| Fishing Guide / Author |
Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Bill Vanderford (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 9:15 am: | |
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT
by Bill Vanderford
8-10-03
Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier are over the 80 degree mark, and the lake level is near normal pool to slightly below normal pool. Lake Lanier’s fish population is solidly in a summer pattern. However, very little indication of a thermocline can be detected, which makes some types of fishing more difficult.
Nevertheless, fishing for spotted bass with live, spottail minnows around structure at 10 to 30 feet of water has been fantastic...!!! We are also catching a few stripers and some nice white bass and catfish in these same places.
Some striped bass are already holding on many of the mainlake humps and points in 25 to 40 feet of water. They can be caught on larger, live minnows of some type on a down line, but the summer trolling has been slow.
When water is not being released and the river is not badly stained, trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is good for both rainbow and browns. Swirleybird spinners, sinking and floating Rapalas, and wet and dry flies are great for trout at this time.
Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide. He can be reached at 770-289-1543, at JFish51@aol.com, or at his web site: www.fishinglanier.com |
FishingLanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2001 - 9:51 am: | |
Subject: Lake Lanier/Chattahoochee River Fishing Report
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT
by Bill Vanderford
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
FishingLanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 12:52 pm: | |
Subject: LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT
by Bill Vanderford
Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have climbed into the 80 ‘s, and the lake level is holding around 8 feet below normal pool. Most of Lanier’s fish population has settled into their summer pattern.
We are catching lots of striped bass with the new Striper Flasher and a 1 ounce Blakemore Road Runner on points and humps all over the lake at 15 to 25 feet. Also, a few stripers are being taken on flat-lined live baits early in the day or down-lined live baits later in the day. The best action has been north of Brown’s Bridge.
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.
Even with the reduced water flow at the dam, trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is great for both rainbow and browns. The “Chattahoochee Special” spinner is still the hottest lure for trout all over the river this year, but plenty of nice trout are being taken on dry flies during this hot weather.
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
|
Fishing Lanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 11:36 am: | |
Subject: MAY IS THE TIME FOR POST-SPAWN BASS MAGIC
MAY IS THE TIME FOR POST-SPAWN BASS MAGIC
by Bill Vanderford
During the next month, quite a few unhappy fishermen will be singing the same song........ “The fish won’t bite”. These unlucky anglers can see the bass taking swipes at their lures, but the ordinarily aggressive fish seem to missing the hooks.
Why are so many normally productive fishermen being forced to “sing the blues”? Could it possibly be a lack of understanding?
Lake Lanier’s bass are going through a major upheaval in their lives. The spawning season will soon become history, which will leave our “finny friends” weary and hurt. This period is known as “post-spawn”.
Post-spawn bass act and feel somewhat like a person who has just endured a major operation. They usually don't want much to eat, nor do they feel like chasing their food. Understanding these facts could make the post spawn period pass more pleasantly for anglers.
It's time to retire the oversized lures and larger plastic worms for a short while, and take a page out of every successful trout fisherman's book .... “match-the-hatch”. In trout fishing, that means finding an artificial fly that closely resembles both the size and color of the newly-hatched insects on which the trout are feeding. Since bass feed on so many different creatures that live in or near the water, deciding what bait to use can be difficult. Understanding another recent happening, however, can eliminate the doubt.
Unnoticed by most fishermen, a simultaneous phenomenon of spring has occurred. The threadfin shad have spawned as well, and millions of one to two inch-long baby fish are slowly swimming around in the shallows. The recuperating bass have begun to gorge themselves on these tiny baitfish.
While most fishermen are still out chunking their oversized hardware in the wrong places, the thinking fisherman has found something more appealing for the finicky bass.........a lure less than three inches long that imitates the baby shad.
Many artificial baits on the market will fool even the wariest of bass during the post spawn period. One small spinner that I developed more than twenty years ago especially for post spawn bass, however, has proven to be the best producer of all. It is called the Swirleybird, and is available by calling 770-476-1440.Though myself and many others have sung its praises during the pre-spawn period as well, it is during the post spawn that this artificial offering is always dominant!
This tiny lure is basically an inline spinner, but incorporates a propellor-type blade that allows it to produce sufficient attracting flash at any speed. Though it is made with different shades of tailfeathers, colors don’t seem to make much difference. It is the size and speed of the lure that are of paramount importance. Very slow speeds seem to be the key to catching more and bigger bass.
Light spinning tackle combined with high-visibility four to eight pound test Stren line helps an angler see the strikes better, and allows the lighter lure to be presented properly. Best places during post spawn to cast Swirleybirds are rocky points, boat docks, and around visible structures that are in more than 5 feet of water.
