What's Up, Dock?

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 09:50

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lifting its moratorium on new dock permits and setting up a lottery for 174 spots it is making available. Since it is unclear how many permit requests will be received, all applicants will have an equal opportunity to obtain a permit via the drawing. There will be a 90-day window for accepting permit requests July 15 to October 13. The drawing will be held on October 28.

After a two year freeze on new boat docks, Lake Lanier property owners can go to www.lakelaniersupl.com for forms and instructions for submitting requests. Requests will only be accepted by mail at Lake Lanier Permits, P.O. Box 9, Gonzalez, FL 32560.

One request will be accepted per property.

You can check to make sure your request has been received after July 15 at the above website. A list of received permit requests will be posted there and updates weekly.

Permit requests will be evaluated to determine site and eligibility requirements in the order the were drawn. The Shoreline Management Plan requirements are outlined at www.lakelaniersupl.com.

Woman Dies After Attempting to Rescue Boy in Lake Lanier

Tuesday, 07 July 2009 13:00

A 24-year-old woman from Stone Mountain died Monday morning at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center after trying to rescue a 6-year-old boy that had slipped off a float in Lake Lanier on Sunday afternoon.

Although the woman, Ngoc Minn Vo, was submerged for more than 12 minutes, she was resuscitated at the site and regained a pulse before being transported to the hospital.

The accident occurred near Van Pugh South Park in Hall County where the woman's family had been swimming. The boy was resuscitated and taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston for hyperbaric chamber treatment and should recover.

The Downline Striper Bite is on Fire

Friday, 19 June 2009 19:00

Shane Watson's Lake Lanier Fishing Report. (06-20-09). The downline striper bite is on fire on Lake Lanier. Downlined bluebacks fished 30-35 feet deep over a 60-80 foot bottom are working very well. We have had some 30-40 fish, catch and release mornings up north this week. These fish up north have been up to 12 pounds. Down south we have had many 15 to 20 fish mornings and these fish have been up to 20 pounds. We've hooked some much bigger ones for our clients on the southend this week, but have been unable to get them to the boat. We were completely spooled one morning on a big fish and had several others pull out 75 to a 100 yards of line and get in the trees. Overall, the striper fishing has been very good this week. This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing

The Lake Lanier Striper Bite Has Been Strong This Past Week

Tuesday, 09 June 2009 19:00

Shane Watson's Lake Lanier Fishing Report for Wednesday (06-10-09). The striper fishing has been very good the last 7 mornings. Downlined bluebacks fished 25-30 feet deep over a 35-40 foot bottom have produced well, for the first 3 hours daily. After 10 am, head out over the trees in the mouths of creeks and look for the fish down 30 to 40 feet deep. Quality, fresh bait, changed frequently is making all the difference right now. There are fish in the mouths to the middle of most creeks. The northend is good for numbers of smaller size stripers. Mid-lake and south are best for numbers of better size fish. Overall, the striper fishing has been very good this past week. This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Great Topwater Fishing Continues on Lake Lanier

Thursday, 04 June 2009 08:35

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (05-29-09).

The topwater bite continues to be great on Lake Lanier and this morning was no exception. The last 3 mornings they have bit the Bone colored and Shore Blue colored Super Spooks, and Bone Redfins very well. Fish as many main lake points and humps as you can. There will not be fish on every stop you make, but keep moving and you will hit them. Some points and humps, you might get 1 or 2 and the next stop you might get 8 or 10. This morning, both stripers and spots were blowing up on the Spooks strong. It is so great to see the look on peoples faces when a striper or a big spot eats a Spook. Bone Redfins have also worked well. Freelines will produce a few fish, downlines will work best after the sun gets overhead. Fish your downlines 20-25 feet deep over a 25-35 foot bottom, on and just of points. Overall, the topwater bite is as good as it gets.

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

Stripers and Spotted Bass on Top Down South, Deeper Up North.

Monday, 25 May 2009 14:25

Water Temperature: 70
Water Clarity: 4 feet or greater

Shane Watson Guide Service Report (05-23-09). We've had our boats out on trips everyday inspite of the 30 mph east wind. This low pressure system that has brought a week of strong east wind has finally moved away. While the winds were bad, we still had a good Redfin and freeline bite most days. Live bluebacks produced well, but we also caught and released many stripers and spots on the Bone Redfin. I stayed out in the wind all week on main lake points and humps. The wind was so bad, you had to pull your freelines with the big motor as your trolling motor was jumping out of the water 2 feet high. The best fishing all week was out in the rough water and wind. I went up the lake last weekend and found the stripers on a traditional early summer pattern of downlining bluebacks 25 feet deep over a 30 foot bottom on and just off points. Down south, you will see stripers busting on top at times and a freeline and Bone Redfin will be your best choices. If you don't see them on top down south, try to cast the Redfins and pull your freelines over as many points and humps as you can. Capt. Mack's 4 arm u-rigs, pulled 40 to 50 feet out, over a 15-20 ft bottom are also working well at mid-lake and further north. Overall, the striper fishing has been very good at times this week. On the other hand, at times this week they have been a little more finicky and would blow up on the live bait and Redfin well, but not eat the bait. The wind should be lower this week and we should see the fish busting on top well. This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing.

Don Carter Park Will be Lake Lanier's Second State Park

Thursday, 14 May 2009 08:43

Lake Lanier is on the way to having its second State Park. Governor Sonny Perdue has signed next year's budget. $18.6 billion will be spent and that includes $14 million for construction of Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier.

The park will be located on the north end of the lake. It will cover a 1000-acre tract on North Browning Bridge Road, off Clarks Bridge Road and north of the Olympic Canoe and Kayaking venue.

Stripers, Spots, Walleye, and a Rainbow Trout on Lake Lanier.

Monday, 11 May 2009 13:50

Report Date: May 8, 2009

Shane Watson's Lake Lanier Fishing Report 05-08-09. The fishing has been very good most days on Lake Lanier. Our boats have been out on trips everyday since my last report and many things have been working. We have caught stripers of all sizes, spots up to 7 pounds (all have been released), a 6 pound Walleye, and a 4 pound Rainbow Trout. Freelined bluebacks, Redfins, Chugbugs, Spooks, Sebile's, and Buckeye Wakeups are all working well. Try to fish as many points and shallow humps as you can and you will catch fish. You might catch a striper on one cast and a big spotted bass the next. The bigger stripers are still up shallow and freelines and the lures mentioned above will produce bigger stripers right now. We have also done well on 4-10 pound stripers on downline bluebacks fished 20 feet deep over a 30 foot bottom on and just off points. Some days the fish have been busting on top well and the topwater bite has been great. Somedays they have been a little deeper and downlines have worked better. Overall, the fishing has been good on Lake Lanier. Expect a mix of species when fishing up shallow right now. It is a great time of the year to take kids or people that are new to fishing, as the action is good. This report is brought to you by Shane Watson Guide Service www.lakelanierstripers.com and Hammond's Fishing Center. We Appreciate Everyone's Business. Good Fishing.

Heart of Sailing Offers Special Needs Children Adventures on Lake Lanier

Friday, 08 May 2009 12:53

George Saidah's life has taken him from a childhood in Beirut, Lebanon, via Paris, Indiana and assorted other places. He arrived in the U.S. around 25 years ago speaking almost no English but still managed to become a highly successful computer enterpreneur. The latest twist on his life's journey led to his arrival at Bald Ridge Marina on Lake Lanier this weekend.