Lake Lanier Fishing Report October 2016

Lanier: Level: 6 feet low. Temp: 82 degrees. Clarity: Clear on the main lake and stained in the backs of the creeks.

Stripers: Big Fish On Guide Service reports, “Fishing has been very good all summer. All of the traditional summertime techniques—live blueback herring on downrods, trolling with lead core and umbrella rigs, power reeling with herring or Ben Parker spoons—have and will continue to work into early October. However, October is turnover month, and things will change almost overnight. The keys to catching stripers in October are understanding the lake conditions, how the fish are reacting to those changes and being flexible enough to change your approach and tactics. When the lake turns over and eliminates the warm water layer and the thermocline, the stripers are no longer restricted to their cold water refuge. These fast moving fish will move up in the water column and disperse very rapidly throughout the lake. This makes October a challenge for striper fishermen as we react to this change in lake conditions. October begins with the fish in their typical summertime pattern and ends with them in shallow water. Herring on freelines and planer boards will be the key. We are also looking forward to a couple of weeks of topwater action. Stay flexible, and focus on main-lake and creek-mouth points and reef markers with topwater and herring on flatlines.”