By Capt. Ron Mullins – The Striper Experience
Quick Lake Report – April 2026
Lake level: 1066.04 (4.96 feet below full pool)
Water temps: Mid to high 60’s, right where it should be
Water clarity: light stain in the rivers, light stain in most creeks, and mostly clear on the main lake below GA 369, since we have had no rain.
April is one of the best months of the year for Lake Lanier striper fishing. Fish are moving shallow, spreading out, and feeding aggressively. The spring bite really starts to fire up this month, and this is when Capt. Mack’s Perfect Planer Boards and flat lines can absolutely shine. If you like covering water with live bait and having a shot at an early topwater bite, April is your month.
Where the Fish Are
Fish should be spread throughout both river arms and many of the major creeks this month, but they’ll still follow the same spring rules: bait, water temperature, and clarity.
Early April Pattern
At the first of the month, there will still be fish roaming over deeper water in the middle sections of creeks and river systems. These fish are often suspended and moving with bait as they transition into shallower spring areas.
As April Progresses
As water temps warm into the high 60s, fish will move shallower and begin setting up around:
- 15–30 foot points
- underwater humps
- flats near creek mouths
- secondary points throughout the lake
Best Areas to Look
There should be fish throughout both river arms, but some of the better places to look this month include:
Northern Creeks
- Thompson
- Taylor
- Wahoo
- Ada
- Gainesville
- Little River
Rainfall will continue to matter in April. Heavy runoff can stain the upper river systems and push fish around, while more stable water will let fish settle into those classic spring feeding areas faster.
Depth & Seasonal Movement
April is a transition month from suspended roaming fish to more aggressive shallow fish.
- Early month: fish may still be roaming over deeper water in creeks and river channels
- Mid to late month: fish should increasingly move into 15–30 foot water around structure
- Late month: expect more fish to position around points, humps, and shallow feeding zones
This is one of the reasons April can be so productive — you can often intercept fish as they move and feed instead of having to force a deep vertical bite.
What’s Working Best (April Bite)
Flat Lines & Perfect Planer Boards
This should be one of the strongest patterns all month.
Your best bait choices will be:
- Blueback herring
- Small shad
- Medium gizzard shad
Hook size matters more than most people realize this time of year.
- Herring: #2 or #1 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook
- Small shad: #1 or 1/0 circle hook
- Medium gizzards: 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook
Using a smaller hook will help your herring and small shad stay lively longer and swim more naturally.
Spread Setup
A solid April spread should include both planer boards and flat lines.
- Place your bait 50–100 feet behind the boat
- Clip on your Perfect Planer Board
- Run your first (outside) set about 60 feet from the boat
- Run your inside set about 30 feet from the boat
- Pull flat lines straight behind the boat 50–100 feet
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your lead lengths and even add a #3 split shot if needed to figure out where the fish want to eat that day.
Topwater Starting Up
April is also when we begin to see the start of the topwater striper bite on Lake Lanier.
As fish move shallow and start using points and humps more consistently, it’s a great time to keep a rod ready with:
- Zara Spook
- Chug Bug
- Gunfish
As you ease around these areas pulling your live bait spread behind the boat, you can make long casts from the front deck and often pick up a few extra fish on artificial.
It may not be a full-blown all-day topwater bite yet, but April is absolutely when that pattern begins to show itself.
Final Word
April is an awesome month on Lake Lanier. Fish are moving, feeding, and setting up in all the right spring places. Keep your spread mixed, pay attention to where fish are positioning, and don’t be afraid to adjust your lead lengths, bait size, or depth until they tell you what they want.
This is one of the best months of the year to catch stripers shallow, cover water, and enjoy some of the most exciting fishing of the spring.
Captains Note
We start this month off celebrating Easter Week. At the beginning of the week our Lord Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem as a hero or a celebrity with a parade and accolades. By the weekend, those same crowds are jeering him and demanding He be crucified. What an extreme change. Throughout this week, Jesus knows that He will willingly lay down His life for us and pay a price for us that we could never pay, but He continues on. His sacrifice gives us forgiveness, grace becomes available and hope comes alive. Remember His painful, horrible, humiliating death that ended that week was temporary. The start of the next week, He comes back to offer that salvation to us by just trusting in Him. Spring shows us that rebirth – get out there and enjoy God’s creation and catch em up!
Call us at 678-300-4865 or visit our booking page to book your Striper Experience!
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