Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report - December 23, 2011

Hello Friends and Sponsors -

Happy Holidays to all and I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the season with family and friends!

We have had an outstanding couple of weeks on Lake Lanier with some excellent success and some great trips!

I have been blessed in that I have had experienced anglers all the way to folks new to bass fishing over the past couple of weeks, and all have been successful. I always enjoy teaching and providing insights on bass fishing and see it manifest immediately in the results.

We have been focusing our efforts shallow for the most part, but have seen a greater progression of the larger spots out to deeper water over the past week or so. This past week, we had an outstanding week for numbers, but not as many big fish as the week before. I was out with Sam from Flowery Branch on one day of note, and together we caught 37 bass in a four hour period! In December! Great stuff. We also had several days with catches numbering from 15-25 a day with most fish being in the 2-3 pound range.

We have been catching the bigger fish shallow on a crankbait and jerkbait, particularly in the early AM and late afternoon, and a jig and worm have been very productive through the day. We have also been targeting some fish in the creek ditches in 18-25 feet of water. These fish have been eating a spoon and a shaky head worm very well. A Fish Head Spin is also working on these fish, as well as a jerkbait and crankbait at times.

I have included some pictures from the action over the last couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone that was out with me!!

I am currently in Indiana visiting family for the holidays, but will be back in town by December 27th.

I currently have a trip booked on Dec 28th, but I have the 29th, 30th, and 31st open if you would like to get out. The weather looks great for next week - give me a call and let's catch some fish!! 770-542-7764

Thanks, and may God Bless.

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 12/12/2011

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Hey Gang -

I was back out on a mid-day trip with David and his son Michael yesterday. They had fished Lanier several times before without much success, and wanted a little help.

I was happy to provide just that, a little help, because they didn't need much! This was an experienced father/son duo - these guys could flat fish!! They were great with a rod and reel and really made it happen on the water, and they were a blast to be with!!

They bagged a 17 lbs, 3 oz sack in about 4 hours of fishing yesterday. Michael took big fish honors with a 4 lbs, 5 oz chunk on his third cast of the day. Dad won the numbers battle, but he was never far behind on the size - he just never quite made it over 4 lbs. I think location adjustments were all that was required for these two. They too thought you had to go deep to catch fish this time of year. Not the case as they learned. All fish were caught on a crankbait in 12 feet of water or less. We stayed in the creeks yesterday due to the high winds on the main lake. If we could of hit a couple of my main lake hot spots, I think we would have made 20 pounds easily.

Great job David and Michael - looking forward to our Spring trip!

I have Wed, Thursday, and Fri open this week if you would like to catch some studs up shallow. The weather is warming again and it should be an awesome big-fish bite! Give me a ring to book your trip!! 770-542-7764

Thanks to all, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo On Lanier - Jimbo's Spotted Bass Guide Service
Call: 770-542-7764
Website: www.jimboonlanier.com

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 12/2/2011

Hey Everyone -

I was back out on the pond today after a couple of days off. It was nice to catch up on some stuff around the house and get ready for Christmas. My "honey do" list was long and past due!

Anyway, I went out with my good buddy Phil Johnson today to prep for my weekend trips. We had an awesome day and was glad to find out the cold front did not change my fish at all. We caught fish through the day on worms, jigs, crankbaits, and even played in the timber a little with a spoon and dropshot. All of our good fish came in 12 feet of water or less as has been the case for a month or more now.

We caught fish back in creeks as well as out on the main lake. We focused on pockets for the most part as well as main lake and secondary points. Our best 5 went 18.2 pounds today - the 2 above weighed 4.9 and 4.3.

A special thanks to Bryan over at Hinkle Marine Parts for the awesome shirt I am sporting in the picture. As I mentioned before, I go to Mashburn for all my service needs, and Bryan handles my parts - he does an awesome job. Keep those guys in mind for your part needs.

I have some days open next week if you would like to get out and experience some awesome late fall fishing. What a fishery we have here to be able to go out and catch an 18 lbs sack on a blue-bird day of high pressure in December - shallow. We are blessed!

Thanks to all, and may God Bless.

