Lake temperatures remain in the mid to upper 50s due to the recent cold temperatures.
Lake Lanier, however, continues to rise. The lake is right at 1,061.5 feet and rising, down 9.5 feet from a full pool of 1,071 feet.
The main lake is clear and the creeks and rivers are stained. The Chattahoochee River is stained. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.
This crazy weather has the bass a little confused, but they are biting well. Normally around the full moon, most of Lake Lanier’s bass would be on their nests.
The colder-than-normal weather and water temperature, however, has delayed most from spawning.
A few are appearing on bed but the majority of fish are staging to spawn within the next month.
Target sunny, shallow pockets that are sheltered from the wind and cast a ¬-ounce SPRO K-Finesse or Spot Sticker jig head rigged with a Zoom Finesse Worm in pumpkin chartreuse or sand color around any docks or lay-down trees.
You will also find bass staging on secondary points or creek channels next to spawning flats.
The bigger spotted bass seem to be out on main lake points and humps.
These fish will bite Spinner baits, Rooster Tails, Fish Heads Spins or SPRO McStick Jerk baits when they are active.
Windy banks seem to be the best with the action being best earlier and later in the day.
Target areas that have chunk rock or hard clay and stumps. Most of the bass we have been catching are biting in 15 feet or less, so concentrate on the upper part of the water column.
There have been some big largemouth bass moving into the pockets getting ready to spawn. These fish will bite plastic lizards and curly tail worms. A lot of crappie anglers are catching bass on crappie minnows fished under floats.
Striper fishing remains very good and these large predator fish are up in shallow water feeding on bluebacks, gizzard shad and threadfin shad.
Purchase live blueback herring from Hammond’s and get out to the lake early because the mornings have been the most productive.
Fish these baitfish on a flat line or behind a planner board for your best results.
My Humminbird 797c Side Finder is a valuable tool because it shows me areas to fish that I would normally miss if I were only able to view what is directly under the boat. I can run my MinnKota Trolling motor on high and get a good image of the bottom with my Side Finder Unit.
There has been a limited amount of top-water activity on main lake but look for this to really get going once stable weather arrives.
Cast a Red Fin, Bomber Long A or SPRO McSticks on main lake humps or secondary points for some explosive strikes. These same lures are working very well after dark for the stripers.
Crappie fishing is also very good. Bank anglers are catching plenty of these tasty fish and they are in shallow water this week getting ready to spawn.
Target lay downs, docks and stumps with crappie minnows and small jigs or Micro Spoons and you should catch quit a few in the right areas. Fish crappie minnows under a float in the coves near the backs of the creeks.
Trout fishing on the Chattahoochee River is productive and they are bitting in the river and up in the mountains.
Buford Dam on down is holding plenty of freshly stocked trout.
Live worms fished one-to two-feet below a heavy split shot sinker will work in the deeper pools. Fish small Rooster Tails or Mepps spinners around the rapids.
Eric Aldrich is a part time outdoors writer, bass fisherman and a member of Humminbird’s, SPRO, Gamakatsu, Tru Tungsten and Hammond’s Fishing Center Pro Staff. Reports are based on personal experience and permission from a close network of friends. If you would like to email him please do so at
esaldrich@yahoo.com. Remember to take a kid fishing.