01-03-2001, 02:50 PM
LAKE LANIER FISHING REPORT<br>by Bill Vanderford<br><br> With all the recent ice and snow, surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have dropped below 50 degrees. Though it has fluctuated some, the lake is still more than 15 feet below normal pool.<br> Low water and lower surface temperatures have increased the schooling activity, especially near the mouth of major tributaries north of Browns Bridge. Live shad, shiners, or blueback herring dropped to 25 to 30 feet around large schools of baitfish will produce larger stripers and spotted bass.<br> Much of the striped bass activity, however, is being seen from Brown’s Bridge to just above Little River, and they are feeding on smaller shad. These fish are being caught on smaller, down-lined live baits or by casting 1/4 ounce Swirleybird Spinners into visibly feeding fish.<br> Some other black bass are still hitting 3/8th ounce Ranger jigs that are dressed with double-tailed grubs, which are heavily impregnated with salt. The ideal depth seems to be 20 to 40 feet around wood structures, rocky points, or boat docks.<br> The colder water has the walleye population gathering near Clarks Bridge for their annual spawning migration into the shoals of the upper Chattahoochee River. As the water starts to rise, fishing for this larger member of the perch family should become much better, and this promises to be a banner year for the walleye clan! <br> Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam has slowed tremendously for both rainbow and browns, except in the delayed harvest area below Morgan Falls Dam near Roswell.<br>Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide. He can be reached at 770-962-1241 or at his web site: www.fishinglanier.com<br><br><br>Living to Fish and Fishing to Live<br>Bill Vanderford<br>www.fishinglanier.com<br>770-962-1241