11-02-2001, 04:19 PM
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT<br>by Bill Vanderford<br><br> The fantastic fall fishing season is in high gear! Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have dropped below 70 degrees, and the lake level is more than 10 feet below normal pool and falling. Lanier’s predator fish are feeding like crazy!<br> Schools of striped bass are roaming the south end of the lake while gorging heavily on schools of baitfish. These big linesided fish and their white bass cousins are being caught in good numbers with numerous topwater lures, 1/2 ounce Blakemore Road Runners, and 1/4 ounce Swirleybird spinners when seen surfacing from Brown’s Bridge back to the dam. Also, a few stripers are being taken on flat-lined live baits early and late in the day.<br> 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 spinnerbaits, diving crankbaits, jig and pig, or Swirleybirds. Quite a few are still being caught on topwater lures or buzzbaits around points and underwater ridges near daylight and dark.<br> Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam remains very good for both rainbow and browns. Swirleybird spinners are the best lures for trout at this time.<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, JFish51@aol.com, 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