Lanier striper report Dec 27th, 2007

Well the fishing is still going strong just as we had hoped. This is by far and away the best fall for fly and light tackle we have had in over 6 years. Fish have settled in strong up north and although the ramps are now all but closed people that get up there are finding fish. Gulls and terns are certainly extremely helpful. Fish can be found anywhere from Browns Bridge on up to Clarks Bridge. Fish are feeding on small little threadfin shad that are anywhere up to 2" in length. Coyotes, small Clousers and small baitfish patterns (mostly in grey) have been the ticket on both sinking lines and even occassionally on intermediates when the fish get up on the bank. Best day this past week was 6 fish to 19 lbs caught one afternoon. Both mornings and afternoons have been productive but I give the nod to the PM as being a bit stronger. You MUST have clouds to be more consistently successful. The next few days looks like it will be awesome. Looking forward to this afternoons trip upcoming as we are trying to get bamboo rod maker Bill Oyster a striper on one of his bamboo beauties....Keep you posted. Plenty of open dates for anyone wanting to book trips. Remember the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show will be held at the Gwinnett Civic Center the last weekend in January (26th & 27th). We will be doing a striper seminar on how to catch both stripers and bass in LOW WATER ENVIRONMENTS like Lanier today. Stop by and say hello if you are attending. Otherwise......see you on the pond!

HC

Lake Lanier striper report 11/30/07

Fishing has now officially changed over to the late fall early winter pattern. Fish are starting to move into the coves to feed. This is great news. Although the top water bite is still going on, the fish are MUCH easier to catch in the coves. We just came out of probably the best 5 weeks of top water that I have seen in 5 years on Lanier. I fully expect the next 5 weeks to be equally productive. Last year, Dec was possibly my best month. Fish are mixed sizes with lots of 5-10 lb fish being caught on integrated shooting head sinking lines. Fish are munching on lots of threadfin shad in the 1-2” range. Terns and gulls are just getting going so finding the fish is always a lot easier this time of year. If you can handle the cooler temps that No GA gets this time of year, I really think you need to experience this year’s fishery. THERE IS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE on the lake due to the closing of ALL the boat ramps. Saturdays are relatively quiet now so you can easily fish the weekends. The lake is not dangerous as long as you stay in the channel when traveling. Also do not run into the coves, but rather idle your way in……..It is far safer that way. I am really excited and think we will experience a great last of the year push on stripers and spotted bass…………see you on the pond!



HC

lanier striper report Nov 8th

Fishing has been hit or miss over the past couple weeks. Top water is going on but lasts for a short 30 minutes to maybe 1 hour. After that there really is no pattern for fly or artificial fishing. Best bet is to troll live bait. NOT FOR ME but that is your best bet. Cloudy days make the top water bite solid and sunny days make it short lived. Fish are EVERYWHERE.......just gotta keep looking and burning fuel. Best flies are the baitfish thrown on a sinking line. Best lures are a walk the dog type bait like a spook or top dog. Redfins still work but are getting more refusals. See you on the pond.

HC

Lanier striper report 10/22/07

Well the new season has finally kicked into gear. For the past 6 days we have had 4 VERY GOOD days of fishing. Today was off the chart. I had two fishermen in the boat and we hooked close to 24 stripers on bith fly and redfins. Biggest fish was about 12 lbs. We landed at least 15 or more. Average fish today was about 6-7 lbs. Some rats were mixed in. Fish were all over the surface this morning. With the front coming thru in the next day, it was easy to see why the fish ate like they were famished! We caught them on sinking lines and Clousers (grey/white) as well as floating lines and crease flies. Fish started out over a 40-50 foot bottom and moved into the back of a pocket where they pushed bait up onto the bank. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!! My sports doubled up several times and the fishing was juat like I remember when the water levels were down some 5-6 years ago. We are in for a BIG season in my opinion. Best redfin was the chrome/blue and the solid bone. Now is the time to get out on the pond for top water..................see you on the pond!

HC

Lanier striper report October 22nd

Well the new season has finally kicked into gear. For the past 6 days we have had 4 VERY GOOD days of fishing. Today was off the chart. I had two fishermen in the boat and we hooked close to 24 stripers on bith fly and redfins. Biggest fish was about 12 lbs. We landed at least 15 or more. Average fish today was about 6-7 lbs. Some rats were mixed in. Fish were all over the surface this morning. With the front coming thru in the next day, it was easy to see why the fish ate like they were famished! We caught them on sinking lines and Clousers (grey/white) as well as floating lines and crease flies. Fish started out over a 40-50 foot bottom and moved into the back of a pocket where they pushed bait up onto the bank. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!! My sports doubled up several times and the fishing was juat like I remember when the water levels were down some 5-6 years ago. We are in for a BIG season in my opinion. Best redfin was the chrome/blue and the solid bone. Now is the time to get out on the pond for top water..................see you on the pond!

HC

Lake Lanier striper report 4/30/07

Top water took a leap forward this week. Fishing was mostly on this past week as the shad spawn and top water bite came into play. Fiush of mixed sizes from 3-15lbs were the norm. Stripers ate baitfish pattern, coyotes and crease flies. Fish being caught both north and south. Early morning bite as well as dock lites has been best. BIG spotted bass also being caught on top water over the past 7 days. These next 2 weeks should be off the chart with regards to the fishing. Sinking lines still my go to set up unless throwing crease flies. See you on the pond.

HC

lanier striper report 4/18/07

Winter just will not leave this season. Water temps dropped down to 56 degrees over the past few days and this has thrown the fishing off a bit. Wind and cold have the fish eating very little at this time (at least for fly and light tackle enthusiasts). Good news is that all we need is some stable warm weather and the fishing will rebound. Redfin bite is still going to be a good choice to find a topwater feeder. Fish have moved out of the pockets (hopefully temporarily). Will have to wait and see where the fish have gone once the wind lets up and we can get out again to look. The past 4 days have been very tough. Good news is the spots are still aggressively feeding. They ARE ON THE BANK and can be fished for with flies and lures. Nice size spots are being caught. I would say our fishing is about 3 weeks behind from last year (water temperatures tell us this). A little nice weather would help. Keep your fingers crossed for warmer days and lighter winds. See you on the pond!

HC

Lake Lanier striper report 4/12/07

Wind, wind and more wind! That is what we have seen over the past week. The big chill passed us by and the fishing just keeps on movin' forward. Fish seemed to shut down some over the past weekend, however it just rebounded come Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Fish are eating redfins waked on the surface again for light tackle enthusiasts. Some big fish being hooked in shallow water (15-20 lbs.). The fly bite rebounded as well. Fish on both intermediate and sinking lines. BIG schools of fish being seen over a 20-25 foot bottom. Sinking lines with long Clousers, coyotes and baitfish patterns working extremely well. Fish from 4 lbs to 15 lbs. These fish are eating herring. Fish also found yesterday in VERY skinny water. FLOATING lines were needed. Fish tossing threadfin shad in 1-2 feet of water in the backs of some pockets and coves. Spectacular finesse fishing!!!!!! This should continue over the next couple of weeks. Spotted bass fishing is getting hot too. BIG fish being caught. Many over 4 lbs. I am fishing north but have reliably heard this is happening ALL OVER THE LAKE. This is your opportunity to get a line class record for spots! New boat now being used. Got the kinks out and it is now full speed ahead! See you on the pond.

HC