Lake Lanier Fishing Report April 2017

Lanier: Level: 9.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 60 degrees. Clarity: Clear on the main lake and slightly stained in the backs of the creeks.

Spotted Bass: Guide Ryan Coleman reports, “The fish are finally getting up there and thinking about love. There are shallow fish all over the south end of the lake, and they can be caught a bunch of different ways. We have been doing good on rock and clay on the lower end of the lake. The dock bite has been out of control over the past month, and that will not change for another month or so. Worms rigged on jig heads and jerkbaits thrown around the shallow docks have been money for us here on Lanier. I have been mostly using a green pumpkin/green Zoom Trick Worm or a Swamp Crawler rigged on a 3/16-oz. Screwball shaky head around shallow docks. For the fish out on the points, the spinnerbait bite is now picking up, and it should be your best bet in April for the staging fish. Get yourself a tilapia or blue-billet-colored 3/4-oz. Mini-Me, and go to work on main-lake points and secondary points leading back into the spawning areas. Shoal markers are also very productive during the first few weeks of April early in the day with the spinnerbait. I prefer the spinnerbaits with the painted blades for open water. Jerkbaits thrown on the same points are also very good if wind is present. Look for a bunch of fish to move up early in April and spawn. With the water being so clear this year and the water level being low, I expect the fish to bed a little deeper than usual, so keep an eye out in 5 to 6 feet of water for them. A wacky rig should be perfect to blind fish around these spawning areas.”

Stripers: Capt. Clay Cunningham reports, “The striper fishing this past month has been fast and furious as the stripers prepare for the spawn. The stripers will spawn over the course of the next few weeks. As a result, the fish will be on the move and eating. The key over the month of April will be points and flats as the stripers pull up onto these areas to feed on shad and herring. Freelines and planer boards will be the key tactics this month. Take a variety of baits—like herring, gizzard shad and shiners—for the best results. The bait of choice has been small all winter, so be sure to try all sizes. As a result, be sure to be prepared with a variety of hook sizes and line sizes tied on different rods. Keep two Shakespeare striper rods rigged with 12-lb. Trilene 100 percent fluorocarbon and No. 4 Gamakatsu octopus hooks for the small baits. Then, two Shakespeare striper rods with 15-lb. Trilene 100 percent fluorocarbon and No. 1 Gamakatsu octopus hooks for the herring. Then, fish at least two rods with 15-lb. Trilene 100 percent fluorocarbon and size 5/0 Gamakatsu octopus hooks or larger for the gizzard shad. If they are ‘mongo’ gizzards, maybe add a Gamakatsu Magic Eye treble stinger hook. Talk to your local bait shop like Hammond’s or Oakwood Bait and Tackle for details on the stinger hook setup. Toward the end of the month, look for the topwater bite to appear, as well. This will be the highlight of the year for those who like to cast. Rig up a 7-foot medium-action rod with 12-lb. Trilene Big Game line, and be prepared for the stripers to try to take it away from you. Be sure to take a variety of baits, like the Cordell Redfin, the Sebile Magic Swimmer and the Heddon Super Spook. Every day a different one will be the ticket.”