Lake Lanier's clear water requires light terminal tackle and fresh, quailty live bait.

Report Date: July 5, 2008

Water Temperature: 82
Water Clarity: 4 feet or greater

Shane Watson Guide Service Report. I've had our boats out everyday on trips since our last report and nothing has changed. The striper fishing remains good. Downlined bluebacks fished 30-60 feet deep over a 70-80 foot bottom in the middle of southend and mid-lake creeks and in deeper bays just off the main lake are working best. There are a wide range of sizes being caught right now depending on where you fish. The further up the lake you go, the smaller they are for the most part. Downsouth and mid-lake, the average size fish is much better. The leadcore bite is fair and will improve in the coming weeks. We've had many people call and e-mail saying they are getting window shopped really bad at times and can't get the fish to bite when they get on them. This happens to everyone at times, but there are things that will help. Use a 5 or 6 foot piece of 12 pound Seaguar Flourocarbon leader, an Eagle Claw #1 Red Kahle hook or a #1 Red Octopus hook in your favorite brand. Use 15 pound clear or pink Ande Mono on your main line. Make sure your bait is decent size and of good quality. Bait that is weak, bad looking, and small will cause the fish to window shop and not bite just as bad as having the wrong terminal tackle. Make sure you are fishing deep enough. Change your bait frequently when getting shopped. Letting your bait all the way down and wind it up though the school will often fire them up. Also, crank your big motor and let it run, this sometimes will cause them to bite. Sometimes, the stripers are on the move and will pass under your boat and you can't get a bite. There is nothing you can do in that situation. Keep moving and try to find some more that will feed. We apprecicate everyone's questions, maybe some of this info will help. The bait at the store has been really good lately and is perfect size for downlining. This report is brought you by Shane Watson Guide Service and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

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