Lake Lanier Bass Bite Behind Schedule, Topwater Still King

Cooler-than-usual water temps have Lake Lanier lagging behind, but topwater reigns supreme.

Jake Rowe | June 19, 2025

Due to cooler water temperatures than normal, Lake Lanier is behind schedule still with regard to the typical summer bite, according to Jimbo Mathley, of Jimbo’s Spotted Bass Guide Service. In fact, he’s seeing some things in mid-June that he’s never seen before.

“I’m actually seeing herring and other baitfish spawning,” Jimbo told GON. “I can’t remember when I’ve seen that at this point in June.”

According to Jimbo, flexibility is key right now to catching Lake Lanier bass. With the lake still behind, rising temperatures and rainfall, folks aiming to land spotted bass and largemouth on Lanier need to be willing to move around. That means trying different depths and locations. The fish aren’t as aggressive as they normally are this time of year, but topwater is still the move.

Below are the topwater baits you should lean on, per Jimbo. As a general rule of thumb, for now, he says that white or bone colors are best in the morning. Once the sun is high in the sky, transitioning to a chrome-like finish or a color with a reflective property is the move. As a general rule, Jimbo tells GON that when the water is up after a rain, the baitfish will push up to the top of the water column and enhance the topwater bite.

Chug Bug: Call the spots and largemouth up from depth with this popular topwater plug. According to Jimbo, a Chug Bug works really well if you’re aiming for size. It appeals to the bigger fish on Lake Lanier, and its easy to find in reflective colors. You can purchase the chug bug with or without a rattle. This lure is also working quite well around the shallow markers in the lake.

Wakebait: This is another bait that seems to appeal to bigger fish. The wakebait produces a calm but enticing action as it moves across the water like a struggling baitfish. You can find wakebaits in numerous sizes—ranging from a couple of inches all the way out to 10 inches.

Fluke: There’s plenty of variety available with this soft plastic. The orginal Super Fluke is made by Zoom, but similar versions are found from numerous other brands. Jimbo says fish are coming up from depth to make a pass at the fluke, which mimics a wounded baitfish. It’s also nice to have one of these handy for when you run into schooling fish already near the top of the water. As is the case with the chug bug, the fluke is particularly effective around the shallow markers.

Walking Baits (Ima Skimmer and Rapala BX Walking Minnow): Speaking of schoolers, Jimbo is very high on two specific baits when it comes to getting those active, near-the-top spotted bass and largemouth in the boat. This is where the earlier-mentioned color choices can make a big difference. The Ima Skimmer can be found in the bone/white and reflective colors. The BX Walking Minnow, however, is much easier to find in reflective and bright colors.

Lake Lanier Bass Bite Behind Schedule, Topwater Still King

Cooler-than-usual water temps have Lake Lanier lagging behind, but topwater reigns supreme.

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