Lake Lanier is down 6.22 feet, the creeks are slightly stained and the main lake is clear and 51 degrees.

Black bass fishing is slow. There are a few fish biting spoons and jigs but there is no consistent bite with the water so cold. Pick a creek around marker 54 and work the points and the river bends with a 1/2 ounce Sidewinder spoon. Work the bait right on the bottom and hop it only a few inches at a time. This bait need to look like a dying shad so use shot lifts at depths of 15 to 30 feet deep. All black or all brown in the 3/8 ounce Stanley jig and be sure to use real pork trailers. The Uncle Josh #11 is the all time cold-water favorite. In the coves up lake with any wood, run a #5 Shad Rap in bright colors right through the middle and stop the bait as it strikes any structure. Be sure to use fresh line and drag the bait on, in and over and wood. Spoons are also good additions to the early spring tactics and work them in the same areas. The fish all over the lake can be expected to feed only on major feeding periods. Larger docks that are totally enclosed up the lake will warm the surrounding waters all day with the sunlight. Afternoons the water may warm some but only on the surface. Bump the deep wood and bump this bait off rocky points as well. Pitch and flip or even skip baits under these larger docks. Go the gangplanks around in the shallows later each day and make precise presentations and be quiet.

Spotted bass are slow for numbers but some big spots biting over deeper water. The fish seem to still be scattered and you may only get one or two fish off one spot. Start looking no shallower than the 30-foot range. It seems that you just have find the right hole and with this weather. It’s just a fish a spot and move on pattern. Stick with winter baits including spoons in a variety of colors and sizes and sand, natural blue and cinnamon worms and a green pig and jig or creepy crawlers. The cooler nights has lowered the water temperatures and really stirred up the monster spots this week. Drop shot rigs, the Fish Head Spin and then spoons will put some big fish in the boat. The big spots are feeding and fish deep on as many points as possible. Slow crank a 3/8 ounce. Fish Head Spin with a Zoom Super Fluke added to the bait and make sure it is straight on the hook. Just swim the bait slowly. Some shallow docks are fair and Spot Stickers and a green worm will work, just be very patient and let the bait just lay on the bottom. For drop shot rigs and spoons, nose into the wind and work both baits on the points until the area has been covered thoroughly. Any wood on the sides or close to the points needs a good dose of a jig in dark brown or black/blue. These bites will be subtle or in some cases these spots are slamming it hard.

Striper fishing is fair and there are fish at the dam and all the way up river and in Little Hall Park. These fish have been moving around all day in the rivers. The trolling bite is fair but down rods and live bait is best. Start the search pattern mid lake up, as the fish may not stack up well after this cold weather on the river channels. You will have to troll until you can find the stripers. Bait may be in the area but the stripers may not be. Fish way north on both rivers but avoid any stained water. Troll the one-ounce chipmunk jigs in white or white/Mylar w/chartreuse trailers. Troll these baits on mono 80 feet back on 20 pound test line and watch your Lowrance. Do not limit yourself to specific depth range. You will see fish as deep as 55 to 60 feet but they seem to be very picky about their food. Trolling that depth is not practical, but drop a jumbo shiner, a ¾ ounce spoon or a live herring to those fish and they will often take the bait. Troll until you locate fish and adjust your depth as needed based on what the sonar shows. You might as well troll because you will need to cover a lot of water. Many times if the fish are picky you can get some fish to bite by turning the trolling motor on high and jerk the baits for about 5 to 8 seconds. Often this will trigger a bite. We can assume that the fish thinks the herring is escaping when you yank him up and away. Concentrate your search for the fish over the river channel and in the mouth of any creek. The fish may move shallow on major feeding times but they will return to the deep water. Use a down rod, two-ounce sinkers and remember to take some shiners as well as some blues.  

The Shallow Water Fishing Expo is January 20 and 21, 2007 at the Gwinnett Civic Center.  

 Lake levels from http://lakes.southernco.com/

Take a look at http://www.pollymoon.com for a yearly moon phase calendar.

Lake Lanier Striper Survey: www.stripersurvey.com

You can see the feeding times daily with a Data Sport Fish and Game Forecaster on our web site.For more information visit www.havefunfishing.com