Lake Lanier is down 13.5 feet and the lake is clear and 78 degrees...
Lake Lanier is down 13.5 feet and the lake is clear and 78 degrees...
Bass fishing is poor and the fish are very scattered. Casting a lot of lures is the best choice and the bite changes from day to day. This means use several baits on each trip, mix and match and try all the lures you have never had any confidence in. There are bass taking crank baits, spoons, Flukes, plastics and jigs. The lower lake is clearing but above Gainesville Marina the rivers are still off colored. Fish in the backs of the major creeks and the bass are after baby bass Super Flukes on a large 4/0 hook Mustad hook. Cast baits to the mud banks and simply twitch the bait. A Texas rigged ribbon tailed worms in gourd green or red and black shad colors can draw a strike. Be sure to add some extra scent to attract the fish. There has been a little top water action, so be ready with a Sammy 115 or a buzz bait lake wide. Bass Pro Shops Enticer ½ ounce jigs are good early fall baits for bass. Add a Zoom or pork trailer and pumpkinseed with green in the bait. Be sure to add some Jack’s Juice. The root beer Bandit 200 crank bait is a really good bait in the off colored waters up both river. Medium Hopkins or Flex-it spoons on old creek bends are fair and anytime you get into the bay of any creek, try the bait especially when there is any bait in the area. Watch for the warming waters way up the creeks as the bass are still feeding on bait fish looking for this warmer water. The upriver bass have been fair with bright Bombers in the 7A Fire Tiger patterns.
Spotted bass fishing is fair but there will be some extra work needed to get good bites. There are some big fish being caught all over the lake. Drop shot rigs, small spinner baits, jerk baits and finesse worms are also very effective. Docks and the main lake reef markers and points are perfect to locations to fish all day. Rig the drop shot with a #1 Mustad offset worm hook. It really does not seem to matter what color worm you use, after 20 feet deep, but anything in green works. Keep your rod tip tight and do not drop the rod while fishing this bait. Pick deep docks down lake and around Lake Lanier Islands. The deeper the docks, the bigger the spots. Use several spoons in colors and sizes and look around the larger marinas as a backup area. Try some extra scent on the plastics and this may help the fish hold the baits long enough to feel the strike and set the hook. Try a small ¼ ounce jig in pumpkinseed with a small trailer by Zoom in the same colors. Spinner baits are also working and the Mini Me is hot with bright skirts and blades in the ¼ ounce size. Satterfield’s now has these baits in stock.
Striper fishing is fair but it’s still a hunting game first before you catch. The fish are deep down lake in and above the trees. Live bait and trolling will work. Troll lead core and a buck tail and then drop bait on the fish. Down lines with herring will be the best bet all week. Trolling is slow so cover a lot of water. During the day, place down lines directly over the tops of the trees at 60 feet. There is no real main lake pattern so ride, troll and hunt. Use live bait all day and the fish are biting only down lines. In the main lake creek mouths, use a down rod and have and a 2 ounce sinker set up ready. Keeping the line bait in the strike zone is critical to your success day and night. Please keep the striper surveys coming to stripersurvey.com.
Be sure to go to www.havefunfishing.com and listen to the new FREE! Show, “The Have Fun Fishing Show” "It's Watch and Listen Radio". Just click on the link and you are ready to hear and see this new show.
