Lake level is 1071.73 (.73 above full) and water temps are 71-73 degrees, and water clarity varies from clear on main lake to stained farther north in the river systems and the backs of the creeks. The striped bass spawn is winding down and the fish are moving back south out of the river systems and the backs of the main free flowing creeks on the south end of the lake. May will be the time to catch these fish on rocky points, humps, and sandy blow thru areas that the herring and shad will be spawning on thru the month. Towards the end of May the bait will be pulling off these areas and pushing into coves along the main lake and even half way back in most of the major creeks. During the spawn time, flat lines and Capt Mack’s Perfect Planer boards will be the ticket pulled over the areas that you see shad or herring spawning around. The shad and herring will also spawn on vertical surfaces like bluff walls, bridge pilings, and marina break waters and dock walls. Run your flat lines out the back of the boat between 50-100 feet and your planer board lines between 50-100 feet behind the boards that are 40-60 feet away from the boat. Pull this setup at .9- 1.2 mph with your Minn Kota Instinct trolling motor around any of these areas that you are seeing spawn activity. Best bets on bait this time of year are herring or small to medium size shad. On the north end of the lake you should be able to find fish on these areas in Wahoo, Little River, Gainesville, and Ada on the Chattahoochee side and Thompson, Taylor, and Latham on the Chestatee side. Down south, the fish will be on secondary points in Bald Ridge, Young Deer, Two Mile, and Big Creek. The top water bite will also crank up this month, so make sure you have a Chug Bug, Zara Spook, or Redfin tied on to throw up to these spots as you drag your baits over them. As the month moves along and the water temperatures get into the high 70s and low 80s the cove bite will pick up. This will be the time to start relying on your Humminbird Explore or Apex to find groups of fish in 35-65 feet of water right in the middle of the drainages that make up the cove. Once your mark a few fish, drop your down line herring to the depth that you are marking the groups at and hang on. Down lines consist of a 1.5-2 ounce weight attached to your main line and then 3-5 feet of Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and a Gamakatsu #2-1\0 circle hook depending on the herring size. May is a great month to fish Lanier!
Extraordinary outcomes start with ordinary obedience. We don’t have a specific timeline, but in just 5 chapters in the Bible God goes from creating man in his image and being pleased (Gen 1:31) to regretting making man (Gen 6:6). With one act of obedience, Noah builds a huge boat as he is asked and (with God’s grace) saves humanity. In the entire story of Noah he says nothing. His actions speak louder than any words he could say. Through every flood in our lives, God is faithful and always remembers us. However sin got off that boat as well and so God needed to save humanity (again thru grace) by sending his son Jesus to live, die, and come back to life. With one act of obedience, by having faith that he died for your sins, you will also see extraordinary outcomes in your life.
Get out there and catch them up!
Call us at 678-300-4865 to book your Striper Experience!