Lake Lanier Fishing Report – April 2010

Lanier: Level: 0.7 feet below full pool. Temp: 52-57 degrees. Clarity: Clear, with a light stain up the rivers.

Spotted Bass: Good. Ryan Coleman reports, “The shallows are full of fish right now, and they are holding in the backs of pockets, around the shallow boat docks and in the grass. That’s right, in the grass, on Lanier. We have been doing well on spinnerbaits, jigs and jerkbaits fished around any shallow-water cover. Pointer 100s in ghost color and white spinnerbaits with tandem silver blades have been our choices. Look for the fish in the backs of the creeks in 3 to 6 feet of water close to any kind of structure. Don’t look for big concentrations of fish. Keep moving and picking them off one at a time. There are also some big fish out on the main lake that are biting a jerkbait or small swimbait that will bring these guys up out of the brush. Humps and main-lake points are the targets here. Begin to look for spawning fish in the next few weeks.”

Largemouths: Fair. “The largemouth bite is about to explode,” said Billy Boothe. “They’re finally starting to make a big move to the bank. For the first two weeks of April, look for fish staging on shallow docks and weed lines in 3 to 6 feet of water. Cover water with a Mann’s 1 Minus in grey ghost, or use an albino fluke. When you find a concentration of fish in a pocket, slow down and pick everything apart with a green-pumpkin Texas-rigged Mann’s Hard Nose lizard. Look for the big wave of spawners around the full moon April 28. Run the backs of sandy, rock pockets that don’t have as many weeds to locate the beds better. When you locate a bed, pitch a white 5/16-oz. TABU jig or a green-pumpkin Mann’s Hard Nose lizard. If a bedding bass isn’t responsive or gets skittish, move on to the next bed.”

Stripers: Shane Watson reports, “Both stripers and spots are continuing to move up shallow. Over the last week, our boats have had quite a few 20- to 30-catch-and-release trips. We’ve also had a day or two when they have not bit as well. That’s just the nature of springtime fishing with its ever-changing weather. Freelined bluebacks and Spro McSticks continue to produce the most fish. Look in the middle to the rear of creeks, and keep casting your lures to the bank while freelining. Keep dragging your freelines, make long casts with the McSticks, and you will come across some stripers.” Mike Maddalena reports, “The fish are getting frisky and showing up in the backs of the creeks, points and flats. Some big fish are starting to show up in the backs of the creeks. A 42-lb. striper was caught last week on bait in less than 10 feet of water. This big-fish bite will only get better. The creeks south of Browns Bridge are more productive than north. Flat, Balus, Flowery Branch, Baldridge and Four Mile are all good choices. The most productive method is to put out a couple of freelines, a planner board and cast Captain Mack’s bucktail or a Spro McStick in spooky shad to the bank the entire time you are pulling baits. Don’t forget to weight your lines with a split-shot or two as the sun gets high. We have not been fishing at night but have heard reports of a good night bite with bait and casting Bombers and flukes in the same areas fished during the day. The big-fish bite will only get better over the next month.”