Lake temperatures are in upper 50s. Lake Lanier continues to rise with the recent and ongoing rains.
The lake is right at 1,059.3 feet and rising, and down 11.7 feet from a full pool of 1,071 feet. The main lake is clear to slightly stained, and the creeks and river are stained.
The Chattahoochee River is clear. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.
Bass
The fishing remains very good because the fish are feeding heavily before the spawn. There are bass deep and shallow and everywhere in between, and junk fishing is still the way to go. Start out with an assortment of lures and try them all until the fish let you know what is working best.
I caught fish this past week on SPRO McSticks, crank baits, white Rooster Tails, Zoom Finesse Worms and even a Carolina Rigged Lizard with a 3/0 Gamakatsu Hook with a Tru-Tungsten weight. Zoom Finesse worms on a SPRO K-Finesse Jig Head or a Spot Sticker have been the most productive baits for numbers of one-to three-pound bass.
Fish these slowly around docks, wood and rock piles midway to the backs of the creeks. The crank baits and spinner baits seem to be working the best on main lake and secondary points. Also try a Fish Head Spin rigged with a regular size pearl Zoom Fluke.
Live minnows fished below a bobber will catch bass and other species while fished from the shore near deeper water.
Stripers
This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service and Hammond’s Fishing Center at 770-888-6898.
Nothing much has changed on the stripers. We’ve had boats out on guide trips almost everyday that the weather has permitted and overall, the striper fishing remains very good.
For the last two weeks or so, our boats have done well on free lined bluebacks and topwater baits over deeper water. Most days the stripers have been boiling on top and the numbers have been very good when they have been on the surface.
After that cold front came through last weekend they were down for a couple of days, but have rebounded nicely the last three or four mornings.
Look for the birds diving and the fish on top for best results.
If they are not on top and the birds are sitting, try to free line as much water as you can in the mouths to the middle of creeks and over deeper water where the creeks meet the main lake.
Change your bait frequently, if your rods are not bouncing, you will not get as many bites. Note also that the Bomber Long A night bite has been getting better and these fish will be up in the shallow water after dark.
Crappie
Crappie fishing is great. Live minnow below a float at around five-feet will work very well in the pockets.
Pick areas with lots of docks or downed trees. When you catch a decent fish, stay in the same area because these fish hang around in schools.
Small jigs or Micro Spoons trolled slowly or cast out to the bank will also work well.
Trout on the Chattahoochee
The fishing is very good and opening day is April 1 in the mountain streams down on the Chattahoochee.
The catching should also be great and there are a lot of newly stocked fish to be caught. Worms (where permitted), Rapalas, in line spinners and flies will all produce a limit of trout.
Eric Aldrich is a part time outdoor 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!