Even with these revelations, actually catching post spawn bass is never an easy accomplishment. t’s still necessary to make hundreds of casts and cover many targets of opportunity in a day’s time to fill the livewell with a decent catch of keeper-sized bass. Nevertheless, Swirleybird users generally catch between 20 and 80 bass per day until the surface temperature has passed the eighty degree mark. This “small wonder” and method could change the “post spawn blues” into hot bassin’ action!
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
|
Fishing Lanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 11:36 am: | |
Subject: TOPWATER TIME FOR HUGE STRIPED BASS
TOPWATER TIME FOR HUGE STRIPED BASS
by Bill Vanderford
Only the occasional splashes and continued “V” wakes caused by the large floater/diver plugs broke the calm surface as the three men made casts toward an exposed island near the main river channel at Lake Lanier. No indication was seen of any feeding fish, and even though both anglers in the front of the boat had already thoroughly fished the area, something made the older gentleman in the rear of the boat cast directly over the stern. Less than a full second after the big lure had splashed down on the water, and the reel had been engaged, an explosion occurred, comparable only to the unexpected fall of a concrete block into a swimming pool from several stories above!
With the possible exception of a musky or a huge northern pike, no freshwater fish attacks a surface lure as viciously as the landlocked striped bass. Though the remainder of the battle is always at or below the surface, when attacking a lure from below, a striper may emerge completely from its watery confines. At times, an aggressive striper may even leap into the air prior to pouncing on the plastic bait from above. Regardless of the way it happens, when one of these linesided monsters engulfs a lure, one has to experience heart flutter from the rush of adrenaline, and this huge fish was no exception!
The battle that followed lasted some twenty minutes, and taxed all of the older man’s muscles. The forty-six inch long, thirty-nine and one-half pound striped bass, however, was a far better experience than the older angler had ever anticipated.
Armed with the proper lures, tackle, and know-how, such experiences and trophy fish can be more than a dream for Peach State anglers at Lake Lanier. Catching big striped bass, however, can be very hard work. When using artificial lures, dedication and hundreds of casts are required, but one monster striper is worth all the effort!
The best chance to catch striped bass on artificial lures is during May and June when they congregate in the shallower water. The accepted method for catching big stripers is by working large minnow-type top-water lures near points or underwater islands. The hours near sunset or sunrise seem to be the most productive, but many are caught during the middle of the day.
In lieu of the larger baitcasting rods and reels and heavy monofilament line preferred by many striper fishermen, the lighter baitcasting, spincasting, or spinning rod and reels with 10 to 12 pound line, similar to those used for casting spinnerbaits, or the jig and pig for largemouth bass, are more suited to making the hundreds of casts that are sometimes necessary to get a strike. The lighter rods and reels, however, are still ideal for casting the larger 6 to 7 long plugs.
The actual method of fishing these baits is relatively simple. A slow steady retrieve that causes a little “V” wake behind works best. It is very important that the lure remains on the surface while wiggling its way back toward the boat.
When using artificial lures, most stripers are caught during periods of lower light, because stripers are sometimes repelled by strong light sources. The lower intensity of light brings them and their huge appetites into the shallows where they’re easier to catch. While in shallow water, however, they tend to be very spooky. Too much noise will make them vacate an area in a hurry.
Trailing live bait behind one’s boat while casting with topwater lures is another way to catch an occasional striper, and during the months of May and June, store-bought shiners seem to work as well as natural shad or blueback herring. Since the bait is usually being moved by the wind or an electric trolling motor, they should be hooked in the mouth.
Thanks to an excellent stocking program and several great year classes of fish, Lake Lanier is definitely the best overall striper lake in Georgia. It is loaded with striped bass that average between 10 and 20 pounds. In the past year, however, numerous stripers have been caught that weighed more than 30 pounds, and the introduction of blueback herring should continue this upward trend. We could once again see the huge stripers that were common in the 1980’s, like the 46 pound lake record caught by Roger Snipes of Gainesville.
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 is a regular contributor and can be reached at 770-962-1241.
|
Fishing Lanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 11:35 am: | |
Subject: Lake Lanier/Chattahoochee River Fishing Report
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT
by Bill Vanderford
Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have finally risen to nearly 70 degrees, and the fishing is fantastic! Less water release at the dam and some rain has raised the lake level to around 9 feet below normal pool, and it is rising slowly.
Spawning activity for many species in the lake is in “full swing”. Having so many different fish in the shallower parts of the lake at the same time is resulting in great catches for those with the proper information!
