
Lake Sidney Lanier has some of the best freshwater fishing in the Southeast. From striper to largemouth and spotted bass to crappie, walleye, and catfish, you will create great fishing memories here. There are plenty of locations to fish from the shore, but fishing from your boat is superb. With all the little islands and inlets you are sure to find your favorite spot.
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As much fun as fishing is for adults, fishing can be just as fun and educational for kids! Commemorate your child’s first catch with this fun “First Fish” certificate provided by the DNR..

High school anglers’ event successful
In early September, more than 100 high school anglers, boat captains and their coaches attended a …
One man’s mission: Getting kids fishing with free seminar
Phil Johnson grew up fishing on Lake Lanier. Today he’s a professional angler and is eager to help the next generation connect with …
Corps-approved Fishing Tournaments for Lake Lanier – FEBRUARY 2023
2/4/2023 Laurel Park – Fishing for Warriors
2/4/2023 Little Hall – Hammonds Fishing
2/11/2023 Toto Creek – Dahlonega Jon Boat Anglers
2/11/2023 Little Hall – East Hall Bass Club
2/11/2023 Laurel Park – American Bass Anglers, Inc. – Open Series
2/18/2023 Little Hall – Hammonds Fishing
2/25/2023 Little Hall – Amateur High School Bass Anglers
OTHER LAKE EVENTS
2/4/2023 Lake Hot Ruddered Bum Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee
2/4/2023 West Bank 5k Foot Race Five Star NTP
2/18/2023 Lake Jr Challenge Cup Reg Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee
Lanier Fishing Report
compiled by Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing
February 2023 Fishing Report
Lake level: Down .82 feet
Temperature: 50s
Clarity: Main lake clear, creeks stained
BASS: Bass fishing is good. The lake has risen quite a bit with the recent rains and many parts of the lake are still stained to muddy with the water temperature around 50 degrees. It seems the better fishing is in the lightly stained to clear water. The bass are scattered from five to 50 feet right now with and a variety of patterns working. There is still a good deep bite occurring but it may be necessary to cover some area to find the fish.
It’s not mandatory to find shad but it definitely helps. Work the deeper ditches or ledges first with a three-eights-ounce Spotchoker rigged with a three-inch Keitech. It’s important to work this bait very slowly on the bottom and not to overset the hook. If you locate schools of bass that are bunched up around bait or structure a half ounce spoon or drop shot have been very effective. Be sure to keep your spoon directly under your boat to prevent dragging it through any time structure.
There have been bass scattered up shallow and a DT six or DT 10 in a crawfish pattern have caught fish when worked on rocks or long points. The worm and jig bite have worked on the steep ledges and deeper docks along with secondary points. Slow your presentation down and let the bait sink for a few seconds before moving it. With the cooler water temperatures the bass don’t move as quickly for the baits. A lot of good fish are being caught right now on several different baits so if you try one method and it is not working, change baits and depth to see where the fish are on a given day. They are biting so Go Catch ‘Em!
Report by Phil Johnson, 770 366-8845, Pjohnson15@hotmail.com.
STRIPERS: Stripers can be found from Bald Ridge on the south end to Little River and even farther north. The down lines are the most popular method fishing in 50 to 70 feet down using blue backs, shiners and trout. Watch for the birds and your electronics to pinpoint where the fish are located. Planer boards have produced some nice stripers fishing 15 to 20 behind the boards with a split shot up to quarter once weight. Use leaders from 8 pound test or 10 pound test with a #4 octopus hook. The umbrella rigs have been producing trolling on marked fish around points and humps at 2.5 to 3 mph. Remember to wear your life jacket.
Report by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404 510-1778.
CRAPPIE: Crappie can be found from 10’- 40 feet. On a recent week the catch came from docks and the fish were suspended in 6 to 15 feet of water. Fifty percent of the catch came from minnows, the other 50 percent jigs.
I would recommend starting with darker color combinations because of all the rain and the mud stained water. However we did catch several on the monkey milk combination.
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.
I use ATX jigs on Lip Thrashin Lures jig heads along with 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 and an Acc crappie stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app.
Report by Captain Josh Thornton at 770 530-6493.
News: The Georgia Wildlife Federation Fisharama/Buckarama is set for February 10-12 in Perry, Ga. Southern Fishing Professional angler Ken Sturdivant will host fishing seminars. For more information contact Sam Stow 778 787-7887 or info@gwf.org.
Sturdivant will also be at the Lake Lanier Boat Show, March 3-5, at Margaretville on Lake Lanier Islands. For more info contact Ashlyn Armistead 855 365-2365, www.lakelanierboatshow.com.
Bait & Tackle Shops
CUMMING
Buford Dam Bait & Tackle – (706) 429-7211
2595 Buford Dam Rd, Cumming, GA 30041
Located in Chevron station
Hammond’s Fishing – (770) 888-6898
4255 Browns Bridge Rd, Cumming, GA 30041
Daniel’s Grocery – (770) 887-7052
2355 Pilgrim Mill Rd, Cumming, GA 30041
OAKWOOD
Oakwood Bait & Tackle Shop – (770) 965-9400
5422 McEver Rd, Oakwood, GA 30566
GAINESVILLE
Kelly Brown Bait & Tackle – (423) 509-3708
3535 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506
Sherry’s Bait & Barbecue – (678) 971-5607
2807 Dawsonville Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30506
STOP BY FOOD MART#2 – (770) 536-6421
2145 Cleveland Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30506
The Outdoor Depot – (770) 539-9356
250 John W Morrow Jr Pkwy, Gainesville, GA 30501
Located in Gainesville West Shopping Center
WINDER
Happy Hooker, Inc. – (770) 867-4814
104 S Broad St, Winder, GA 30680
Check out these videos of fishing on Lake Lanier …