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 11/28/2011

Hey Gang -

I was out on Friday and Saturday with Dr. T, the singing dentist, who came all the way from Kentucky to catch some spots. I'm pretty sure he wasn't sorry he came! He is coming back in 3 weeks, and he is already looking forward to the trip!

We had great days both Friday and Saturday. We caught more numbers on Friday, but Saturday was a great big fish day. We caught several in the 3 pound range with a few better ones, including the 5 lbs, 3 oz spot pictured above middle. Doc had never caught a spot over 4 pounds, so he was absolutely thrilled with this pig. Pictures went out immediately to family and friends and then his phone blew up with calls from back home - it was fun to watch the whole thing - he was stoked! Doc was just an awesome guy to fish with - thanks for a great couple of days Doc - see you in December.

Both of Doc's fish pictured above left (fish on far left weighed 3 lbs, 12 oz) were caught on a Vision 110 Jerkbait. And this was not just any Vision 110, it was a jerkbait custom-painted by Daniel Truit in a blue back herring pattern. Daniel is a good buddy of mine and has been fishing the lake for years. He is an outstanding craftsman, and I am sharing this specific information with everyone to help him out as well as everyone else - he is a super guy and these baits will help your fishing. I can put you directly in contact with Daniel or you can reach him through Hammond's Fishing. He can paint any lure you have, most for $10. Tell him Jimbo sent ya' and he will take care of you!

We also caught fish on Friday and Saturday with shaky head worms and jigs. Most fish were shallow near rock - 10 feet of water or less. Creeks and main lake were both productive. Steve - just saw your post - nice work out there brother!

I have some days open this coming week - give me a ring or drop me a note if you would like to get out.

Thanks to all, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 11/20/2011

Hey Everyone -

I had some great trips last week with some great people. Some were entertaining customers, some were prepping for tournaments, and some were just learning the lake and different techniques. I particularly enjoy weeks like this and the diversity of the clients - it challenges me to approach each day a bit differently, and I love it. Thanks to everyone for putting their trust in me.

On Wednesday, I was out with Art and his customer Jerry. We had a great morning before the storms rolled in - the bite was solid that morning pre-front and we caught some good fish and tangled with some real pigs that didn't quite make it to the boat...lol.

Thursday, I was out with Russell - he was prepping for a tournament today (Sunday). He popped his first spot over 4 pounds with me and was ecstatic! We had about a 17 pound sack that day with 2 four's and several in the 3 lbs range. He texted me early this AM to let me know he and his grandson already had two good fish in the box (a 4 pounder and 3 pounder) on the stuff I showed him - a very happy guy!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of taking out long-time Lanier angler Marty. We had a fun day and really enjoyed being out together. Marty is a great angler, he just needed some fine-tuning as well as an introduction to some other concepts and techniques to improve his catch rate - we achieved that and then some! Congrats on a great day Marty - they were on fire that morning.

We have been starting every morning throwing a crankbait and catching quality fish in the creeks - very shallow. We have followed that up with jig and worm fishing around key docks and in cover up to 18 feet of water in certain creeks as well as main lake. Sometimes the fish are pulled up in 5-10 feet, sometimes a little deeper. The rain last week piled quality fish up in certain areas and it was on like Donkey Kong in those areas.

Lastly, I want to throw a HUGE congratulations out to my good buddy Scott Barnes. Scott won the Hammond's Tournament yesterday with a 20.5 pound sack of spots - way to go brother - awesome catch!!

I have Wed and Fri open this week if you would like to get out, as well as a couple of dates the following week. Give me a ring or shoot me a note.

Thanks to all, and may God Bless!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 11/10/2011

Hey Everyone -

I have been out on trips every day this week and the fishing has been very good.

I was out Monday with Paul for an afternoon trip. We fished until dark and had some great success. Most of our fish came on the shaky head. We caught fish from 6 feet - 25 feet deep. Some main lake, some in creeks. Paul spends most of his free time on Hartwell, but because the lakes share some similarities, he is working with me to learn Lanier techniques that he can apply to his fishing on Hartwell. The Shaky Head was our technique for this trip. We worked on electronics and drop-shot during our first trip back in August.

