Lake Lanier Fishing Report – April 5, 2025
- Water Level: Lanier currently sits at 0.37ft ABOVE full pool.
- Water Temperature: Water temps are varying a good bit right now and can range from upper 50s to upper 60s depending on location and what graph an angler is looking at.
- Water clarity: The high pollen counts last week are wrecking water clarity in some places. Not only is it floating on the surface, but in many places is is settling into and mixing in with the water decreasing visibility. In areas that have some how escaped the pollen, water clarity is typical for this time of year; clear with increasing stain in the backs of the major creeks and up the rivers.
Spring is officially here, and there is no shortage of bass who are pulling up to spawn. There is a wave of spots that have pulled up and are making beds, some have already paired up and are doing their thing. Others are just pulling up while there are still a lot of larger females that are staging out in 20ft of water getting ready to pull up shallow.
What does this mean for anglers? There is no shortage of techniques that can produce on any given day. Anglers can fish their strengths/ comfort zone and expect a decent level of success.
Soft plastics have produced the majority of fish this week. One of the most productive techniques has been the Neko rig. Several styles have been productive including the original Senko, Trixster Tamale, Berkley Mag Hit worm, Berkley General, and even the ole finesse worm. In other words, anglers can choose their favorite style straight tail soft plastic in their favorite spring color and go fish.
What is important is to cover water while keeping the bait in the highest percentage areas. If the bait is not in a high percentage area, reel it up and make another cast. This is not the time of year where anglers need to drag a worm the entire length of the cast back to the boat. While that is still effective, it is not the most efficient IMO.
My presentation is as follows: Make a cast to high percentage area, let bait sink to bottom with the bail open, shake bait for a few seconds, move bait a foot or two, shake a few seconds, reel in, and make another cast.
I place the O-ring around the “egg sack” area of the worm, insert the nail weight into the nose trying to push it past the edge of the plastic. For hook placement, I insert the hook slightly into the plastic on the weighted side of the O-ring and exit on the unweighted side of the O-ring.
My equipment is below:
- Rod: St Croix Legend series rod (Tournament, X or Extreme) 6’8” MXF. This is the same rod I throw my finesse swimbaits with in the winter.
- Reel: A 2500 or 3000 series Shimano Stradic. The 3K may have a slight advantage over the 2500 due to a slightly faster gear ratio.
- Line: CAST X12 in 12 or 20lb with a 7 or 8lb Sunline Sniper Florocarbon leader. As to what pound test braid, the 12 is best for anglers who DO NOT “send it home and swing for the fence” on the hook set. If that is you, go with the 20.
- Hook: Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger (#374211) 1/0 for most worms, 1 for smaller diameter worms.
- Weight: 1/16oz tungsten nail weight
- O-Ring
The daily videos I publish offer up to date current information on what I’m doing on the water. Essentially, subscribers have access to all of the information that I used to give to my closest buddies when they would call. If I feel the information is key to catching fish, I cover it. All subscribers have access to all historical videos (425+ previous videos). You can sign up and view videos at https://jeffnail.uscreen.io. There is also a folder of “free” videos that are accessible to anyone at any time free of charge.
For the remainder of April, I have the 13, 15-19, 23, 25-30. If you are interested in a trip, please reach out and I will get you on the calendar.
Jeff
770-715-9933
