07-29-2001, 12:41 PM
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT<br>by Bill Vanderford<br><br>Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have climbed into the mid to upper 80 's, and the lake level is 8 feet below normal pool and rising slightly from the recent rains. Lanier's predator fish are in a definite summer pattern.<br><br>Trolling for striped bass with the new Striper Flasher and a 1 ounce Blakemore Road Runner around points and humps all over the lake at 20 to 35 feet is still quite effective. Also, quite a few stripers are being taken on flat-lined live baits early in the day or down-lined live baits later in the day at 25 to 35 feet. The best action has been sorth of Brown's Bridge for the past couple of weeks.<br>Most spotted bass can be found in 10 to 25 feet of water around brush piles on points or humps all over the lake. These can be caught with a number of lures, but the most effective seems to be the spottail minnow. Quite a few are still being caught on 1/4 ounce Swirleybird spinners around points and underwater ridges near daylight and dark.<br><br>Despite more water being released at the dam lately, trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam remains very good for both rainbow and browns. Larger spinners are the best lures for trout at this time, but plenty of nice trout are being taken on dry flies during this hot weather.<br><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>Living to Fish and Fishing to Live<br>Bill Vanderford<br>www.fishinglanier.com<br>770-962-1241