Though some stripers have gone up the rivers to spawn, most of these big predators are going through this process on points and humps all over the lake. Flat-lined live baits are working good, but many of the stripers are already hitting big topwater lures.This exciting topwater action will continue, and even become better into the month of June, especially early in the day.
Most spotted bass are in the middle of their spawning cycle in 5 to 15 feet of water along red clay banks. Those of us “in the know” are catching 20 to 50 of these 1 to 4 pound bass every day with the magical 1/8th ounce Swirleybird. This action will continue until the surface temperature at Lanier surpasses 80 degrees.
Crappie fishing above Clarks Bridge and in most of the other creeks around the lake continues to be excellent this year. Most of these fish are being caught on live minnows, but many are also being taken on smaller plastic or hair jigs.
Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is great for both rainbow and browns. The new “Chattahoochee Special” spinner is still the hottest lure for trout all over the river this year.
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
|
FishingLanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 9:07 am: | |
Subject: WARM WEATHER HAS WHITE BASS ON THEIR SPAWNING RUN
WARM WEATHER HAS WHITE BASS ON THEIR SPAWNING RUN
by Bill Vanderford
A week of warm weather has the white bass on the move at Lake Lanier! This annual migration is considered a major fishing event for anglers who pursue these feisty fish into the northernmost waters of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee rivers each spring. The excitement began as soon as the lake temperature crept above the 50 degree mark, and all the muddy water from recent rains had cleared.
Early arrivers of this mass exodus from the south are always the smaller male white bass. These are followed quickly by the heavily egg laden and much larger females. Many of the migrating white bass travel up into the Chestatee River as far as the shoals above Highway 400 or on the Chattahoochee River to the rocky runs above Belton Bridge. In fact, despite the low water, I’ve been taking clients up into the river to sample the great white bass fishing in my specially-designed, jet-powered, tunnel-hull, 18-foot, Weldbilt aluminum river boat.
Though great numbers of these white bass are found in the upper portions of the rivers that are impossible to reach with normal boats, many of these fish also find spawning areas south of the river shoals where they are more accessible to conventional craft. These white bass seem to prefer sandy flats near the moving water of one of the main river channels.
The area from White Sulphur Access Point north to Lula Bridge on the Chattahoochee is excellent, and from Wilkie Bridge to just north of Lumpkin County Park on the Chestatee side. Especially productive spots are the mouth of Yellow Creek and the big bend in the river near Lumpkin County Park.
Trolling the edge of these flats with 1/8th ounce Swirleybirds, 1/16th or 1/8th ounce Blakemore Roadrunners, or 1/8th ounce jig and Ranger curlytail grubs can be effective and a means of locating the schools. After a congregation of white bass is found, a buoy marker should be dropped in the general area, then cast to the fish with the same shad-like lures that were used for trolling. White or chartreuse are always excellent color choices.
Some white bass will make their spawning runs into other major tributaries around the lake. Flowery Branch, Bald Ridge, Six-Mile, and Flat Creeks are good spawning areas for these whites. Fish in these areas, however, tend to mate at least a week or two later than those in the rivers, and individual females in the tributaries are normally larger in size. In fact, the Lake Lanier and Georgia record (5 pounds, 1 ounce caught by Jeff Hobbins in 1971) came from Bald Ridge Creek.
For those hardy enough to withstand the cooler night air, white bass fishing can be great under artificial lights using threadfin shad or commercially raised shiners. The best places for nighttime fishing are under Wilkie Bridge on the Chestatee and both Clarks and Lula Bridges on the Chattahoochee River. The fish will usually hit the bait at the ten to fifteen foot level.
In addition, night fishing with live bait is effective for white bass that are returning to the main lake after spawning. These whites can be caught all the way into early summer. Best areas for this extended action are Browns Bridge on the Chattahoochee River and Boling Bridge on the Chestatee.
The white bass are headed north again, and for those lucky enough to locate a big school, it can be nonstop action. So, it’s time to grab the light rods, jigs and minnows and head for the upper reaches of Lake Lanier!
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
|
FishingLanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 9:07 am: | |
Subject: WARM DAYS HAVE CRAPPIE ON THE MOVE
WARM DAYS HAVE CRAPPIE ON THE MOVE
by Bill Vanderford
Warm fronts with their southerly breezes have brought enough warmth to the air to trigger an immediate, positive response from the crappie population, which is one of the most popular and sought after fish in Georgia. Availability in great numbers, a readiness to feed and excellent table quality are the reasons for this popularity. In fact, the crappie is probably one of the easiest fish to understand and catch. Nevertheless, additional knowledge of the crappie’s movements and habits assure an angler full stringers of these tasty members of the sunfish family.
