Lake temperatures are in the upper 70s and lower 80s. Lake Lanier is staying right around full pool at 1,070.8 feet. The main lake and creeks are stained to clear and the Chattahoochee River is clear.
Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.
Bass fishing is good. The summer patterns are more consistent, but there is still a fairly decent shallow bite in some areas of the lake.
For the most part we have gotten away from the banks and are targeting the off shore stuff that gets less fishing pressure.
This is where the better fish are being caught.
The best pattern for us has been running and gunning from the main lake into the creeks.
I have been targeting brush piles at around 20 feet for the most consistent action.
We may hit 10 areas before finding the active schools, but you can get busy in a hurry when you locate active fish.
SPRO 6-inch BBZ1 Swimbaits in the blueback pattern have been working well for some magnum spots.
Topwater and subsurface baits fished over these same brush piles have also been working well. We always back off and cast moving lures over the brush to entice active fish to strike.
If the fish do not appear to be active, then we position close to the brush and work a drop shot or finesse worm on a jig head directly through it.
Other lures and techniques have been producing spotted and largemouth bass.
I have been fishing the new SPRO Little John Deep Diver crank baits through the brush. There has also still been a decent dock bite.
Target the deeper docks and work your way all the way around the fronts to the gangplanks to determine where the fish are located.
Once you determine a pattern, you should be able to run similar docks around the lake for consistent results.
Spot tail minnows have started to work very well and this is a great way to ensure that kids and adults catch bass.
Take some grits and scatter them around sandy banks to attract these native spot tail minnows.
Throw a small meshed cast net over the baitfish when they are grouped up. Most of the time you can catch all you need on a couple of throws.
Fish these native minnows on a down line and use a light wire Gamakatsu hook.
If you’re not that good with throwing a net, then you can also buy medium minnows that will work well.
The striper fishing was very good last week and over Memorial Day weekend. We’ve had our boats out on morning and afternoon guide trips daily, and the north and south end are about equal. Down lined and power reeled bluebacks fished 20- to 25-feet deep over a 30- to 35-foot bottom has worked best.
After the sun gets up high, move out over a 70- to 80-foot bottom. Fish your down lines on or just off points for best success.
A couple of our boats have also done well trolling Captain Mack’s u-rigs.
We’ve had several 40- 50 fish catch-and-release mornings the past seven days. We’ve also had some days when the numbers have been less. It all depends on how many boats are around you when you are on fish, and if you can get to your fishing spots by yourself.
The topwater bite has pretty much been nonexistent on the stripers. You might catch a few on a Redfin or a jerk bait if you stick with it and keep moving.
Bluebacks on a down line are out producing everything else, with u-rigs not far behind. I went up the lake over the weekend to get away from the fishing pressure and the fishing was great on 30- to 35-foot slick bottom points.
You will find smaller stripers and spots around the points with brush, but our bigger fish have been on a slick 30- to 35-foot bottom.
Overall, this striper fishing has been very good and will only get better over the next 120 days.
Crappie are in deeper water and are bunched up on the off shore spots.
Bridge pilings and deeper lighted boat docks have also been productive and the bite has been best from after sun down to around midnight. Use native spot tail minnows on a down line or try slowly working a Micro Spoon tipped with a crappie minnow around the deeper brush.
Trout fishing continues to be very productive.
A friend fished up towards Amicalola Falls this week and caught a bunch of trout on Berkley Power Nuggets.
Just make sure to check local regulations because this is considered live bait.
Many methods continue to work well below the dam on the Chattahoochee River.
Use inline spinners, flies or Count Down Rapalas. Live earth worms have been very effective due to all the rain we have been getting.
Rain washes worms into the river and the trout get use to eating an easy meal.
Lots of fish are biting from the banks. Carp, bream, bass, catfish and even stripers can all be caught without having to fish from a boat. Use minnows or live bait like crickets or worms below a bobber to catch bream and bass.
Chicken livers fished on the bottom will work well for catfish and an occasional striper. If all else fails try fishing with corn for carp!
Eric Aldrich is a part-time outdoors writer, bass fisherman and is sponsored by Humminbird, SPRO, Gamakatsu, Tru Tungsten and Hammonds Fishing and Boat Storage. 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!