Basic Summer Fishing On Lake Lanier

When fishing Lake Lanier during the hot summer months, there is one thing to focus on: BRUSH. After the spawn, the spots move from their spawning areas to points and on to deeper brush on offshore structure. One technique beats all others, and that is the drop shot rig. Drop shotting plastics such as the Wackem Big Sissy is a deadly way to catch a BUNCH of fish on Lanier as well as many other lakes. Popular colors are Cotton Candy, LJ's Passion, LJ's Obsession, Passionfruit, and Amarillo Sky. Also, a Wackem Lil Mad Minnow is killer in all previous mentioned colors as well as Blue Oyster/Ice, Red Oyster/Ice, Green Oyster/Ice, Glimmer Shad, and any other shad imitating or fruity color. I always use Kick N Bass Fish Attractants with my plastics and on the Sissys I use garlic and with the Mad Minnows I use Anise Shad flavor KNB. I vertically fish the rig in brush in 15-35 feet of water on offshore structure such as points, humps, and ledges, ditches, and channels. Just constantly "tack the nail" to work it. Another hot technique, generally a "big fish bait", is a Sworming Hornet Fish Head
Spin as well as a Sworming Hornet Dude. I use a Wackem Spin Swimmer or Lil Mad Minnow in a shad color soaked in Kick N Bass Anise Shad. I fish the rig in the same brush as the DS but cast to it and steady retrieve it with a few eratic jerks and short pauses. Also fishing a deep diving crankbait in a shad color works well in the brush. I use Anise Shad on the cranks because they love the scent and getting the bait slimy helps it bounce off the structure. Fishing a topwater/swimbait works great in the early Summer. My favorites are a LC Gunfish, One Knocker Spook, Repo Man, Farley, BBZ 1 Jr, and the 6'' Bull Shad. Any shad/herring color will be fine but lots of people get their baits custom painted by Daniel Truitt, who does some fantastic custom colors. Other baits to keep in mind are: a shakey head with a Wackem Stinger Tail/ Pointy Tail in Green Pumpkin, and a 3/8 oz PB&J Arky Jig with a double tail grub trailer or even a Wackem Tater Bug in colors that match the jig. Lanier Mapped is also a key to have when fishing Lanier. It provides you with waypoints, clips, and pictures of brush on Lake Lanier. Check them out at laniermapped.com. For extra help on Lake Lanier fishing visit: www.jimboonlanier.com or www.lanierbaits.com

-I wrote a version of this article for www.thebasscollege.com.