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of taking out Gene and his son Joe for an AM trip. This is a great father-son team that has been with me before. We had a blast together and they caught some solid spots through the morning. We started early back in a creek and caught some good ones then worked our way out to main-lake later in the day. We caught them shallow in the early AM on a crankbait, then transitioned to the shaky head. One of Gene's fish pictured above came from 35 feet, and the other one came from about 2 feet of water on a point. Just shows you that quality fish are everywhere right now.

I took out Chuck yesterday on a full-day trip. We caught several fish up to 3 pounds, but nothing picture worthy. Crankbait was our weapon for our best fish yesterday - most were very shallow. Chuck lost a BIG fish on a crankbait toward the end of the day, we saw the fish swirl after it grabbed the bait up shallow - it was a monster, but only became a legend of fish tales unfortunately. Chuck and I still had a great day of worship together enjoying good fishing and God's beautiful creation.

A quick plug - I have been dipping my plastics in JJ's Magic dye, and I truly believe it makes a big difference. I soak the whole bag in clear dye for a day or so, then dip the tips in chartreuse before they go in the water. I get more bites and the fish hang on longer. The bottom line is that JJ's Magic delivers more bites and more fish. Just the facts!

I am back out on a full day trip tomorrow, and then I have 2 pending trips on Sat and Sunday. I have Monday, Tuesday and Friday open next week if you would like to get out.

Good luck to all, and May God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 10/27/2011

Hey Everybody -

It has been a very enjoyable week for me so far. For the last 2 days, I have been out with Steve S. Steve is from Richmond, VA and he called and booked me because he wanted to catch some spotted bass - which he had never done before. He is an avid angler, but has always focused on the largemouth and smallmouth, but never the spots.

As you can see from the pictures above, he has not been disappointed with his trip! We have caught some PIGS over the last 2 days - it has been a blast. We caught over 25 yesterday, and 16 today. Steve is with me for one more day, then back to Virginia. He has already made plans to come back in December, and again next spring for multiple day trips each time. He is an awesome guy and a great angler - a true pleasure to have in my boat. We are both looking forward to our last day tomorrow - it will be fun to see what the weather change will bring. For Wed and Thur, Steve and I have caught fish on jerkbaits, FHS, shaky head, and topwater baits.

Also pictured above is one of my best customers, John. John has been out with me several times this year, and we are scheduled for 1 trip a month for the next 12 months. John is a semi-experienced angler, but has employed me to get him tournament-ready in a year. I have charted a detailed training plan for him by month to include specific techniques as well as lake knowledge. I work with him as a coach during each of our trips. We fish from his boat, and I instruct him on boat positioning and information analysis while on the water (electronics, water conditions, wind, etc.) I think I am more excited than John is about our next year together - I love to teach and John is very receptive to my instruction. He made great strides during our recent trip, and learned the jerkbait quickly. He pegged the nice largemouth above on his 3rd cast with the bait. Nice work John! Next time, big spots!

Finally, a very special thank-you to my newest sponsor, Mashburn Marine. Paul and his crew there do awesome work for me - they work their hardest to get me back on the water quickly, and their chief mechanic, Terry, has 35 years experience working on all major outboard models. They recently got me back on the water very quickly as I had some issues with my fuel pump diaphrams. They ordered the parts immediately and got me squared away in 3 days. Hard to beat that kind of service. Next time you need your boat worked on, consider Paul and his crew at Mashburn Marine - great people and great labor rates compared to the market. They are located right off Browns Bridge Road near the entrance to Charleston Park. Tell 'em Jimbo sent ya!

I have a couple of days open next week. Give me a ring if you would like to get out and catch some PIGS!

Thanks, and may God Bless!

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 10/9/2011

Hey Everyone -

We have had another good week on Lanier - plenty of topwater and swimbait action.

