Water Conditions: Lake Lanier’s water level continues to hold steady at just above full pool at 1,071.24 or .24 feet above the normal full pool of 1071. The main lake is mostly clear. Up lake is stained from rainwater inflow.

Lake Lanier’s surface temperatures are in the low to mid-80’s. Lake Lanier is calm on weekdays but the weekends are busy.

Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is clear. Check generation schedules before heading out to the river at (770) 945-1466. 

Bass: Bass fishing is picking up as daylight hours shorten. Lake Lanier’s spotted and largemouth bass catching is really picking up. There is no need to get up too early as the afternoon action has been best.

Start your days with an SPRO RkCrawler and work rocky banks towards the creek mouths. Other lures like topwater and drop shot worms will also score some decent bites early in the day.

The best fishing for us has come from 10:00 am and on into the afternoon with topwater plugs. Cast a Sammy, Super Spook, or Pencil Popper over brush near channel drops and brush in 20 to 35-feet deep.

Live spot tail minnows are also a great natural bait for catching a variety of species including spotted, largemouth, stripers and even catfish. Grab a fine mesh cast net, chum up an area with grits and you may catch enough in one or two throws to fish all day long

After dark change back to an SPRO RkCrawler or Little John DD around those same rocky banks that you would fish early in the day.

Stripers: The stripers are biting both trolled lures as well as down and flat-lined herring. Start your day in the creek mouths both on the main lake.

Trolling umbrella Rigs on 8 to 9-colors of lead core at 2.5 miles an hour has been producing well. This is a great way to cover water and. Rig your lead core with either a 1 to 2-ounce SPRO Bucktail with a Big Bite Suicide Shad or a Captain Mack’s Umbrella Rig. Pay attention to when your bites occur. Often you will entice a reaction bite when you change directions or speeds as your trolled rigs change momentum.

The thermocline is still set up at 25 to 30-feet deep. When down lining herring make sure you fish below that level as most of your bites will occur from 30 to as deep as 100-feet. Make sure to stock up on plenty of blue backs and make sure to keep the proper amount of salt and ice on your baits. Nothing is nearly as disappointing as running out of live bait when you find a massive school of stripers.

Crappie: Crappie fishing has picked up slightly and anglers who are adept at shooting light crappie jigs on light line around docks with brush located from 15 to 30-feet deep

Bank fishing: Trout fishing has been good both up in the mountain streams as well as below Buford Dam. Live earthworms have been very effective (where live bait is permitted by law). The recent rains have been washing lots of earthworms into the river and streams providing a consistent supply of natural food for the trout.

Fly fishing with both dry and wet flies have also been productive. For spinning, anglers try casting a small Rooster Tail or Panther Martin inline spinner for success around any rapids or in the deeper pools.