Lake temperatures are dropping into the mid 60s. The lake level is 1,068.5 feet, or two and a half feet below the full pool of 1,071 feet.

Lake Lanier is clear to stained on the main lake, stained in the creeks and the rivers, and the Chattahoochee River is stained.

Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.

Bass are eating plenty as they feed up for colder months with the fall weather fronts coming and going. Almost every bass we have caught this past week was fat and healthy.

It seems like there are three types of patterns that work depending on what the bass are eating. Bass may eat one or multiple combinations of prey. I will break it down by forage

The blueback eaters: These bass are roaming around and will attack fast moving, larger lures on or just below the surface. Most of this action is out on the main lake and also back into the middle of the creeks.

Cast larger surface plugs like a Super Spook, Redfin or SPRO Dawg over brush and rock piles around points and humps. Subsurface lures like a 6-inch BBZ1 or Sebile Magic Swimmer swim bait in a blueback or natural shad will coax some big bites right now.

Bass that eat bluebacks can be here one day and gone the next.

The Threadfin eaters: These bass are targeting the smaller threadfin shad and can be found back in the creek pockets and more toward the backs of the creeks.

These bass tend to stay put in an area and will hand out and feast on the slower moving, native threadfins.

These bass will eat a combination of spinner baits or crank baits, but don’t rule out a small topwater plug or even a Zoom Fluke around the docks.

The crayfish eaters: These can be some of the fattest bass on the lake as crayfish are extremely high in protein.

These bass will attack a Jig N’ Pig or creature baits rigged on a jig head worked around docks and also on the deeper rocky banks.

Remember that bass are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything that looks like food and will fit in their mouth.

A bass that has just eaten a large crawfish will still attack a baitfish or lure, even if its throat is already full. We regularly see small bass attack lures much bigger than they are.

Just because you catch one bass on a jig head worm doesn’t mean you can’t catch them on a swim bait in the same area. That being said, I would seldom switch over to a completely different lure if I just caught a good bass on a jig head worm.

Striper fishing remains good and there are some big schools busting on the surface on the main lake, in the creeks and even in the rivers. Combat fishing is in full swing.

This is a term used when several boats chase around the same school of stripers and it can be either entertaining or frustrating.

If you find yourself in a group of boats chasing a school, please be as courteous as possible or, better yet, go find an unpressured school and have them all to yourself.

You can bet if you find a school of stripers on the surface in one creek, they will be doing the same thing in similar areas of other creeks.

Cast topwater plugs like SPRO Dawgs or Redfins to these surfacing stripers.

I like the Dawg because if the stripers are eating bluebacks, they will attack the lure. If the stripers are eating threadfins, they will key in on the feathered treble on the back of the lure.

You can also try Jerk Shads, Flukes, Rooster Tails or just about any other lure you have confidence in.

The main thing I recommend to anglers that encounter a school of fish is to take a deep breath before you cast and make sure not to work your lure too quickly.

I often see people throw a lure two or three times and then change while other anglers will keep casting the same lure and they will hook up every 10th cast.

Down and flat lined bluebacks are working well down lake.

Which method you use will depend on if the fish are up or deeper.

Most of the stripers are less than 35 feet down this week. Pay close attention to your electronics and set your live baits accordingly.

Trolling Umbrella Rigs and single larger SPRO Bucktail on lead core are both working well and this is a great way to fish while searching for the schooling stripers.

Fishing after dark with a Bomber Long A is working just fair but should get even better this week.

Crappie fishing is good and several methods will work well. Trolling crappie jigs on the flats off of the creek channels is working well during the days. If trolling is not your favorite method, then find brush and docks that show crappie on your fish finder. Target brush at 5 to 15 feet and make sure to confirm that the fish are present by watching your electronics.

Trout fishing is slow on the river and fair in the mountain streams. Try to fish where you can use live baits for your best success.

Berkley Power Nuggets or live earthworms will produce your best results. Fly-fishing has been working fair below the dam on the Chattahoochee.

Eric Aldrich is an outdoor writer, marketing specialist and bass angler. Reports are based on personal experience and permission from a close network of friends. He would love to hear from his readers so please e-mail him at esaldrich@yahoo.com or visit his website at aldrichfishing.com. Remember to take a kid fishing!