Lake Lanier Fishing Report – April 2008

Lanier: Level: Down 14.9 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Light stain up the river arms and some of the major creeks.

Largemouth: Great, said Billy Boothe: “The big females really started moving and are staging in the pockets. Run sandy pockets and target any cover in 3 to 6 feet of water with a 9/16-oz. green-pumpkin-and-orange TABU jig,” Billy said. “Another good pattern is to fan cast a pearl Senko into the pockets, then dead-stick it around cover. As the water temp gets in the 63-degree range, the largemouths will start to spawn. Target the beds with a white Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver or a 5/16-oz. white-flash TABU jig. If sight fishing isn’t your strong suit, target spawning pockets with a white Bandit 100 Series or a 6-inch, watermelon-seed Mann’s Hardnose Lizard. Look for the biggest wave of bed fish around the full moon April 20,” Billy said. The largemouth fishing has been excellent as well on the south end, said guide Ryan Coleman. “We have been getting some very big largemouths on jerkbaits and 3/8-oz. jigs worked around the last docks in the pockets. Also look for very shallow, sunny pockets near the spawning areas. Work the middle of these pockets with a jig or slow roll a spinnerbait in there.”

Spotted Bass: Excellent. “Fish are flooding the banks all over the lake, said Ryan. “Fish are moving up on all types of shallow structure — docks, shallow brush, points and pockets. I went four days in a row when my clients caught a spotted bass over 5 pounds. The big spots are eating a jerkbait worked in pockets, around brush and docks. A larger jerkbait will be better throughout the month. Stick with a Pointer 100, Flash Minnow 110 or a big Rogue. During sunny days, look for the fish to move up on very shallow structure. Offshore, worm a 3/4-oz. football-head jig or swimbait around deep brush for the big females. The fish will be holding from 15 to 25 feet deep. As the water clears, they should be on fire. There will be a huge spawn this month, but look for it in the later part of the month. The bite up the lake is also excellent. “This is one of the best spot bites I’ve ever seen on the northern end of the lake,” Billy said. “There are some toads holding on brush and docks on pea-gravel banks in 5 to 12 feet of water. They are crushing a 7/16-oz. chameleon TABU jig fished in the brush or a pearl TABU Tiny Tim swimbait fished under the floats of docks. Also work secondary points with a crawfish Rapala DT 10.”

Stripers: Good, according to guide Mike Maddalena. “Flatlined herring and medium trout on the lower end are producing best. Light line and a split shot or two will increase your bites. The birds continue to be the best way to find the fish. The gulls are also working the loons, so if you don’t see fish rolling along with the gulls, don’t waste your time,” Mike said. If you can’t find birds working, pull flatlines on the points from the mouth to mid-way back in the creeks. “Be sure to pull the wind-blown points if it’s windy out. Run and gun when pulling the points, and cover a lot of water until you find the fish. Working a down-rod when crossing the points will also get some bites. Keep it in close contact with bottom. As we move into the end of March and April, expect the fishing to move up shallow as the water continues to warm. Pulling the banks will be your best bet along with throwing topwaters like the Red Fin, Spook and Sammy on points and to any fish you see rolling. Expect more fish to move toward the rivers as the waters reach 60 to 65 degrees,” Mike said.