile on them quickly you may catch a good fish. Using your Panoptic’s to locate suspended fish around brush or on points and then using a Spotchoker with a Kietech counted down has been a productive method. The most consistent bite has been on the old reliable green pumpkin trick worm on a spot sticker. Rocky points, secondary points and around brush have been the most productive areas but be prepare to move a lot to find the hungry fish.
While the numbers have been down a little the size makes up for it with several five-pound plus fish being caught with it. The cold weather that has come in should really make a difference in the fishing as the water temperature drops. Look for the shad and the bass to migrate toward the backs of the creeks and pockets. Working shallow for the first hour with a quarter ounce Spotchoker or a worm can produce some very large fish.
As the day moves on look for the fish on deeper docks, on the ends of long rocky points, deeper brush and in the backs of ditches. They will be in the process of moving to the winter locations so look at all you options. It should be the start of some great winter fishing so Go Catch ‘Em!
Report by: Phil Johnson. Email: Pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.
CRAPPIE: Crappie are suspended between 15 and 25 feet but some can still be found on 30- to 40-foot deep brush. Docks with structure, deep blow downs, and brush piles are holding fish.
If you are using jigs I would try bright colors in clear water and dark colors after rainfall. I am setting minnows 15-20 feet deep most of the time just above the suspended fish. Recently all of my catches came on minnows. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows or shaded areas of dock.
When dock shooting, the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. We use ATX lure company’s jigs on a lip thrashing lure jig heads. I also use 5 pound test high visibility yellow K9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber then it’s the k9 6 pound high vis line k9fishing.com and a Acc crappie Stix.
I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app.
Report by: Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.
Atlanta Boat Show: The 2023 Atlanta Boat Show will be at the Georgia World Congress Center Building “C” January 12-15, 2023. Meet fishermen Ken Sturdivant, Captain Cefus McRae, Captain Josh Thornton, Captain Mark Smith, Erica DeLana, Gregg Showmake, Rene Hesse, and Rick Burns. We will be in the “Let’s Go Fishing” Center with the Bass Tub.
Notes: Southern Fishing Schools now offers the 2023 Best Days for Fishing from BassMaster magazine. For a free copy drop us an email to kensturdivant@att.net. You can also receive our recommended Tackle Box List for bass, striper and crappie fishing by emailing us at: kensturdivant@att.net.
