Late May Lanier Area Kayak Fishing Report

The fishing has been very good on Lanier and surrounding waters over the past few weeks!  Spring is one of the best times of the year to get out and enjoy fishing from a kayak.  Mild weather, less boat traffic and eager fish make for some enjoyable days on the water.  So, what are the fish eating?  Here is what has been working for Yakdawg and other LAKE anglers:

Bass:  The bite seems to be changing daily!  On the lake the shallow bite is starting to slow down but there are still some small buck spots close to the banks and under docks.  Largemouth, like the fish pictured below, are biting good up the lake on plastic worms around blow-downs and docks.  Down south there are some fish coming up, hopefully that will pick up soon.  It is hard to beat a Zara Spook or chugbug for these topwater spots!  The sebile magic swimmer and a fishhead spin are to lures that you should have ready to throw!  If you want a change of pace from the busy Lanier traffic, try some bass fishing on a smaller lake or pond.  There are plenty in the Atlanta area and the size of the bass you may catch will surprise you! In the smaller lakes I do well on finesse worms on a texas rig and shallow diving cranks or rattle traps. 
Stripers:  The striper fishing remains good on Lanier and will only improve!  Kayak anglers have been catching stripers on Free-lined and downlined bluebacks.  Over the next few weeks don't be afraid to have both downlines and freelines out as the fish move deeper in the water column.  I like to run both particularly in the morning then switch over to all downlines once the sun gets high overhead.  Target points and humps this time of year for good numbers of fish.  If you have yet to experience catching a striper from the kayak then you are in for a ride, or should I say a "sleigh ride!"

Panfish:  The bite for bluegill and other panfish is hard to beat right now!  Small lakes surrounding Lanier are great places to target these tasty fish.  I like to use small 1/80 oz micro jigs and 1/32 crappie jigs to target these fish on ultralight gear.  You will find beds in anywhere from on the bank to five or more feet deep off the banks.  Let your jig sink to the bottom then start a slow retrieve back to your kayak, often the bream will hit the jig on the fall.  The key to catching good numbers of fish is not spooking the beds, anchor your kayak well away from the shore and make long casts.  Live bait will also fill the yak with these panfish, try small worms or crickets.  Pound for pound these fish are hard fighters, below is a nice stringer full of bluegill taken on a nearby lake.  

Trout:  For a change of pace, head up to the north GA mountains for some great fishing!  Streams and rivers have been heavily stocked!  A quick limit of fish coupled with the amazing scenery make for a great relaxing day on the water.  Many presentations will work on these fish including corn, salmon eggs, and worms but my favorite lure is a small inline spinner (roostertail).  

If you are new or interested in the sport of kayak fishing make sure to stop by our forum at:  http://lanierkayakfishing.proboards.com/ For more fishing reports, info and fishing trips. 

Good luck on the water!