03-06-2002, 02:22 PM
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT<br> <br>Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have remained in the low 50's, and the lake level is about about 9 feet below normal pool. Warmer weather had many of the predator fish thinking that spring had come early, but the recent cold snap has brought them back to reality. <br><br>Schools of striped bass are still moving slowly toward the north end of the lake while gorging heavily on schools of baitfish at depths of 10 to 40 feet. Most of these fish are being caught with downlined blueback herring or shad from Brown's Bridge to above the Little River junction. Also, a few of stripers are being taken on flat-lined live baits early and late in the day in creeks or around points of land on the main lake. The spawning process will keep the striper population on the move throughout March.<br>Spotted bass can be found in 10 to 30 feet of water in creek channels or around trees and stumps. These bass can be caught best with live shad or blueback herring. <br><br>Crappie fishing has been very good for this early in the season above Clarks Bridge or in the back of Wahoo Creek using small Road Runners or live minnows. These tasty fish should move up into the shallower brush to spawn during the coming month. <br><br>Migratory fish like white bass and walleyes are already staging to make their spawning runs up into the shoals of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers. The walleyes will probably spawn in early March and the white bass after the middle of the month. <br><br>Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is very good for both rainbow and browns because the lower, clearer water this past month. Swirleybird spinners continue to be quite effective for trout at this time. <br><br><br>Living to Fish and Fishing to Live<br>Bill Vanderford<br>www.fishinglanier.com<br>770-962-1241