Lake Lanier Fishing Report - 04-06-2011

The water is heating up and so is the striper fishing. Striper fishing is good and if the weather holds it should only improve. There is an early morning bite on free line herring pulled at 100 - 120 feet behind the board across points and flats. After about 9:00am and a bright sun, weight you free lines with 1 - 3 split shots and move over deeper water. (40 - 60ft. bottom). You should also hang a downrod over the side and adjust the depth as need. The key is to "cover water" with herring on free lines and boards. The spots are biting and if you can catch them on a 1/2 oz. Captain's Macks bucktail. The spots will also "skin" your herring without you knowing. Keep an eye on your lines and check your baits often. As always fresh bait is critical when striper fishing. You may want to consider picking up an extra dozen herring. The fish are scattered lake wide from the mouth of the creeks to all the way in the back. Shoal creek, Baldridge, Big Creek, and Flowery Branch are good starting points on the South end of the lake. Chestatee Bay and Flat mid lake and any of the creeks on the North end. The south end is probably a little better but the fish are really scattered lake wide! The river fishing in both rivers is still very slow.