The December Lake Lanier Striper Fishing Report has the lake level at 1067.24’ (3.76’ below full pool) with water temps in the 60-62 degree range. The main lake is clear with some light stain in the backs of the creeks. We are still seeing some remnants of turnover, but only in isolated areas. The birds are here (and even more will show up on the full moon on Dec 15) and will be lots of help in finding the stripers as they have spread out all over the lake in recent weeks. The Chestatee and Chattahoochee creeks like Johnson/Lathem, Thompson, Gainesville, and Little River, and southern creeks like Flowery Branch and Bald Ridge will all be holding fish in December. The stripers are really starting to key on small baits, so the go to artificials this month will be Striper Tackle Jigging Spoons and Pro Swim Bait heads rigged on a 2.8” Keitech swim bait. Both of these baits can be cast to surfacing schoolers or dropped and cast to fish that will be staging in drainages that are running to the main creek channels as well as those that are running to the main lake river channel. Early in the morning, and throughout the day on cloudy days, there will be quite a few shallow fish in 5-15’ of water on humps surrounded by deep water as well. Approach these areas that you have highlighted on your Humminbird graph using your Lakemaster map and fan cast from one side of the hump to the other with long casts and make a steady retrieve with the swim bait and get ready. The Striper Tackle Jigging Spoons in the ½ to 1 oz sizes will be best used on deeper schools of fish in 30-50’ of water on feeding flats off the creek channels, ends of secondary points, and especially on the ditches running to the creek channels inside the tree line (less than 45’ of water right now). After you mark large schools of bait in these areas you will find the stripers not far off. Drop your spoon vertically to these fish and using a sweeping motion to lift and flutter the spoons up and down thru the schools below. Lots of these bites will happen as the spoon is falling so make sure you’re paying attention and set that hook when your line stops moving. Both of these lures are very versatile and can be cast to surfacing fish with long casts and yo-yo’d back thru the school. Live bait options will be down lines in these same drainages or planer boards and flat lines with small herring, medium shiners, or small trout around the last groups of surfacing fish that will be showing up on the main lake. Don’t forget that the fish are keying on small bait, so try to “match the hatch”.
This is the season that gives us the birth of our Savior and we should all remember that this is the reason for Christmas. We also need to remember that the Holy Spirit is part of the trinity of our God and he is the person of God that lives in us and is the personal and intimate part of God that is within us all. He lives in us to lead us towards a righteous life that we cannot live without his leadership and guidance. Righteousness is doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time. It is impossible for us to live this way without the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we move into 2025!
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