by Ryan Coleman
Lake Lanier is still about 5-6 inches over full pool and holding. I’ve lost hope of it dropping below the full pool mark this year. The surface temps are holding in the mid to low 70’s but should drop as we are forecasted to get some cold nights over the next week. That’s a good thing
The fish have been roaming all over the south end over the past few weeks. We have been having some great catches on all types of moving baits as well as jigs. I have been working Swimbaits like a Sebile Magic Swimmer or 5″ Bull Herring over humps with brush on windy days along with topwater baits like a Vixen or Chug bug. This is a run and gun pattern that is pretty consistent on Lanier in the fall. It’s just a continuation of the summer bite really. Run brush piles on humps and points keeping your boat out off the structure and drawing the fish up to the top. Make sure not to get too close by making long casts.
I have also had a unreal jig bite out there for the past few months. As the fall rolls in here the next few weeks, look for that bite to really get stronger and stronger. I have been pretty consistent with my 3/8oz SpotSticker hand-tied casting jig in either PB&J, Green Craw or Dark Smoke. These silicone colors have been money for me through the late summer and early fall. As the water cools, look for the fish to prefer the Living Rubber colors like Brown/Olive, Grasshopper and Brown/Orange. These are staple colors for us in the fall and winter here on Lanier. I have been tipping my jigs with a Yamamoto 5″twin tail in Cinnamon/Black flake and Green pumpkin. This casting jig is perfect for Lanier’s deep timber and brush…
In the mornings, we have been having some great success on a diving crankbait up shallow on main lake points. This is a bite that always comes in during this time of year especially when the water levels are high. There will be some big fish up shallow and will eat the crankbait pretty well. I’m just cranking it slow on points rigging it on 10 pound fluorocarbon line. I am using a 10 or 15 foot deep diving crankbait in a ghost color. Good luck to everyone out there and War Eagle.
FORECAST BY: Ryan Coleman
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