January 1, 2009
LAKE
LANIER IS
DOWN 18.2 FEET, AND LAKE IS STAINED AND THE CREEKS AND THE RIVERS
ARE STAINED & 52
DEGREES.
SPECIAL NOTICE: BE VERY CAREFUL RUNNING LAKE LANIER AS WATER LEVELS
FALL. THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT HAVE TREE TRUNKS, STUMPS AND ROCKS
JUST BELOW THE WATER LEVEL.
Spotted
bass are on the docks in the creeks especially mid lake. These fish
are very fat as they have been gorging on tiny shad. The fish
we can see the spots under the docks and in the brush piles with
the Aqua Vu cameras. Without an Aqua Vu, we would never see these
fish because they are up under the docks away from any depth
finder beam. And many times the fish are right under the boat
and the sonar will not pick them up if they are dead on the bottom.
The fish seem to be waiting for a warm up to try and move shallow.
Use the small spoons, small jigs and small worms. Also try the
small 2 inch Bass Pro Shop Squirt jigs on a 1/32 plain lead head.
Use greens and shad colors. Add some Jacks Juice to the bag of
baits. The ends of long points right at the creek mouths have
some big spots feeding but they are very scattered. Fish as many
points as possible and try this tactic. Cast a ½ ounce
white Flex- It spoon on 14 pound Sufix Elite line and a heavy bait
casting rod and reel. Change the hooks to wire hooks so you can
saver the spoon from debris. Cast the spoon and swim it back just
off the bottom. The wobbling action will attract strikes from spots
and stripers. Make very long casts and work many points. Road beds,
humps and deep ledges were not holding as many fish as the points
and docks. We found fish on and inside larger docks in the clear
water at 16 to 30 feet deep. There were no fish in the docks in
the backs of the creeks if the water was dirty. It’s still
very cold down deep and it looks like it may be another ten days
before any warm up.
Striper fishing
has been fair one day and slow the next and the weather has not
been good. Spend the day fishing main lake points and the half
way towards the backs of the major creeks. Use free lined blue
back herring, trout or large minnows. These fish will be off
the long points and shallow gradually sloping banks. As the sun
hits the water move out deeper and down line the same baits.
The fish are ranging from 20 to 28 feet deep. Concentrate on
the fish you mark in the 18 to 24 foot range as they have been
more active. Keep one live bait on a free line or balloon just
in case. If there is sufficient cloud cover fish shallow first,
even in the middle of the day. Both Hammond's Fishing Center
and The Dam Store have some great live bait’s to choose
from. Spoons are also taking some stripers while anglers are
bass fishing.
The 2009
Atlanta Boat Show hits the Georgia World Congress Center January 14 to
18, 2009. Meet Ken Sturdivant, Mack Farr, Doug Youngblood, Bill
Carson, Mike Maddalena, Mark Collins, Greg Morgan, Henry Cowan,
Tony Narcisse, Ed Chamberlain, Tom Frink, Travis McDermott, Rene
Hess, Glenn Chappelear, Chris Scalley, Gary Laden, Butch Mingone,
Brian Cox, Captain Marty Allagood, Eric Cook, Ed Cavender and
more. This is the best lineup we have ever had at the Atlanta
Boat Show. Meet and talk fishing with many area guides and outfitters
at the “Let’s
Go Fishing” Center. See www.atlantaboatshow.com for details.
Marine
Specialty in Riverdale, Georgia has been a Motor Guide
repair Center for many years. Owner Denny Smith recently announced
they are now a Factory Authorized Minn Kota Repair Center. Call
them at 770 to 996 to 9014 for service or questions.
Guides
and Outfitters Weekend at Bass Pro Shops “Outdoor
World” Lawrenceville Georgia. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 10am-4pm,
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 Noon-4pm, Learn from the experts. Visit with
area guides and outfitters as well as other area organizations
about planning and booking your next fishing or spring hunting
trip. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Burnt Pine Plantation,
Brush Creek Plantation and others will be on hand.
Seminars:
Saturday, Feb. 7, 9:00am- Beginning Archery- Robin Hood,
10:00am, Lake Oconee Fishing- Harold Cape, 11:00am- Fishing for
Lanier Spots- Ryan Coleman, Noon, Fishing for success on Burton-
Wayne Holland, 1:00pm- Spring Crappie Fishing on Lanier, Doug Youngblood
2:00pm- U-rig tactics- Captain Mack Farr, 3:00pm- Sonar/GPS 101,
Ken Sturdivant, 4:00pm- Spring Live bait- Mike Maddalena, 5:00pm-
Pattern Stripers on Lanier, Jerry Hester,
Sunday, Feb.
8, 11:00am-Fishing the Georgia Coast- Wendell Harper, Noon, Spawning
Spots on Lanier, Ryan Coleman, 1:00pm- Rigging for Stripers,
Doug Kalish, 2:00pm, Crappie Fishing on Lanier, Doug Youngblood.
And free hands on classes for the kids. Saturday & Sunday,
Feb. 7 & 8, 12pm, Identifying Species of Fish, 2pm - Learn
How to Cast, Prizes for all kids participating! Plus! Enter drawings
for kids and adults.
Ken Sturdivant,
Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE!
Sonar Seminars at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville
Georgia. Here
are 2009 Sonar Seminar dates: January 31, February 28, March
28, April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25 and all seminars start
at 2pm. “All
seminars are subject to change without notice”
If
you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send
me an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net and
ask for the “Sonar Setup Quick List”.
Our
new DVD, “FINDING FISH WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY” is
now on sale! You can see a FREE! Sample on www.havefunfishing.com
We have these
BASS FISHING books for sale: “BASS FISHING
LAKE ALLATOONA” “BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE”, “BASS
FISHING LAKE RUSSELL”, “BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE” and “BASS
FISHING LAKE HARTWELL”. These books are written exclusively
for bass and each book covers every week of the year. Each book
$39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail
to kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is: Southern
Fishing Schools Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
We have 3 books
that cover ALL SPECIES in these lakes, “52
WEEKS ON LAKE ALLATOONA, “52 WEEKS ON LAKE LANIER”,
and “52 WEEKS ON WEST POINT LAKE” on sale. Each book
is $23.95. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
Take a look at www.aquavu.com.
You really need a camera. Call us to set up a school "Rods,
Reels and Lures for Bass". See our web site, www.havefunfishing.com for more details or call us right away, 770-889-2654.
Copyright
2009, Southern Fishing Schools Inc.770-889-2654.
