Jimbo’s Lake Lanier Fishing Report: 3/21/2018

 

Spring is here, the bite is on, and I am filling up fast. Please get with me soon if you would like a trip this spring. Following is a list of my upcoming open dates for Spring:  May: 1, 2, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 30, 31. Give me a call and come enjoy some outstanding Spring Fishing on Lake Lanier!

Water Temp – 50 degrees

Water Level – .1 feet below full pool

The lake level remains fairly stable resting at .1 feet under full pool and around 50 degree surface temperature.  We have seen a slight increase in lake level and a slight decrease in temperature over the past week.  As a repeat from last week’s report, I have heard recently from DNR officers that the Corp of Engineers plans to keep the lake up and fairly steady through the spawn, which is excellent news.  I hope this is truly the case, as it will lend to a solid bass and baitfish spawn – all good things for our lake.  The backs of the major creeks are still stained, and the main lake below Brown’s Bridge is still clear. The waters above Brown’s Bridge are more stained in the main river areas than the lower lake, and the further you go north, the heavier the stain.

Not much change from last week’s report gang. While the cold has knocked them back somewhat, they are still biting.  Many options to catch fish still exist and you can pretty much chose your approach, although one will work better than another on any give day. A Picasso Shake-down head and worm combo is hard to beat right now for bites, and on some days, big ones.  SPRO crankbaits like a Rock Crawler or a Castaway Baits 1.5 shad crank and jerkbaits like a McStick along with double willow spinnerbaits have all been working well.  And that Keitech on a jig head is still working well when slow reeled on the bottom of the aforementioned points.  The location and technique for the best bite does seem to vary each day, and sometimes dramatically.  So stay flexible in your approach.  There are some early spring techniques working out in deeper water, but we have remained focused on the pre-spawn activity in shallower water (1-20 ft).  Try one type of area or technique, and if that is not working, move on.    We are working shallow, flat points, both rock and clay, both in pockets as well as on the main lake. The steeper stuff has held some fish too, and can be a good choice given the recent cold fronts.  Also the longer running points are starting to hold fish as well – check the reef poles and shoal markers on those warmer days.  On the cooler days, make sure to look out at the very ends of these places in deeper water.  Creeks and main lake are both producing, and as usual, focus more on the main lake or mouths of creeks for the bigger fish, and back in the creeks for numbers, but you are apt to catch a big fish anywhere right now. That’s what makes this time of year so much fun!  As usual for this time of year, the docks are also holding fish.  Check those docks back in creeks or pockets that are in 20 feet of water and less. With the cold fronts, check some of those in deeper water as well, as these can be productive for those fish just moving up or ones that have pulled back due to the colder conditions of late.  Look at the last 2 or 3 docks in any creek arm or pocket for those largemouth.  Look for the fish to be under the docks when the sun is up, and more just around the docks in low light or clouds. A Picasso Shake Down head and worm combo or a Spro Jerkbait and a Vision 110 are good options around the docks.

Spring is here, the bite is on, and I am filling up fast. Please get with me soon if you would like a trip this spring. Following is a list of my upcoming open dates for Spring:  May: 1, 2, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 30, 31. Give me a call and come enjoy some outstanding Spring Fishing on Lake Lanier!

Thanks to all and May God Bless!