I was out today with Greg and his son Jett. We had a good day, even with the wind. Greg and Jett were in learning mode, so we ducked back into some pockets to fish. We worked on casting and presentation of a shaky head and various topwater baits. Jett was the star of the day - he is posing above with his dad holding a very solid spot - nice job Jett!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of taking out 91 year-old Bob B. and his grandson Chris. We were out on a full day trip - Bob could really hang in there and still fish very well - you could tell he has done this before a time or two! We had a blast - we caught a good mix of spots and largemouth, and all of our fish came on topwater in or near the wind - most of the fish were in 15 feet of water or less. My instincts were pretty good, and I turned on the video camera just before Chris hooked the largemouth pictured above. I have published the video on my YouTube channel - check it out when you can - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdg78_sW6_A&feature=youtube_gdata. (just copy and paste the link above in your browser)

Overall, the fishing is good on Lanier right now. This past week, we have caught fish on: topwater, swimbaits, jerkbaits, worms, and of course, the FHS. Some fish have came very shallow (1 foot or less) and some have come as deep as 30 feet around brush. The fish have been changing every day - so, start with a clean slate when you get out and just go fish. If you are graphing fish in the upper levels of the water column, throw topwater or the jerkbait. You may have to hit several holes before you find the active fish, but you can pretty much chase an active topwater/swimbait bite all day if you want to run and gun. If you would prefer, you can also catch fish on a shaky head worm. Look for fish in and around brush and bottom locked - that is a good time to slow down and fish the bottom.

I am happy to report that I am booked everyday next week and weekend through Sunday, with the exception of Thursday. So please give me a ring if you would like to get out either on Thursday, or I have a couple of dates open the following week if you prefer. This is really a fun time to fish.

Thank you to everyone who has been out with me and those who continue to come - I am grateful and very blessed.

Best of Luck to everyone out there, and may God Bless!

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report - October 1, 2011

Hello Everyone -

We had another very good week on Lanier - lots of topwater and swimbait action this week and some nice fish to be had.

The lake is 8.8 feet down and has a 74 degree surface temp. The fish in the lower lake are schooling well right now at the mouths of creeks as well as on the main lake. We have been focusing on these fish all week and have had some great success.

Most of the fish are on and around off-shore structure as well as rocky points throughout the lower lake. There are also many fish roaming and relating strictly to the bait - you often see these fish busting in the channel or over very deep timber as they focus on the movement of the blue backs. These fish can be caught if you are in the area and can cast to the activity. Fish are also positioning over brush and other cover and can be called up on topwater and swimbaits. We have also had good success on a FHS as well as a jerkbait.

I have included a picture of a couple of toads from the tournament today. We had a good turnout with around 25 boats and really helped a great cause. Tim from Hammond's along with others hauled off an entire van full of toys for the Salvation Army. The cold front hurt our schooling bite for sure, but there were still some good ones to be had on top. Lots of short strikes and pull-offs today for us though, but still a bunch of fun. Thanks to all that participated.

I have Wen and Thur open next week if anyone would like to get out and get in on some of this great fall schooling action.

Thanks, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: September 10, 2011

Hey Everyone -

A quick fishing report, and then I will get onto the giveaway. I was out a couple of days this week - my Monday trip postponed due to the weather - too bad because the bite on Monday was awesome with the ultra-low barometric pressure we had as a result of the tropical storm.

Save Monday, the bite has been decent this week. I have continued to focus in the mouths of creeks on rocky areas for my fish. We have caught fish this week on crankbaits, topwater, drop-shot, jigs, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits. The fish have been suspending up in the water column and have been moving shallower. However, there are still some studs out over the timber in deep water - I was out with Emory D. yesterday afternoon, and he had a MONSTER Spot hung and to the boat over 75 feet of water - my net was locked in my rod box, which didn't prove helpful! A great marketing opportunity missed! Sorry Emory - next time my friend!

Now, onto the important stuff. As we remember 9/11 this weekend and salute all of those affected by this tragic event, I would like to specifically honor our service men and women (active duty or retired) as well as our police officers, firemen and women, and all other positions who by doing their jobs sacrificed their lives that day 10 years ago - as well as those in all the days since that have continued to put their lives on the line daily for our freedom and well being.

