Lake Lanier striper report 6/29/07

Lake Lanier report 6/29/07

Well summer is officially here in north Georgia and I can tell you that the striper bite for guys throwing artificial baits is for the most part over. I am hearing of an occasional top water bite occurring, however it is nothing that you can count on. Look down in Shoal Creek or up near Gainesville Marina. I took a 5 lb striper on fly last Sunday along with a few small spots up to 2 lbs. Spots are being caught on top water flies like crease flies and Hell’s Bay hoppers. Best areas for the spots is definitely south of Browns Bridge. I think it is time to go to the shore (salt water) or start fishing the rivers for either trout or stripers (Etowah). Will fire it back up on Lanier about the middle of September. Thanks for all the nice comments made throughout the season regarding our fishing reports as well as the support of all my customers. It is always more fun for me to guide someone to a striper then to catch one myself. Have a good summer. See you on the pond!

HC

Lake Lanier striper report 6/10/07

Well guys and gals, the fishing is still hanging in there as of the 2nd Sunday in June. Top water is still going on all over the lake, however the south end is a little stronger then the north end. Crease flies are your best bet for topwater stripers and spotted bass. Best activity is from first light until 9am. After that you can still throw top water all day long however you will not see any surfacing fish. Fish are mixed sizes from 2 to 10 lbs on average. Spots are from 1 to 4 lbs. After 9am you must throw over brush piles and over points in the 20-25 feet depth. Overall fishing is pretty darn good. Average day may get you a couple of stripers and possibly BIG numbers of spots. For the light tackle angler, just throw spooks and top dogs all day long. If you feel the need to go sub surface, try throwing a white 3/8 oz rooster tail or a chartreuse grub on a 1/4 jig head. This bite should last at least a few days past the next new moon (June 15th). See you on the pond.......HC

Lake Lanier striper report 6/1/07

WOW!!!!!!!!!! That is all I can say now. The fishing has busted wide open for top water activity this week. The past 3 days has seen some serious striper and bass top water activity on both the south and north ends of the lake. Best bass action is up north. Spots up to 4 1/2lbs hitting chug bugs and spooks on casting gear and crease flies on fly tackle. All action starts at 6:15am and continues until 10am depending on the cloud cover. Stripers are best on the south end. Just look for small pods of fish throwing herring into the air. Fish up to 30 lbs being caught on the same top water lures previously mentioned. Crease flies in the larger size are accounting for the fly caught stripers. The June full moon and water temps in the mid to high 70's has these fish going crazy. Should continue for at least a few more days on the stripers and at least a couple of weeks on the spots. Got to end this now and go to bed and get a good nights rest for the next few days.
See you on the pond!

HC

lake lanier striper report 5/28/07

Just got back from a weeks trip to Casa Blanca, Mexico with 21 other anglers. Have not fished the lake in 10 days but will hit it again this week. Have heard that there is some good fishing, but not for the fly rod guys. Mostly deep stuff at 25 feet down. Past years tells me that we should get a little early morning activity with the water temps at around 74 degrees. This usually takes place on the south end of the lake. Will hit it today and at least 2 more days this next week. Try using herring type patterns as that is what the stripers should key in on. Also should see some nice top water fishing for spots shortly. Last I fished, this was just starting to develop. Six weight rod with a floating line and a crease fly will do nicely. June is usually the month we are winding it down however this has been a very strange spring. Strong top water activity lasted less then a week. The back of the cove bite never really happened. Guys are running north then south then north again. This tells you that there is not a strong concentration or pattern happening anywhere in particular. Had to work extremely hard to find fish this past spring. Little consistency compared to last fall.............I guess that's fishing! See you on the pond!

HC

Lake Lanier striper report 5/14/07

Well it appears that our fishery is as topsy tervy as ever. One day is great and the next two are poor. Then we get two more great days followd by two lousy days. I just cannot figure it out. So here is what we know TODAY. We are now on the new moon. Fish are definately feeding after dark. That is a given. Go at night if you can. Taht is the best and most consistent bite......period. As for the daytime bite, you have to go in the morning. The feed is good from first light until 9:30am then it just dies. Fish a sinking line off the long tapered points. The north end is fishing as inconsistently as the south end however you can find a shad spawn over the next 5-6 days if you get out EARLY. This is great fishing when you find it. Fish more sinking lines with my baitfish pattern or a Puglisi baitfish then any other fly. Herring are certainly being keyed in on if you do not find a shad spawn. Clousers and Coyotes are good on the shad spawn if you find one. The bite lasts for 30-40 minutes and is spectacular. Look on the rocks for this to happen from 6:20-7:00am. Look at the Dam, at Old Federal camp ground, around Gainesville Marina and on up to Gainesville Creek and beyond. You just have to travel to find them. Windy days are great on the redfins and I am throwing hookless spooks, chug bugs and redfins to tease up and put the old bait and switch on the fly. It works!!!!! Bass are just not as consisten tover the past week as previously. This has to change. Maybe this week??!!!!! See you on the pond.........

Lake Lanier striper report 5/2/07

Thanks to everyone for being patient while my blog was down. My web master figured it all out so we are back up and running. Thank you Robert!!!!!!
Fishing was up and down over the past 2 weeks. April 20th -27th saw some of the most consistent top water fishing of the year. Fish up to 15lbs eating shad in 2-4' of water. Shad spawn was happening down on the south end for 4 days straight. All I can say is
A-W-E-S-O-M-E! Then for some strange reason they just shut down. The fishing since the 28th has been hit or miss with best bite ocurring from first light until 8:30am and then it just dies. Some HUGE spots being caught on fly. Tommy (my partner) and I broke the line class record for spotted bass 3 times in the past 10 days. We did not turn any in fish for world record purposes as we really want to have a client break this record. On another high note the dock light bite is on in full force. Early evening is better then early morning but fish are definately commited to the lights. Sinking lines along with coyotes, baitfish patterns are working best as well as Clousers and spinsters..........NOTE: water temps are now hitting 70. This is a good thing. See you on the pond. HC

PS.......Tommy McCue is selling his 1995' Nitro center console. Boat is 21 feet and comes w/200 Merc EFI and trailer. Boat looks good and runs extremely well. BOat has only been fished on Lanier (fresh water). He is asking $7900. Great entry level boat for both fly and bait fishing. Contact Tommy @ 770-536-1699. Boat can be seen at Lake Lanier Fishing and Outdoors