Lake Lanier is down 7.3 feet and the lake is clear and 85 degrees… 

Largemouth bass fishing has been relatively slow all week. The heat and high water temperatures are pushing the fish to feeding after midnight. A few early fish will bite but they are all small and will take small crank baits and jigs. Fish in the backs of the major creeks way up lake. The bass are after Bang A Lures and count down #7 silver blue and silver black back Rapala’s. Cast baits to the mud banks and simply twitch the bait. A Texas rigged Zoom u tail or a Bush Hog in the 5 inch size can take a few small fish. Be sure to add some extra scent to attract the fish. There are a few fish roaming the shallows but these fish are moving all day and hard to pattern. Cast an all green or pumpkin Zoom trick worm with a tiny 1/6 ounce weight and dead stick the bait. Jigs are worth casting to these same areas but be sure to add some scent. A small all white crank bait is also a good choice all day. After dark, get out the jigs and dark crank baits.

Spotted bass are at depths of 15 to 25 feet and the lake has settled into the summer patterns. There are a few scattered fish taking small Sammy’s on top water during the middle of the day. But we see lots of fish in brush piles at 19 to 35 feet deep especially down lake with the Aqua Vu cameras. There are still some fish on top water so have a rod ready with a Zara Spook Jr. and even a 3/8 ounce white buck tail. Use a large Chug Bug or a Red Fin in the blue and silver patterns in the entrances of the main lake creeks. There is a stain line that almost goes into the main lake after all the boat traffic. The backs of many creeks up and down lake are stained and the water is a little cooler that the main lake. Most of the bites have been on main lake humps and main lake points both day and night. Cast the big baits over open water and the big spots will nail them especially if the sun is high anytime of the day. Zoom u tail worms in natural blue and green pumpkin are good choices on the Texas rig. Day fishing has been a little better early in the day and the fish are deep structure at 20 feet. Old road beds that are in the backs of the major creeks have been good all day locations. The middle of the down lake creeks are fair and standing timber and deep natural structure is holding most of these fish. The water is cooler at 30+ feet and this means the fish are little more active. Bass minnows or spot tail minnows are catching some deep fish and another technique overlooked by many anglers is trolling. Use a small hook and light 8 pound test and work the larger docks in the creeks and main lake brush piles over 25 feet of water. Also use the #5 and #7 silver black back Shad Raps and 8 pound line trolling the main lake creeks mouths has been working. It’s a great way to read the lake bottom as trolling and watching the Lowrance will disclose a lot of great detail. Night crawlers on a jig head on docks and points are catching some spots during the day. The night bite has been best with 1/2 ounce all black spinner baits with a black or purple frog trailer. Slow roll the bait and pull it like fishing a jig and pig.

Stripers are up early and then they move to deep waters on the main river after an early morning feeding binge into the creek. Almost all the fish can be caught from 22 to 35 feet on down rods. After the sun is high, the fish leave to their summer homes. The lake is setting up in the summer pattern and stripers head to cool deep water and its trolling time. Pull the Mac Farr Super Jig to depths of 24 to 29 feet. Use lead core line or monofilament but be sure the baits are in the right range. All white buck tails with either a white or chartreuse trailer will work. Many of the fish are in the 3 to 5 pound class. One or two 10 pound plus fish will make the creel. Troll the center of the river channels. The line sides will spend the summer in the cooler waters to avoid the stress of the shallow waters. Troll over the main lake humps and the deep standing timber early in the day. A few fish are coming up very early each day on the main lake humps and reefs at 30 feet early each morning. Live shad or jumbo minnows are good as well as fresh bream. Down lines with a full 2 ounce weight and a small diameter leader will also work. This heavy sinker will get the baits to the fish faster. Getting the baits down fast makes live bait attractive to the striper. The heavy weight can get the bait down quickly to the fish ounce these fish spotted on the Lowrance. A few anglers have been using down riggers and this technique can hold lures in the most effective strike zones for a great period of time. This technique requires a lot of patience and it’s most important to be able to read the Lowrance depth finder. Pulling this bait at the right speeds can make or break this action. If the rig is ticking the trees speed up and get the bait at least 80 feet behind the boat.

Crappie fishing is good at night and live bait has been the best bet. Use live minnows on the bridges all over the lake. Night fishing will improve as the lake is developing the thermocline. The fish are more predictable on their summer patterns. The fish are biting best all night and the angler that can spend the night on the lake will catch enough fish to have a fish fry. As the night progresses, the crappie are moving as shallow as 7 feet both up and down lake. 

Lake levels from http://lakes.southernco.com/ 

Take a look at http://www.pollymoon.com for a yearly moon phase calendar.

Lake Lanier Striper Survey: www.stripersurvey.com

You can see the feeding times daily with a Data Sport Fish and Game Forecaster on our web site www.havefunfishing.com.

We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS”: “Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or Maps and Depth Finders. Call 770 889 2654 for details or see the web site: www.havefunfishing.com.

Take a look at www.aquavu.com. You really need a camera. Copyright 2007, Southern Fishing Schools Inc. calls us to set up a school “Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass”. See our web site, www.havefunfishing.com for more details or call us right away, 770 889 2654.