LAKE LANIER sept 2008

LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 15.3 FEET, AND LAKE IS STAINED AND THE CREEKS AND THE RIVERS ARE STAINED & 82 DEGREES.

SPECIAL NOTICE: BE VERY CAREFUL RUNNING LAKE LANIER AS WATER LEVELS FALL. THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT HAVE TREE TRUNKS, STUMPS AND ROCKS JUST BELOW THE WATER LEVEL.

Largemouth bass fishing is slow. Early try the Chug Bug, a Rico or a Pop R in baby bass pattern. The short run out points that drop off sharply into deep water are good areas for early fall bass to roam on. There are a few fish moving early and even in the middle of the day looking for food as the water temperatures start to cool down. Fish from Clarks Bridge to Thompson Bridge is a good place to start. Do not overlook super shallow stumps that are popping up all over the upper lake. Start with black and silver or blue and silver and keep changing colors until you find what they want. With any off colored waters, go directly to the fire tiger color. Later in the day use a u tail worm on the Carolina rig and fish these same areas. Added garlic scent is a must when throwing worms or jigs this time of the year.

Spotted bass are biting and top water, jerk baits and crank baits are all catching some good spots. During the day, concentrate on rocky areas where wood is present. Throw both a Texas or drop shot rig and a small worm in any color that is closely related to green. Doctor this bait with a lot of garlic scent and add a little color to the tail. Four inch worms are getting the majority of the bites however; the six inch fish are putting bigger spots into the boat. Fish all the rocky points lake with a June Bug or pearl Fat Albert grub on 8 pound test Sufix line. Use a Bandit 200 root beer crank bait on 10 pound test Sufix Elite line and run and gun these points all day. But keep that Zara Spook Jr in bone on a rod and make 10 casts before leaving any area. Before this week is out, the Mini Me spinnerbait bite should kick in. Use a ¾ ounce all white or all gold blades.

This report is from Captain Chuck Biggers at Southern Striper Fishing Guide Service 404 405 8280, www.southernstripers.com

Striper fishing has been hot and cold. One day the lake seems full of fish and the next day you think you caught them all but that’s fishing. Try the flat spots close to the channels. The other hot spot has been mid creek on the same flats that they are using on the river channel. Power reeling is the ticket for the big schools. Drop bait down under the fish then reel up through them. Drop bait down under the fish then reel up through them. Be ready to search the lower lake with the Lowrance. Look in the creek mouths down lake until the fish pop up on the screen. Try the new invisible sinkers and a small bleeding shiner hook. Use a long 6 foot or longer leader. Trolling has been barely fair as the water came up last week slowing the trolling bite. We did see some fish in the mouth of the East Bank area out to 60 feet deep. These are usually one to three fish together and pull get out the down lines and herring