Lake Lanier Fishing Report December 2013

Lanier: Level: 0.5 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Clear.

Largemouth: Good. Tournament angler Billy Booth reports, “The fishing is good. Low and slow seems to be ticket right now for better fish. Slow-rolling a River2Sea Bling spinnerbait in the abalone-shad pattern around ditches and docks will put some good fish in the boat. Most of the largemouth are close to the bottom and under dock floats near ditches. If it’s a tough day or you get some short strikes on the blade, you can pick some fish up by casting a 3/8-oz. brown Mann’s Stone Jig on rocky points and drops. If this cold weather keeps up, look for a deeper ditch bite and jerkbait pattern to emerge later in the month. Focusing on secondary points and deeper docks with an American shad River2Sea Ripper jerkbait will catch good fish as well as dragging a 1/2-oz. brown River2Sea football jig down ditches in the 10- to 20-foot range.”

Stripers: Guide Mike Maddalena reports, “Striper fishing is good. The lake has stabilized, and the majority of bait has moved into the creeks. Consequently, the stripers are also moving into the creeks. The seagulls have arrived in force and are a welcome tool. Your best bet is to pull a spread of both herring and trout on freelines behind the boat and on planer boards. Hanging a couple of downrods over the side is always a good idea when pulling baits. Weight some of the freelines with a couple of split-shots, and vary the distance behind the boat and boards. Keep a 1/2-oz. bucktail tied on to cast to rolling stripers, working gulls and points. This is the time of year when you need to watch your electronics and keep your eyes on the water searching for rolling stripers and working gulls. Focus halfway back to all the way back into the creeks with the highest concentration of bait. There are fish in every creek, but Flat Creek, Shoal Creek, Six Mile Creek and Flowery Branch are good places to start. Things shouldn’t change too much unless we have an extended cold snap. It’s a great time to pull big bait and try for a big fish.”