Lake Lanier News Updates

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (03-17-10). The stripers have been on fire the last couple of days. Our boats have caught stripers up to 30 pounds this week on Spro McStick Jerk Baits in spooky shad pattern and on freelined bluebacks.

Fish points in the middle to the rear of just about any creek. The north and southend are equal right now.

The water temps that I saw today were 50-53 degrees.

The store is getting in a shipment of the spooky shad McSticks in the morning.

This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (03-09-10).

Since my last report, the surface temps have begun to rise on Lake Lanier and the bigger stripers are moving up shallow. We have been catching 15-25 pound stripers, up in 5 to 10 feet of water on big freelined bluebacks and on jigs.

We have also hooked a couple of really big fish this week for our customers, one we never stopped and one that pulled out about 150 yards of line, got up under a dock and we could not get it out of a Christmas tree. I could see this fish well and it was at least 40 pounds. We tried to pull up the tree and get the fish, but it broke off and swam away. It always amazes me how far a 40 pound plus fish can run.

There are fish in the rear of most creeks with stained water and up both rivers. Over the next 6 weeks or so, more and more big stripers will be moving up shallow.

This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

The stripers have been up boiling on the surface most every morning since my last report.

We've caught all of our fish on freelined medium shiners, white Fat Albert grubs on a leadhead, and on white bucktails with a white hyper striper tail. These fish have been boiling on the surface and sub-surface about a foot under the water. Sometimes you will see a big visible swirl, sometimes it will be a slight boil as the fish are not always making it to the top. They are feeding on small shad, that are trying to come to the surface before dieing.

Slick calm pockets in the middle to the rear of creeks are where we are seeing most of these fish. The seagulls are more of a distraction right now than anything else, as they are picking up random shad kill. You will see them everywhere picking up single baits and flying on. You want to see them pounding the water, hovering, and staying in a tight group.

This is when they have fish under them. Most of the single boiling fish that we are catching have no birds with them. The store got in a big load of medium shiners this morning and they also have all the jigs and white grubs that you will need for casting.

This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Starboard Cove Marina has announced that the marina name has been changed to Hideaway Bay Marina

The Hideaway Bay Marina name was chosen to emphasize the marina's unique sheltered cove location which provides Lake Lanier's best protection from aggravating boat wakes and damaging storms. The marina is adjacent to Flowery Branch, Georgia between McEver Road and the Buford Highway, US 23. Marina Manager, Captain Michael Duling said:

"With all the major improvements happening at the marina, it was felt that it was high time the marina had a new name to reflect all the positive new changes taking place here. Our name has changed, but our intense customer service ethic and our unwavering commitment to providing good boating value definitely has not."

Mr. Duling went to say:

"Hideaway Bay Marina has seen big changes in the last year. The cove was drained and a coffer dam built. The bottom was then dredged deep enough to allow the marina to operate during low water and droughts as serious as any in Lanier’s history, including the most recent. New, shorter walkways were installed. The grounds, shoreline, and dock parking lots were completely rebuilt or renovated. A new bathhouse / restroom facility is under construction and will be completed this winter."

The corporate name has been changed to Hideaway Bay Marina, Inc. The new website is: HideawayBayMarina.com. The marina staff remains the same.

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (02-17-10).

Dwayne and I spent most of the last week in Miami for my boat sponsor Carolina Skiff - Sea Chaser.

The weather was warm and the boat show was crowded. It was nice once again, to see warm weather and a thriving economy.

While we were gone, I had boats out on guide trips and they said everything was about the same. Freelined medium shiners, shad body u-rigs, and casting bucktails are your best producers.

There are stripers in the backs to the middle of most creeks and in the backs of pockets. Look for the birds diving and keep moving. The north and south end are about equal right now.

This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Seasons on Lake Lanier, a large but incomplete active adult community on Lake Lanier has been purchased out of bankruptcy. The buyer was the Kolter Group, LLC a private investment firm based out of West Palm Beach, Fla.

The group's press releases says that they plan initially to focus on selling the existing inventory of homes.

The original developer Levitt and Sons, LLC went bankrupt in 2007 leaving a large stock of unfinished homes.. There are 14 fully furnished model homes, 45 complete or partially complete homes, 169 developed lots, 147 partially developed lots and 290 approved-but-raw lots. There are also 30 boat slips on Lake Lanier.

"The Kolter Group looks forward to working with the existing residents and the City of Gainesville to complete the vision for this stunning lakeside community," said Rick Covell, Sr. Vice President of The Kolter Group.

American Bass Anglers has chosen Lake Lanier as the first stop on their 2010 BBQ Tour. The tour arrives on Lake Lanier for March 12 and 13.

The BBQ Tour will be held in conjunction with Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series tournaments at 5 locations in the southern US in 2010. These special events are designed to attract community involvement by challenging both professional and backyard (amateur) barbeque enthusiast to test their cooking skills at these events for cash and prizes. Jennifer Miller, Sales Manager, Lake Lanier Convention & Visitors Bureau said:

“We are so excited to kick off the ABA series at Lake Lanier. Our facilities at Laurel Park not only provide a brand new mega ramp for launching the fishing tournament but also enough space to host the cook-off, a battle of the bands and so much more. This partnership with ABA is helping create a huge family friendly event for the lake".

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (01-29-10).

Since my last report, we’ve had some great jig fishing at times. We’ve also had some great freelining when the fish have been active and up in the water column. These patterns have worked best early morning and late afternoon before the passing of a cold front. After a front passes or if the fish are down, shad body umbrella rigs are your best bet.

There a lot of birds mid-lake and south, some on the main lake and some in the creeks. Keep moving until you find some active fish or active seagulls with and without loons for better numbers. If you can’t find any active fish or birds, pull your freelines around the bank and cast a white leadhead fluke or a white 3/8 or 1/2 oz bucktail, to as many points, banks, and boat docks as you can. Don’t be afraid to cast up into a foot or two of water. There are some big, loner stripers to be caught on a jig right now that are up cruising the bank. Use a white fluke trailer, a white hyper striper tail, or a white Fat Albert grub on your bucktail for best results.

Most of the time, you won’t see these big fish rolling, you want even know they are there until they slam your jig. This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond’s Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Lake Lanier has long had a Polar Bear Swim on January 1st to raise money for the Canoe and Kayak Club. Now Special Olympics Georgia is attempting to launch a similar annual event a few weeks later.

They call their event the "Polar Plunge" and the concept is the same ... jump into Lake Lanier's freezing waters. This year's date is February 20th and it will be held at the Lake Lanier Islands.

What is the Polar Plunge?

In a nutshell, participants collect pledges from friends and family in exchange for the opportunity to jump into icy waters in the middle of winter.  All proceeds collected by “plungers” will benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia.

Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including oldest plunger, youngest plunger, best “group” plunge, best costume, and many more.  For those who are not lovers of the Polar Bear habitat, we will have areas to keep you warm – such as heated areas, warm concessions, and fun souvenirs.

What it takes to be a “Plunger”

Anyone with a little guts and a warm heart wanting to support the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia is welcome to participate.  Other states sees plungers in varying ages, mayors, law enforcement officers, news anchors, sports figures, corporate teams, civic organizations, mothers, high school clubs, college organizations, and everyone else in between!  Of course there is always room for more hesitant souls who just wish to be spectators!

Click here to find out more about the Polar Plunge.