Jimbo's Lake Lanier Spotted Bass Guide Service Fishing Report: 3/15/2016

Hey Gang! Its been awhile since my last post. The fishing on Lake Lanier has been good. The incredible early spring weather we have been experiencing has definitely caused the surface temperatures to rocket up. The temperatures in the backs of some creeks are even warmer than the main body with temperatures in these areas approaching the mid to upper 60’s in the afternoons of bright sunny days. Remember, the shallower, stained water will warm faster than the clear water either in the backs of creeks or on the main lake. The ditches and pockets off the main river and creek channels should remain productive in the areas where the water has warmed or stayed warm. Keep a close eye on your Lowrance electronics for water temperature readings and note the areas that are trending warmer and focus on those. The warmer water will attract bait and therefore fish to these areas. Several standard spring patterns are emerging, and they are welcomed! It had been tough to pattern the fish of late with the very quick warm up we had experienced, but the spotted bass are now starting their spring migrations to the shallower water. They have definitely become more predictable. A jerkbait and a crankbait are my first choices in the mornings. The focus with these baits should be fairly shallow in pockets and in the backs of creeks, as well as rocky points and humps, both in creeks and on the main lake. The main lake bite will be a little slow at first, but it will soon come on strong. The creeks are a little more consistent for this bite right now. For the crankbait, a squarebill would be my choice for the shallow pockets – something with a tight wobble that dives to 4 feet or so. Out on the points, a Spro Little John is a good bet. Cell Mate is my favorite color for the morning bite. When the moving bait bite slows down, switch to a worm and a Chattahoochee jig in these same places. Toss these around points at the mouths of spawning pockets and on secondary points as well. The dock bite has really improved this week as well. Skip a worm or a creepy crawler on a jig head, or a weightless senko, around and under docks in 10-20 feet of water when the sun is up. Docks represent a classic staging area for the fish on Lanier. We have already seen several fish up shallow cruising and hanging around the docks. Shallower, long running flat points are starting to hold fish as well. Often these fish can be found in the 10-15 foot depth ranges on top of these points. Work a Chattahoochee Jig or shaky head worm slowly on these areas. A Spro crankbait has also been working on these same areas and can be productive if there is some wind. A jerkbait has been productive on these shallower rocky points as well, especially for some bigger fish. Again, other than early morning, wind is important for this bite. The Largemouth are up shallow all around the lake. Look in the backs of creeks and pockets to find these critters. Docks in these areas are a good bet for these fish. A number of lures can work depending on the conditions, but all the normal fare are good choices. Here is what I have remaining open for March: 18 (AM), 21, 22 (PM), 25 (PM), 29, and 30. With the warming trend we have going, fishing should really be good in the second half of the month! Give me a call and let’s go fishing! Thanks to all and May God Bless!
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