Lake Lanier Winter Stripers, Freshwater Fishing Report

Striper fishing continues to be tough. The threadfin winter kill is in full force. The stripers are inactive due to the cold temperatures. They are not eating much and when they do there is plenty of dying threadfins to be had with very little effort. The fish have been holding tight to brush over a 30 -40 ft. bottom. Your best bet is to troll points and humps with 4 arm umbrella rigs loaded with 1 oz. bucktails and white 4 inch shad bodies pulled 100 -120 feet back while searching for fish. Because the fish are so inactive if you find them you may have to put your rigs right on them to get them to bite. Once you find fish you can also put down lines out and work them slow in and out of the brush. Because the stripers are feeding on small threadfins, small minnows and threadfin shad will outperform the herring and trout. We have been rescheduling most of our trips in hopes of warmer temperatures. As the temperature warms the backs of the creeks and shallow flats will heat up first and draw bait which will improve the striper fishing. Until them your best bet is Flat, Balus and Mud creeks with umbrella rigs.

About the Author:

Captain's Bio: Capt. Mike fishes the lakes & river of North GA & Eastern and Middle TN. Mike was introduced to striper fishing by his grandfather when he was growing up on the Jersey coast in the 1970's. Work brought him to the ATL area in early 80's and when he found out there were stripers in the area lakes he was hooked all over again. It wasn't long before Mike moved to near Lake Lanier and purchased a boat and started striper fishing. He proceed to do very well in regional striper tournaments and decided to share his passion for striper with others. He and fellow North GA striper club member Capt. Ken joined forces and started "BIG FISH ON" Trophy Striper Guides in 2005.