Lake Lanier Fishing Report – May 2008

Lanier: Level: Down 13.4 feet below full pool. Temp: 69-72 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Spotted Bass: Good. Most of the bass are still very shallow, according to guide Ryan Coleman. “They are a few weeks behind on their spawn. The buck bass are all over the banks right now and can be caught on small worms rigged on a jig head in 2 to 6 feet of water. Look for rocky secondary or main-lake points, and slowly work the jig-head worm combo up shallow.” Some bass are already on a postspawn pattern, and it will get much stronger over the next week. “The postspawn fish are starting to come up on top and will take a small popper or walking bait like a Pop-R or Gunfish. Don’t go big too fast. They tend to eat the smaller baits as they recover from the spawn. By the end of the month, go with the big Super Spook on main-lake structure,” Ryan said. “On days with wind or clouds, work main-lake points with a lipless crankbait or spinnerbait. I have also been getting some nice fish on a big swimbait over the main-lake points. If you are patient, it could pay off with a monster spot. Look for the fish to move out on the main-lake structure by the end of the month. Flukes, big topwater baits and swimbaits will be the trick by then. Concentrate on main-lake structure in 20 to 30 feet of water. Make sure to have your worm ready for those fish you see on your electronics. May is also one of the best months for dropping on them,” Ryan said, referring to a drop-shot rig with a small finesse worm.

Largemouths: Great. “Most of the fish are done spawning but are still shallow, and they’re crushing topwaters in the morning,” Billy said. “About every piece of isolated cover back in the pockets has a fish on it. I’m throwing a baby bass Pop-R or a white Stanley Ribbit, and the strikes are explosive. After the topwater bite is over, there are several patterns working. For numbers you can run-and-gun pockets with a chartreuse/white Bandit 200 or a pearl Mann’s Baby 4 Minus. The big females are beat up from the spawn and are suspended. The finesse option is a weightless green-pumpkin Senko under deeper docks, letting it free fall all the way to the bottom.” Concentrate on docks at the mouths of spawning pockets. Billy’s second pattern for big females is a jig on brush in the middle of pockets. “Look for brush in the middle of spawning pockets in 6 to 10 feet of water with ditches running by the brush. Make multiple pitches with a 9/16-oz. green-pumpkin TABU jig with a twin-tail trailer. As the water temps get around 80, there will be a push to the ledges and points. Start out the mornings targeting channel-swing banks with a pearl buzzbait or a white Spook. After that, look for bait holding on ledges in 10 to 15 feet of water, and throw a citrus-shad Mann’s 20 Plus or a watermelon Carolina-rigged Reaction Innovations Big Unit worm.”

Stripers: Fair. “It slowed since the last full moon,” said guide Greg Robinson. “The seagulls have left, and the fish have moved out of the creeks to main-lake points, and don’t be afraid to look over the main river channel. Flatlines and planer boards are the ticket, so put out a big spread and cover as much water as you can,” Greg said. “Some fish are being caught on umbrella rigs pulled over the points at about 15 to 20 feet, and this bite will get better as the fish begin to bunch up again. Traditionally, May is the month for the topwater bite. Work the banks from the mouths of the creeks to about halfway back. Cast a Chaser Bucktail Spin or a small jig with a small Zoom fluke. Cast to the rocks or timber, and work it back slowly.”