Lake temperatures are in upper 70s and low 80s. Lake levels are just around full pool at 1,070.86 feet.
The main lake is clear and the creeks are stained. The Chattahoochee River is clear. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at 770-945-1466.
Bass fishing has been decent, and the early summer patterns are starting to set up as these post spawn bass are getting healthy and more active.
There has been a very good topwater bite in the mornings and it can occur all day long. The topwater action picks up again a couple of hours before dusk.
SPRO Dawgs, Zara Spooks, Poppers and Big Bite Jerk Shads or Zoom Flukes will all coax this active, surface-feeding spotted bass to bite.
Fish these lures with a steady “walk the dog” retrieve and vary your speed until you determine what the bass prefer.
The dock bite has been good on both the medium to deeper docks that have bait located close. Pay particular attention to where bait balls and bass appear on your electronics.
Squirrel Tail Worms on a jig head, Texas or Carolina Rigged Lizards and Fish Head Spins have all been working well if the bass are present.
Make sure to move around a good deal because this is the time of year when you may fish 10 spots with no bites and then stumble onto an active school of bass where catch your limit in 15 minutes.
The night bite is good with dark colored crank baits, spinner baits and large black SPRO K-Finesse Jigs.
If you are out with your kids, try fishing crappie minnows or medium shiners under a float around rocky banks and in the pockets to catch a variety of species including bass.
Stripers: The fishing has been very good this week on Lake Lanier.
The boats have done well on down lined bluebacks fished 20-to 25-feet deep over a 35- to 70-foot bottom on points.
There was also success using u-rigs fished from 60- to 80-feet behind the boat on the four-arm rig and 120- to 130-feet out on the three-arm rig.
The north end has been better this week for numbers.
The fish on the south end have been a little bigger this week on average. Free lines and Redfins have been OK for the first hour most mornings, but switch over to down lines and trolling after the sun goes up. Overall, the striper fishing has been very good this week on Lake Lanier.
Crappie: The fishing is slower during the day but the night bite has been pretty good around lighted boat docks and under Hydra Glow lights around the bridge pilings.
Use crappie minnows or spot tail minnows on a down line at around 10 feet. Move your baits up or down as to find the best level for the bigger slabs.
Trout on the Chattahoochee: The fishing is good and there are plenty of stocked trout swimming around in the river and streams.
These stocked trout will eat just about any small lure, flies or worms (check local regulations before fishing live bait in certain off limit areas).
If you prefer to wade or float on the river, then remember that a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device is required below Buford Dam.
Bank Fishing: This is the time of year that carp start to roam the shallows on Lake Lanier and they can be a bunch of fun to catch.
Take a can of corn, throw half out into the water as chum and keep the other half can to bait your hooks with.
Use a small Aberdeen hook and a small split shot and bait the hook with several kernels of corn.
Cast it out around any beach or campground areas and secure the rod.
These hard fighting North Georgia Redfish are a bunch of fun for kids and adults!
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!