Lake Lanier Fishing Report – Week of August 22

 

Bass (Spotted & Largemouth):

The bass bite is picking up with cooler mornings. Spotted bass are pushing shallow early on points and humps. Topwaters like Whopper Ploppers, Spooks, Chug Bugs, and Gunfish are producing at first light, especially on windy banks. Once the surface bite slows, switch to finesse tactics drop shot rigs with morning dawn or sweet rosy worms, shaky heads, or Texas-rigged trick worms. Deeper fish are holding on humps and long points in 25–35 feet, so electronics help find them.

 

Stripers & Hybrids:

Stripers are holding in the mid-to-lower lake zones, from mid-lake down to the dam. Downlines with live blueback herring are the go-to, but keep your leaders long and light to keep the bait lively. Swap bait often every few minutes in this heat. Trolling umbrella rigs or bucktails on lead core also works, especially with white or chartreuse trailers. Keep moving and use electronics because these fish are on the move and suspended near structure or creek channels.

 

Crappie:

Crappie are holding on standing timber, brush, and under shaded docks in 20–35 feet of water. Minnows or 1.5-inch green/chartreuse or white/chartreuse jigs are the best bet. Fish them deep early in the morning before the bite fades with the heat.

 

Fishing Tips:

 

• Start early topwater bite fades fast once the sun is up.

• Stay mobile for stripers cover water until you locate schools.

• Keep live bait fresh swap often to maximize bites.

• Use electronics to stay on fish, especially for stripers and deep bass.

• Crappie bite best before mid-morning; focus on docks and brush while it’s still cool.

• Handle stripers quickly in hot weather to keep them alive if you’re releasing.

 

 

Preferred Baits:

 

• Bass: Whopper Plopper, Spook, Chug Bug, Gunfish, drop shot rigs, shaky heads (morning dawn, sweet rosy, blue lily), Texas-rigged trick worms.

• Stripers/Hybrids: Live blueback herring (downline), umbrella rigs, bucktail jigs, lead-core trolling rigs.

• Crappie: Minnows, 1.5-inch green/chartreuse or white/chartreuse jigs fished deep.