BFL Lake Lanier

jocko · February 16, 2018, 09:38:55 AM

Anyone fishing it?

I'm trying to fish it as a co-angler, but there is a waiting list. I'm hopeful.

I hate deep clear spotted bass fisheries. I can catch them on topwater, but it's tough to find them once they go deep. I'm hoping to learn something.

$ 125 is cheaper than a guide and should be a fun day, regardless of the outcome. I will post my success or lack of success.

The 14 inch size limit is gonna make getting 5 harder.

mygreenihc · February 16, 2018, 10:04:03 AM

That sounds like fun. When is the tournament?

You need to figure out how many are in line in front of you, then get their names and the name of the co-angler already in the boat with who ever you would like to fish with. I will see if I can have them "Taken care of". =)

A lot of the lakes up here are deep clear spotted bass lakes and they are not my favorites either, but I am warming up to them. I have always fished closer to the gulf coast and everything there is grass choked and full of stumps. I like something to throw at. I also like fishing grass. These lakes up here have little structure other than rocks, no stumps, no grass, no alligators, none of the good stuff. It is a different way of fishing for sure.

It should be a lot of fun and excitement no matter what. You will learn a lot if you are paying attention.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Brad

jocko · February 16, 2018, 01:04:17 PM

It's next Saturday. Supposed to be cloudy 65.

Nice. It launches from Laurel Park which is the northern part of the lake which is more shallow per say.

Hoping the boater goes up stream for Largemouth! And leaves the deep spots (video game) fishing alone. That sucks for back of the boat!

mygreenihc · February 16, 2018, 01:49:19 PM

When will you know if you get to go?

How much do you fish Lanier?

Brad

jocko · February 18, 2018, 02:05:12 PM

I may not find out until Friday or even saturday morning.

It's the only big lake I fish. I fish it about 25 times or more a year but mostly on the deeper south end of the lake.

I prefer to kayak local ponds for largemouth over chasing spots. When they stop topwater when the water gets so hot, I don't fish it until fall.

mygreenihc · February 21, 2018, 10:22:35 AM

I bought me a kayak a year or so ago but have not used it much for fishing. I have caught one out of it so far. I need to find me a couple of farm ponds and throw it in.

I have not been doing nearly as much fishing as I hoped for, maybe this year will be a little different.

Brad

jocko · February 25, 2018, 10:39:47 AM

So the BFL on Lanier was fun. I never go into these with any competitive expectations - only to have a fun day out on the water and learn something. Catching fish is a bonus.

It was a full field of about 150 +. The winning boater brought in 20.11 lbs and the winning co-angler brought in 14.12. I only caught 3 fish all day and with a 14 inch minimum, I weighed only 2 fish for 3-13. (bottom of the ranks). Oh well.

But I had a blast. The lake is diverse and you can catch them so many ways. I wrongly thought it was going to be a Winter Pattern, deep Finese bite. Once I got with my boater in the morning, he informed me we would be power fishing shallow and the fish were up. I unfortunately did not have all I would have wanted to throw. Live and learn.

My boater absolutely put on a clinic with the Alabama Rig. He threw it shallow around docks, points, banks, and flats. That was his dominate bait and he was full speed on the TM and running and gunning hole hopping the entire lake. He culled twice or more of his limit - so I was NET boy most of the time. And all that running meant my line wasn't in the water as much as I wanted. I caught my fish on a jig, DD staysee ,and a senko. Towards the end of the day, we hit some docks near the take off, and I located some brush with my jig. I caught one and the boater caught 3 off that brush pile. I could have rounded out a limit there but he did not give me a chance before moving on. He weighed 12-8.

The upper end of the lake was muddy. Below browns bridge was beautiful blue. We made the run all the way down lake because he wanted to fish jerk baits in the clearer water. He did catch 1 on a nothing wind swept bank, but otherwise, it was all jet skis and pleasure boats, wind and waves.

Up lake in the muddy water, the bite was so much better. The bass were way in the backs of creeks in grass. The lake is over full and there is a lot bank that hasn't seen water is quite some time.

Over all, I had a blast and I really enjoyed fishing with my boater, though he did several things I would not have done. I pointed out to him twice several top water frenzies with birds and fish boiling the water. Sure - it could be stripers, but huge spots do this too. I never pass one without making a cast. Also, I believe you don't leave fish to find fish. He had fished all week and the fishing during the week is awesome, since they pull water and you have the lake to yourself. So this had him convinced to keep moving to find a better bite. On Saturdays, fishing is tougher, so if you find fish, why leave? We left biting fish several times.

Still had a blast. FLW tour will be here next week. I'd love to co-angler it as well.

mygreenihc · February 25, 2018, 01:38:36 PM

Sounds like you had fun Jocko.

It was a beautiful day here yesterday. I wanted to be on the lake but was not able to go.

I agree with you though, most of the lakes in this area are a totally different place come Saturday morning.

Thanks for the write up.

Brad

Capt. BassinLou · February 25, 2018, 02:05:41 PM

Jocko, happy to see you had a good time on the BFL. I'm sure you learned a few new things. Thank you for sharing the experience with us.

Lipripper · February 25, 2018, 02:27:31 PM

Thanks for the report Jocko and sounds like you had a great time out there even if you didn't catch a lot of fish. To bad you didn't have enough of the right kind of baits with you for how the fish were biting.

coldfront · February 25, 2018, 03:21:29 PM

Quote from: jocko on February 16, 2018, 09:38:55 AM
Anyone fishing it?

I'm trying to fish it as a co-angler, but there is a waiting list. I'm hopeful.

I hate deep clear spotted bass fisheries. I can catch them on topwater, but it's tough to find them once they go deep. I'm hoping to learn something.

$ 125 is cheaper than a guide and should be a fun day, regardless of the outcome. I will post my success or lack of success. The 14 inch size limit is gonna make getting 5 harder.

don't the Co-anglers have a 3-fish limit?

just tryin' to make it easier on you! good luck getting onto a boat!

jocko · February 26, 2018, 05:02:21 PM

FLW BFL - it was 5 bass. And a 14 inch limit. Most everyone got a limit, but I sucked as usual. But I always have fun. There's always next time.

$ 125.00 + gas makes for a great day on the lake regardless. You can't hire a guide that cheap.