Lake Lanier’s current water level is 1,070.5 feet or .5 feet below the pool level of 1,071. Lake Lanier water temperatures are approaching 70 degrees. The main lake, creeks and rivers are stained on the surface from all of the pollen. The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is clear. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.
My apologies to the readers for the past week’s omission of these fishing reports. I have been dealing with some orthopedic issues, but I’m back to it and fishing is awesome.
Bass fishing is awesome.
The bass are in all stages of spawn, pre-spawn, and post-spawn. You can catch largemouth or spotted bass just about anyway you choose.
There has been a pretty strong topwater bite over main lake humps, points and even in the pockets. A popper style or small walking topwater plug has been working best for us. Nothing beats the excitement of watching a bass crush a topwater lure on the surface. Go out and catch some.
One of my favorite things to do is to watch the bass spawning. The male bass will come and fan out nests that look like creatures. The females will then move in to lay their eggs. This action can be hard to see through the pollen, but there are way to negate this situation. Professionals catch these large females for a living and these methods have some controversy, but the bass are released alive to live and breed another day.
Because there are so many bass shallow, they can be caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, worms, topwaters, live bait or just about any other lure you can imagine. Target the same main lake humps and points, docks, clay banks, pockets and coves. Just about any bass-looking cover will hold fish this time of year.
Just like with the bass, the stripers are schooling out on the main lake. Most of these fish are smaller but there are a few larger ones in the mix. Use popper-style lures, swimbaits, flukes or jerkbait style lures like a SPRO McStick 110s or 115s.
These fish can appear and disappear very quickly just about anywhere along the lake.
Both flatlined and downlined herring, chad, or even shiners are working anywhere that your electronics show fish activity. I’ve seen stripers both on my Humminbird and on the surface of the main lake, in the creeks and rivers. So be vigilant and you should be able to find some fish.
Crappie fishing is also great now. These fish are very shallow right now. Minnows under a float and small jigs or just about any small lure can produce a limit of these tasty critters. These fish are under the dock spawning, around shallow laydowns and other shallow bank cover. They’re biting all day long. It is a prime time to gather some dinner fare.
Trout finishing is also very good. A wide variety of lures will catch these fish in cold running streams, mountain rivers and dam tailraces. For fly fishermen, the drive fly bite is strong. Try to match the insect hatches over the waters. Spin fishing and live-bait fishing is also good where live bait is permitted.
Bank fishing: See all of the above because most fish are shallow and easily accessible from the shore.
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. Email him at esaldrich@yahoo.com or visit my website at aldrichfishing.com or lakelanierfishing.info.