Hence, I am doing a drawing for a Free Full Day Trip for 1 or 2 people to honor our country and those who serve it. The entrants for this drawing must fall in one of these categories: military (active duty or retired), firefighter, police officer, paramedic, or associated service position. You may enter yourself, or you may nominate someone that you know. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE MADE THROUGH THE "CONTACT US" FORM ON THE BOTTOM OF MY HOME PAGE ON MY WEBSITE. Fill in your first and last name, email address, and in the "Your Message" portion, write the name of the person you are nominating along with their contact info. If you are entering for yourself, just write "Self" in the "Your Message" section.

Deadline for entry is 7 PM on Wednesday, September 14, 2011. I will do a drawing afterwards and announce the winner on this blog as well as my Facebook page and Twitter page. If you don't already, you can follow me at Jimbo On Lanier for both Twitter and Facebook to get updates.

Finally, a BIG "Thank You" to all my sponsors that support me and allow me to fish for a living: JJ's Magic, Hammond's Fishing, Denali Rods, Sworming Hornet Lures, LanierMAPPED.com, and Slong's Fishing Lures.

May God Bless,

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: September 4, 2011

Hello Everyone -

I hope all of you are enjoying a relaxing and safe Labor Day Weekend!

I was out on trips most of the week this past week. There is definitely a change happening and it has been fun to follow - I will address that a little later in this post.

Most of my trips this week were "teaching" trips. Many folks wanted to learn the drop shot presentation and get the feel of catching fish so they could gain confidence in the technique. I enjoy these trips a great deal and love to watch people grow in their skill over a few short hours on the boat. There are plenty of smaller fish to be caught in the 20-30 ft. brush right now, with a few solid fish mixed in - no monsters though. These fish offer the perfect opportunity to learn the drop shot - they will bite!

I actually had the pleasure of taking one gentleman that fishes Hartwell rather than Lanier, but he wanted to learn techniques on Lanier that he could apply to fishing Hartwell. I was honored to work with him - we spent most of our day talking and teaching rather than fishing - I enjoy those days too.

With all that said, there are some big ones available right now. Some of these big fish are shallow, and some are out over deeper water. On my trip Friday, we lost 2 big fish first thing in the morning- one jumped and spit it at the boat, and one broke off during the fight on a strong surge - just bad luck. These fish were shallow over deep water.

During the afternoon, we found fish shallow on rocky points near deep water. I busted off a huge bass in 3 feet of water on topwater - couldn't believe it. I guess it is time to re-spool some rods, although that one was on fresh line - maybe time to move up in line size - LOL!

There is alot of bait making a move back into the creeks right now - keep an eye on this as September progresses and the water cools with the upcoming weather. I am sure the lake will recover some water level, but my understanding is the corp is planning to continue the draw down through the fall through consistent water release. BTW, I have noticed a substantial improvement in the bite when they are pulling water - no surprise really, but it is something to keep in mind.

Through the past week, we have caught fish on: drop shot, topwater, jerkbaits, carolina rigs, spoons, crank baits, and jigs. I am sure other things will work too, but these have been my focus areas.

I have a full day trip on Monday, but have some dates open later in the week if you would like to get out - just give me a call or shoot me an email.

May God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: August 21, 2011

Hello Friends and Sponsors -

Even through the hot weather, the fish are still biting on Lanier - not just smaller fish - good SOLID fish are eating in the right places.

I have been throwing a Fish Head Spin and Drop Shot worm for the majority of my fish. Topwater has produced some each day as well, but not the quantity of the drop shot nor the quality of the FHS.

I have been drop-shotting a variety of hand-poured worms and minnow imitations to get bit. Wackem Plastics, Roboworms, as well as the Jackal Cross-Tail Shad and Flash-Trix minnow imitations have worked at one time or another. Colors include: morning dawn, prizm shad, sunrise orange pearl and baby bass.

The FHS has produced some big fish this past week. I have been working the bait to include a pause, thus allowing the bait to drop, which seems to trigger the strikes in most cases.

As far as locations, I have been hitting humps in both main lake and creek areas, as well as ledges and points with steeper breaks near deep water. I have found most of my best fish in 35-40 feet of water. I am also targeting standing timber with tree tops that come to 25-35 feet. These areas seem to hold fish through the day, but some days better than others.

