Lake Lanier Fishing Report – December 2018

Lanier:Level: Full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Clear.

Spotted Bass: Tournament angler Ryan Coleman reports, “With the cooling temperatures, the spotted bass have started to scatter. Lots of fish are moving out deep in typical winter areas, but some are staying very shallow. I am chasing the more predictable deeper fish but will toss at a shallow fish at times. Big groups of bass are holding in deep areas around timber and deep channels in 40 to 50 feet of water and can be caught a few different ways. I am working these deep areas (ditches/timber lines) with a 3.8-inch blueback herring swimbait rigged on a 1/2- or 3/4-oz. SpotSticker Baits swimbait head. This has been my best offering for two years now at these deep fish. Just rig the swimbait up on the football head, work it on a 7-foot or longer casting rod with 12- to 15-lb. fluorocarbon line, and you should be good. I am dragging the bait on the bottom just inside the timber and in the backs of creeks. The design and weight of the football head will keep the bait right on the bottom, which is always important in the winter. The constant bottom contact keeps the bait in a stand-up position and constantly disturbs the bottom, which attracts the curious spotted bass. Once they bite your swimbait, just start reeling. As I mark fish on my Lowrance, I am dropping a 1/4-oz. jig head with either an electric shad or green pumpkin/purple 6-inch Finesse Stick on them. This has also been catching some nice fish. For the shallow fish, you can work a 10-foot-diving crankbait or a 1-oz. Mini-Me spinnerbait on steep, rock points for the best results. Good luck out there.”