10-04-2001, 10:59 AM
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT<br>by Bill Vanderford<br>10-03-01 <br>This is going to be a fantastic fall fishing season! Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have finally dropped into the 70 ‘s, and the lake level is more than 10 feet below normal pool and falling. Lanier’s predator fish have responded to the cooler water, are already in a fall pattern, and are feeding like crazy!<br>Striped bass have already formed into feeding packs and are gorging heavily on schools of baitfish that are heading into the main tributaries all over the lake. These big linesided fish and their white bass cousins are being caught in good numbers with jigging spoons, 1/2 ounce Blakemore Road Runners, and 1/4 ounce Swirleybird spinners about 3/4 of the way back into any creek. 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 at 10 to 25 feet. The action is good all over the lake.<br>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 spinnerbaits, diving crankbaits, jig and pig, or Swirleybirds. Quite a few are still being caught on topwater lures or buzzbaits around points and underwater ridges near daylight and dark.<br>Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam remains very good for both rainbow and browns. Swirleybird spinners are the best lures for trout at this time, but some nice trout are still being taken on dry flies.<br><br><br>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 via his website at http://www.fishinglanier.com/.<br><br><br><br>Living to Fish and Fishing to Live<br>Bill Vanderford<br>www.fishinglanier.com<br>770-962-1241