Sportsman's Feast - Come join me, Rick Steckelberg, and the legendary Hank Parker at Blackshear Baptist Church this Thursday evening, August 25th. Admission is $10 and includes dinner. Rick and I, along with others, will be giving seminars and there will be several booths to peruse as well. They are giving away some great hunting and fishing packages, to include a trip with yours truly! Come join us for a fun night at Blackshear Baptist Church! Check out the details HERE.

I have Monday and Friday open this week, and I am still running my "Beat the Heat" specials through August. 3.5 hours in the AM or PM for a reduced rate. I also have my normal full and half day trips available as well. Call me TODAY to book a trip! 770-542-7764.

Thanks to all, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: August 16, 2011

Hey Gang -

I was out today on a full day trip with Butch, and yesterday with Brian. The weather today was incredible - just awesome to have some cooler temps.

The fishing today and yesterday was awesome. I am pleased to report that I have figured out a good big-fish pattern for August - I have been putting it together for a bit, and thought I had lost a big spot in an area down lake the other day, but couldn't confirm it because it I busted off - could have been a striper, but I didn't think so. Based on the last 2 days, I am pretty confident in the pattern.

Running this pattern the last 2 days my clients and I have caught several solid fish and some good ones. I had one today close to 5 (4-14 on the digitals) and lost a 4 at the boat in the same area. In addition, fish like the one Butch has above are available, as well as an occasional 24 pound striper! (23-6 on the digitals - nice catch Brian!).

I am fishing in 25-30 feet of water, but doing something a bit different. We have been throwing the drop shot, a jig, and a FHS. I have been doing only artificial trips of late - no spot-tail cheating!

My August special is still running - 3.5 hour trips in the AM and PM to "Beat the Heat" at a reduced rate. Of course the standard half and full day trips are available as well. I have Thurs and Sat open this week if anyone is interested in getting out.

Thanks to all, and may God Bless!

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: August 8, 2011

Hey Everyone -

It is certainly August - hot and hotter! The fishing has been up and down over the last week - some good days for numbers and some days for size, and some days not so good for either - LOL!

I was out with Doug H today for our second trip of the summer. Doug is a great guy and recently purchased a brand new Ranger Comanche 520. He is a good angler, just looking to learn Lanier and our spotted bass as he hails from Florida - not quite the same type of fishing - LOL!

We worked on the drop-shot and the fish head spin today. We caught several fish on both, as well as topwater. Most of our fish came from 25 - 35 feet of water on or near brush located close to sharp drops and ledges. We fished down south today, but there has been a solid bite up north as well. I will be out and up North tomorrow in preparation for trips the rest of the week. I am grateful to be busy in August - thanks to all who have put your trust in me.

Good Luck out there to everyone - I am booked the rest of this week, except Saturday, and I have some days open the next week if you would like to get out and learn how to overcome the dog days of August and catch fish!

May God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report - July 22, 2011

I had the pleasure of once again taking out Mr. Gene J and his son-in-law Keith today. It was a bit toasty out on the pond, but we still managed some good fish and had a good time together as usual.

The bite was tough in the morning - not much schooling activity where we were and not a very aggressive bite at all. We moved around quite a bit with only a few offers on a drop shot and one decent largemouth on topwater. We mainly stayed on structure, looking deep and shallow for the best concentration of fish. We did see some very shallow activity in the AM, but still I found a good number of quality fish in the 18-25 foot range.

We decided to get a few spot-tails to see if it might help our efforts. Thanks to Phil J for a quick shout out on a new spot tail area - worked great! We labored the afternoon heat and caught several with the spot-tails - only a few areas really seemed to be holding the active fish, and we worked those thoroughly for our bites.

Thanks again to Gene and Keith - looking forward to the next time!

May God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lanier Fishing Report: July 19, 2011

Hey Everyone -

I had the pleasure of taking my two youngest daughters out fishing today - man it got hot, but we had a blast! They had been bugging me alot to take them, especially after seeing the pictures of all the big fish we have been catching lately. So, when I had an off day, I finally made it happen.

My youngest daughter, Olivia, got the hang of things quickly and popped the fish above - a solid 4 pounder - not bad catching a 4 lbs spot at 8 years old. I had to help her lift the rod tip a little when the fish made some runs, but she caught it all on her own. I was a proud papa!

