Lake temperatures are holding pretty steady in mid 60s.

Lake Lanier's water is holding steady and we are half-foot over full pool at 1071.5.

Lake Lanier is slightly stained on main lake and stained to very stained in the creeks and up in the rivers. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.

Bass: The spotted and largemouth bass are in the mood for love and there are a lot of fish building their nests in shallow water.

When bass are spawning I feel they are more interested in mating than eating. If a bass swirls or taps your lure with out hooking up then cast back into the same spot.

The short strikes are often indicators that this bass is on bed and that it more interested in chasing away your lure than actually eating it.

Like largemouth bass, Lake Lanier's spotted bass spawn in the pockets but many stay out on main lake and spawn on banks with hard bottoms, stumps or rocks.

Wearing polarized sunglasses is key to seeing bass on bed and for seeing the fish that swirl at your lure. The water on the banks is often stained from the pollen and boat wakes, and this can totally mess up anglers who are sight-fishing.

Wearing polarized sunglasses is key.

You may or may not actually see the bass on beds but you can look for other clues that will help increase your success. If you can see lay downs, stumps or rocks, then make multiple casts to this cover.

I like to cast a jerkbait to areas that look promising, then switch over to a slower presentation and really pick it apart. Finesse worms on a jig head or a Texas-rigged lizard will be good lures to target bass in spring.

The bass are in all stages of spawning, so you can just about pick your favorite lure and go catching. Also keep an open mind as the bass can change moods during the day.

We have also been getting a few baits on topwater plugs and smaller plugs worked slowly around submerged bank growth in the pockets.

A Zara Puppy or a floating Rapala minnow is a great lure to use for the early season topwater strikes. There has been a decent night bite.

Crankbaits, jerkbaits or large black spinner baits will work very well for the after dark feeders.

Striper fishing is good. Live bait like herring, trout or even a large gizzard shad are all good choices.

Hook your baits through the mouth on a flat line with no weight so that they will swim naturally as the boat trolls forward.

Planner boards are great choices as they allow a boat to cover a much wider area. I actually use my side imaging 998c to see fish under docks and out on the flats.

The night bite has been hit and miss this year, but they will bite a log stick bait or bucktail jigs. Cast the larger plugs to the bank and reel them back to the boat with a slow-and-steady retrieve.

Crappie fishing remains good. They are up close to banks.

Target trees, brush piles or stumps that are located toward the back of the coves in fewer than 10 feet. Live crappie minnows work the best for most anglers.

Shooting small crappie jigs or Micro Spoons under the shallow docks has been productive. The crappie are fat and healthy, and there are plenty of these tasty pan fish swimming around.

Trout fishing is very good in the mountain creeks and below Buford Dam. I like to use the lightest tackle when targeting clearwater fish.

Bank fishing: As with last week, you can about pick your favorite fish to target while fishing from the banks. Cast medium-sized minnows under a float to catch and secure your rods. You can catch a variety of species with this method.

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. Contact him at esaldrich@yahoo.com or visit aldrichfishing.com.