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.
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Lanier Fishing Report
compiled by Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing
MAY 2021 Fishing Report
Lake level: Full
Clarity: Main lake clear, creeks stained
Temperature: 60s
Bass: Bass fishing on Lanier is exceptional right now. The fish are both shallow and deep and feeding strong most days. Pick any of your favorite spring baits and you are likely to have a good day.
Let’s start in the morning with a chug bug or a small translucent Zara Spook. Any points that are in the wind will likely have fish on them. From the points you can take a fluke and work the points all the way down the banks into the pockets. A bank with a mixture of red clay and rocks or blow downs are holding fish. A Spro jerk bait is also drawing a lot of strikes but don’t work it like a jerk bait. A slow to medium retrieve is the best way to draw strikes right now. Work it on the blow throughs and sandy banks in the six to 10 feet of water.
A three-inch Keitech on a quarter ounce head worked slowly will catch some large fish, maybe not as many but some very good ones. A wacky rig is working well on the banks leading into the pockets as well as on the docks in less than 10 feet of water. One set up that is often overlooked is the Carolina Rig. Working this slowly on long points and humps that are less than 20 feet deep is a productive way to put fish in the boat.
Keep in mind right now there is a shad spawn going on and the bass are enjoying the easy eating. Check the blow throughs and rocky clay banks for the shad. Often it is just a simple matter of smelling them where they are spawning. The Keitech or a white spinnerbait with twin silver willow leaf blades are two great choices for these areas. Pick a bait and go catch em!
Report by: Phil Johnson, 770 366-8845.
Crappie: Crappie fishing is good. The hot bite target zone is 10 to 15 feet deep. The crappie are back on the docks and also can be found on open water brush piles and blow downs. Look for the stray fish they are typically larger than the schooling fish cast a jig to these fish. Try the slow retrieval method of a jig when fishing vertical. I always put out a crappie minnow with a BB sized sinker 12 to 16 inches above the hook. Right now I am setting the minnows around 10 feet deep. For best results use a live minnow.
Look under docks that are in 20 to 40 feet of water near a main channel and have brush or structure use your electronic charts to locate these areas.
Remember, crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows of a dock. Try different jig colors and jig styles. They can be used for short casting, vertical jigging, trolling or dock shooting. When dock shooting the biggest fish are usually the first to hit. Let your jig sink and give it time to get down to the fish and retrieve your jig slowly. The most productive jig color combinations have been the translucent colors. Small dark ones are productive as well. I’m using ATX Company’s plastics that can now be purchased at Sherry’s Bait and BBQ. I use the k9 5-pound test high visibility yellow braid for my line (unless I am using a bobber) and a Piscifun reel on a ACC crappie Stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app.
Report by Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.
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 …