I let the girls fish with spot-tails, and I threw some topwater around through the day and called a couple up, but not big ones. We did see some huge spots breaking over and near the structure, but I was just never in a position to get a quick cast at them.

I still have Thur and Sat open if anyone is interested in catching some fish - hot or not, the fish are still biting!

Thanks, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: July 16, 2011

Hi Everyone!

I was off the water most of this week as I took a much needed vacation with the family to Myrtle Beach, SC. The kids loved it and we had a great time together.

I did have a trip on Friday of this week and had the honor of taking out one of my best clients, Johnny P. Johnny goes with me once a month or so and we always have fun and I really enjoy his company - he has great stories!

The weather was very odd for July on Lake Lanier - cool, drizzling, and very windy. None of that makes sense here in GA for July!! Johnny and I found good topwater action for most of the day. We worked chug bugs around the breaks of long running rocky points near the mouths of creeks for most of our bites. We also ducked back into a few of the larger creeks for some fish as well. The normal structure/brush had fish around it too, but they didn't seem as active as the rock fish. I had some action on the drop-shot too, but the topwater action was better, so we abandoned thoroughly fishing the spots and just went running and gunning. One of Johnny's best fish is pictured here, and I should have one too, but I "rookied" a toad first thing in the AM on the chug bug - I must have been rusty from all the salt water this week!

I have a couple of days open next week if you would like to get out - just give me a ring or drop me a line.

Thanks, and may God Bless!

Jimbo

Jimbo's Fishing Report 07/08/11

Water Temperature: 85
Water Clarity: 2-3 feet

Hey Everyone -

I was out on trips all week - lots of great fishing despite the rising water temps over the past few days.

I did both artificial and spot-tail trips this week, with the artificials producing the best fish by far. We worked topwater, drop-shot worms, and texas-rigged worms for our best fish. The topwater activity seemed to get better as the day progressed. We found that you could launch a bait at the blow-ups, even after several seconds, and still get them to hit after working the lure all the way back to the boat. The fish seemed to be staying up in the water column after a round of herding bait, and would hit the topwater's when presented. This has not been the case lately, as the fish seemed to come up and go back down quickly.

As far as the spot-tails, now is a great time to get the kids out and fish. The spot-tails work well, especially in the afternoon when the sun is out. It is also a great way to get the feel of a properly fishing a drop-shot - the bite is very similar to what you would experience with a worm or a minnow imitation on a drop-shot rig.

If you are looking to learn the drop shot technique with artificial baits, now is definitely the time. The bite is good most days, and they are definitely eating the drop-shot. I have worked with several clients on mastering the read of your sonar in conjunction with proper presentation. Come on out with me and learn! I have another trip tomorrow, but have some days open at the end of next week.

Thanks to all, and may God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo On Lanier - Jimbo's Spotted Bass Guide Service
Call: 770-542-7764
Website: www.jimboonlanier.com

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: June 2011

Hello Everyone -

Sorry for the long delay in posting a fishing report. I have posted a few reports on the Bass Fishing Home Page, but have not been as active as usual with my posting. I took some time off in late May to attend the Indy 500, which was followed by my mother's passing. Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers - they are greatly appreciated. The good news is I see no more distractions in the near future, so onto fishing!

The topwater action and swimbait action remains good, in the early mornings particularly, especially after the rains have came through that have cooled the water temps slightly and increased the oxygen levels near the surface. For topwater, I have been using either a small popper or the smaller sized gunfish in bone color. When the sun is out, I prefer the chrome offerings. As far as swimbaits, take note of the bait fish being chased. If you see them coming out of the water, the chances are the bass are chasing the bluebacks. I have found at times, however, that the fish are focused on smaller baitfish. My advice is to match the hatch - pay attention and vary your baits and presentations. Some of the things I have been using include: Farley Swimbaits, flukes, Spro Swimbaits (to include the BBZ1 Shad), and the S-Waver. A fish-head spin will also work well. Work the upper region of the water column, or count down the bait to the depth the fish are holding if you find they are not coming up. If you graph bait up in the water column, the fish will likely be looking up. On cloudy days, I have also found a jig/twin tail combo to work, and of course, the standard Slongs Shaky Head tipped with your favorite Wackem Crazy Bait offering, dipped in clear or chartreuse JJ's Magic.

