Fishing

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..

Corps-approved Fishing Tournaments for Lake Lanier – MARCH 2024

3/02 – Little Ridge – Electric Bass Opens
3/02 – Laurel Park – MJML Outdoors LLC
3/02 – Little Hall – Hammonds
3/09 – Laurel Park – Major League Fishing
3/09 – Bolding Mill – East Hall Bass Club
3/16 – Little Hall – Pit Crew
3/16 – Balus Creek – Great Smoky Mtn team trail
3/17 – Little Hall – GA Highschool fishing
3/23 – Charleston – Legit Fishing
3/23 – Sardis Creek – Dahlonega Jon Boat Anglers
3/23 – Little Hall – Fishers of Men Bass Club
3/30 – Little Hall – Pit Crew
3/30 – Thompson Creek – Electric Fishing Series

Fishing Columnist, Ken Sturdivant - headh shotLanier Fishing Report

compiled by Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing

March 2024 Fishing Report

Lake level: Above full pool, 1,071.85
Temperature: 50s
Clarity: Stained north, main channel clear

BASS: Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently above full pool and still rising from the recent heavy rains. Not a lot has changed in recent days with fish still being caught from five to 50 feet.

The fish are beginning their spring move up but the ditch bite is still working also. Work a three eights ounce Spot Choker Finesse with a three inch swimbait very slowly down the middle of the ditches to draw strikes. Watch for these fish to move up from the ditches to the secondary points and flats. If you locate shad in the ditch a half ounce spoon will also trigger them. Work the ditch from deep to shallow to determine the depth the bass are holding. A jig and a worm have been producing steady bites in the 25-foot or less range on ledges, secondary points and docks close to creek channels. A green pumpkin jig with some orange strands with a root beer trailer has produced some good fish, just not big numbers yet. Any worm in the green to green pumpkin colors has been working on a three sixteenths shakey head on rocky points and docks.

Watch for the bass to continue to move to the shallower areas and for the lake to stain up quite a bit over the next several days. Be careful on the water right now as there are a lot of floaters out there that can turn your trip into a bad day in a hurry. The spring bite is beginning so Go Catch ‘Em!

Report by: Phil Johnson, email: pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.

STRIPERS: Stripers have a lot of new water to swim in! Lake is just above full pool so you’ll need to use your electronics to locate the fish and bait and then use your down lines and flat lines with blue backs and trout or gizzards.

Try flat lines 80 to 100 feet behind the boat trolling at .05 mph on the trolling motor. Once you’re on the fish put baits just above the fish. Planer boards will also have to spread out to cover a larger area. All this new water will affect the bite so be patient. Water temperature is 48 to 50 degrees so remember to wear your life jacket.

Report by: Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404 510-1778.

CRAPPIE: Crappie are suspended 5 to 15 feet deep in and around open water brush and docks. The fish are staging for the spawn over the next two months. They will be laying eggs in waves, not all at the same time. Please consider only keeping what you plan on eating. That way we will have plenty of fish to catch next year. Look for creeks or coves near a main channel for roaming fish.

Try various colors including yellow and brown, green and black and clear with sparkles. They have all produced good fish.

The gear I recommend for crappie fishing is Acc Crappie Stix 1 piece rod and reel with a 6 pound test K9 line, along with Garmin Live Scope and Power Pole.

Report by: Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493, www.crappieonlanier.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 …

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26mar6:00 pm7:30 pmThe Boathouse Grand Opening

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This weekends North Georgia Boat Show and Extravaganza is an early season opportunity to check out the newest models of watercraft. It will take place at Gainesville Marina on Dawsonville Highway. The three-day event will feature in-the-water and on-land boats, both new and pre-owned. For more info: https://lakesidenews.com/2024/01/4th-annual-north-georgia-boat-show-february-16-18/

This weekend's North Georgia Boat Show and Extravaganza is an early season opportunity to check out the newest models of watercraft. It will take place at Gainesville Marina on Dawsonville Highway. The three-day event will feature in-the-water and on-land boats, both new and pre-owned. For more info: lakesidenews.com/2024/01/4th-annual-north-georgia-boat-show-february-16-18/ ... See MoreSee Less

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