Fishing Lake Lanier During Turnover: Topwater Bass and Striper Hotspots

As of November 21, 2024, Lake Lanier in Georgia is offering some excellent fishing opportunities despite the ongoing lake turnover. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water. ### Lake Conditions Lake Lanier is currently about 2.5 feet below the full pool level of 1071 feet, and the water temperature is around 69 degrees. The clarity varies, with the main lake being clear but the creeks and rivers showing some staining due to the turnover process. This turnover, where cooler water sinks and pushes deeper water to the surface, can make the water appear darker and sometimes produce foam and an odor. ### Weather and Time Sunrise today is at around 6:54 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:14 PM. The weather is expected to be mild, with temperatures in the 70s, making it a comfortable day for fishing. ### Fish Activity Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is fair to good. The topwater bite is still active, especially in windy areas with humps and long points. Look for surface activity scattered across the lake, and be prepared to move around to find the best spots. Lures like the Lip Thrasin Riser, Ima Skimmer, swimbaits, and Spot Chokers have been effective for the topwater bite. For deeper fishing, the dropshot around brush and ledges in the 25- to 35-foot range using a Lanier Baits Sweet Rosey or Blue Lily colored worm has been productive. The shakey head bite around docks and blow downs in the 15-foot range is also yielding results. Stripers are moving north to the upper creeks and rivers, seeking oxygen. Check ditches, humps, and feeder creeks where they intersect with the channel. Down lines, flat lines, and planer boards are effective, along with bluebacks, threads, and minnows. Dollar bill size gizzards can also provide some excitement. ### Best Lures and Bait For bass, topwater lures such as the Lip Thrasin Riser, Ima Skimmer, and swimbaits are working well. In sunny conditions, chrome-colored lures are preferred, while white or bone colors work better on cloudy days. For deeper fishing, use a dropshot with a Lanier Baits Sweet Rosey or Blue Lily colored worm, or a shakey head with a Zoom Trick worm in green patterns. For stripers, bluebacks, threads, and minnows are the go-to baits. Planer boards weighted and unweighted flat lines, along with topwater lures like Whopper Ploppers and Mcsticks, can be effective. ### Hot Spots - **Upper Creeks and Rivers**: These areas are good for stripers as they move north seeking oxygen. - **Humps and Long Points**: These spots are ideal for topwater bass fishing, especially in windy areas. - **Docks in the 15-foot Range**: These areas are producing fish with shakey head setups and around blow downs. Remember, the lake turnover can make fishing a bit more challenging, but the fish are still biting. So, gear up and enjoy your day on Lake Lanier This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.