Major movement of crappies up into the rivers or feeder creeks of any reservoir begins when the water temperature rises above 50 degrees. During most of the spring, crappies will congregate in underwater brush, blown-down trees, aquatic plant growths or irregular rock formations along channel breaks near the mouths of feeder creeks or long coves off of the main river channels. The best coves or creeks are those that contain plenty of brush or trees and have running water or perceptible current flow.
Crappie schools can often be located by drifting, trolling, or casting with tiny jigs or minnows. This can be accomplished with small live shiners on a #2 Aberdeen hook with a split-shot about 12 inches above the hook and a medium sized bobber on the line 3 to 5 feet from the hook. Sometimes the plain hook can be replaced with either a white or yellow 1/8th ounce maribou hair jig with a small shiner hooked through the lips on the jig hook. The drifting, trolling, or retrieve speed with this outfit must be very slow to be effective.
When a school is located by any of these methods, mark the spot with a buoy, then pick up a light to ultra-light spinning or spincast rod and reel. Since crappies prefer slow-moving baits and a fast fall sometimes spooks them, lower a jig or minnow slowly. If the crappies or the structure being fished can be seen on a sonar unit, put the bait right into the middle of the school or top of the structure and let it sit motionless. If a bite isn't felt in 15 seconds, move the offering horizontally with an extremely slow, steady sweep of the rod. Once the sweep is started, don't stop or the jig will lose its appeal. At the end of the sweep, begin raising the rod and increase the speed slightly to make it look like a baitfish sneaking away. If the cover is thick, eliminate the horizontal movement and just move the jig slowly up and down.
Another tactic is to vertically fish from a boat with a medium-light graphite spinning rod of six or more feet. Rig it with 4-pound line and a small minnow or shad hooked to a jig or plain hook. Lower the bait to the appropriate depth as indicated by the sonar unit. Hold the line or rod in ungloved fingertips, so that the crappie’s light tap can be felt. If the strikes are too soft to detect easily, watch the rod-tip and line, or use a sensitive slip float. When using multiple baits, some anglers have great success with a pair of minnows fished 18 inches apart.
Weather can have a big impact on crappies. If an extended period of colder-than-normal weather is experienced, the best fishing will occur later than usual. The ideal conditions for catching crappies is the day right before a cold front arrives, or the period of stable weather a few days after a front blows through. Breezy days also tend to out-produce calm ones because the chop becomes a good camouflage for the boat and the fisherman. Likewise, late afternoons, when springtime waters are the warmest, usually out-produce early-morning hours.
This weekend’s more stable weather should see plenty of crappies on the move, especially in the creeks and upper reaches of most area lakes. Grab the old pole, uncover the boat, and head to the lake for the great early-season action that should accompany this first spring-like period!
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 |
FishingLanier
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 9:05 am: | |
Subject: Lanier Fishing Report 2-23-01
LAKE LANIER FISHING REPORT
by Bill Vanderford
Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have finally reached into the 50’s, and all of the fish are going wild. Less water release at the dam and recent rains have raised the lake level to less than 14 feet below normal pool.
The warmer weather is having a very positive effect on fish activity. As I predicted, spring fishing is already showing that it may be the best we have had in years!
Though I’ve caught quite a few stripers on the south end of the lake lately, most of the striped bass activity is being seen from Brown’s Bridge to just above Clarks Bridge. Flat-lined live baits are probably the best bet unless surface feeding is seen. Cast 1/4 ounce Swirleybird Spinners, 1/2 ounce Roadrunners with a 3-inch white grub as a trailer, or 1/8th ounce weighted fluke-type lures into these visibly feeding fish for best results.
Black bass, white bass, crappie, and smaller striped bass are inhaling 1/8th ounce Swirleybirds or 1/8th ounce leadhead jigs dressed with Ranger 3-inch curlytailed grubs along most shorelines above Browns Bridge. The ideal depth seems to be 5 to 10 feet.
The walleye population has finally started their annual spawning migration into the shoals of the upper Chattahoochee River. Even a few white bass have already been caught up near Lula in the upper “Hooch”, and more are on the way. I even caught a few largemouth, spotted, and shoal bass above Lula in the Chattahoochee recently. It is going to be a fantastic spring fishing season!
Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is great for both rainbow and browns. The new “Chattahoochee Special” spinner is proving to be THE lure for trout all over the river this year. They are available by sending $5.00 to FISHING LURE, PO BOX 1222, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
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
|
|