As far as locations, I have been focusing on off-shore structure such as long-running points and humps, along with ledges. Focus on the structures that also have good cover on them, such as brush. In low-light or cloudy conditions, the fish are generally roaming in these areas and not locked on the brush. When the sun is out, the fish tend to relate more directly to the brush piles. Focus on those and present your baits directly over the top of them or in them to get bit.

SPOT TAIL MINNOWS - I am now also doing spot tail minnow trips. This is simply a blast in terms of numbers of fish, and certainly you are apt to catch some big ones too. This is a PERFECT option for less-experienced anglers and particularly children - it is a quick and easy technique to master. If you have not done this before, I encourage you to book a spot-tail trip with me - you will not be disappointed!!

Make sure to check out my fishing reports on the Bass Fishing Home Page (WMI.org). I post there at least twice weekly, so check it out! Also, I have a video out - if you have not seen it, click here to view. Enjoy!

I still have dates open in June -call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!! I have Wednesday and Thursday open this week!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines and God Bless -

Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Report: April 29 - May 8, 2011

Hey Everyone -

I have been out on trips almost every day for the last 10 days, plus I fished the Gut Check tournament with Nick Hensley from Hammonds this past Saturday, and then back out on a half-day morning trip on Sunday (yesterday).

We have had some outstanding days for numbers as many trips had over 30 total spots for the day. I have been focusing on sandy pockets with a worm for the numbers fish. These pockets can be main lake, or in the mouths of creeks, but a sandy beach is the key. This pattern will provide lots of keepers up to 2.5 lbs, and a few good ones mixed in. I have been using a 4 inch worm on a 1/8 oz jighead for the most bites.

In addition to the sand bite, I have been playing with the early post-spawners willing to eat topwater and flukes. Some are relating to brush, most are roaming and just relating to the bait in key areas that have deeper water very close, and are not far from spawning flats. Some of these fish are roaming in very deep water, but are not too far from the bank.

For the tournament on Saturday, we focused on the post spawn bite as opposed to the sand bite - not as many bites, but big fish potential. Nick and I only weighed 13 pounds, but lost some donkeys early on top. Nick lost one of the biggest spots I have ever seen hammer a topwater plug - this spot was way over six - and after a long battle, she just simply pulled off. A little later in the AM,I had two well over 5 rolling and nipping at my fluke, but they just would not commit. I am seeing some wolf packs as well with the fish that are relating to the brush - I was about to cast at one around 4 following a 3 pounder Nick had hooked on top, but as I went to cast I heard "he's barely hooked" so I dropped the rod and went for the net - a bird in hand better than 2 in the bush I guess.

All in all, a very fun day and we had our chances to win it, just wasn't to be. We caught the fish we weighed on topwater poppers, flukes, crankbaits, and fish head spins.

Back out Sunday morning with a regular customer and his wife, and I and had one over 5 plaster my rico, and got it caught in the rocks (and broke off) trying to hand it off to my client's wife so she could battle a big spot. Always looking for a way to let them have fun! They both still caught em Sunday AM as it seemed they were eating as well as they were on tournament day.

Make sure to check out my fishing reports on the Bass Fishing Home Page (WMI.org). I post there at least twice weekly, so check it out! Also, I have a new video out - if you have not seen it, click here to view. Enjoy!

I am filling up for May, but I have some dates open the next few weeks-call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!! I have Wednesday and Friday open this week, and maybe Saturday, so let me know if you would like to get out.

Until next time everybody - tight lines and God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: April 10 - 28, 2011

Hello Again Everyone -

I have had trips almost every day over the past 20 days or so, save Easter and Good Friday. I have had the pleasure of taking out some really fun people during that time, and the fish have been cooperating as well. Thank you to everyone for your support of my guide business. I truly love what I do and I feel very Blessed and honored to have your business - THANK YOU!!

Now, onto fishing. We have been averaging about 25 fish a day on each trip, and two days we landed over 40 - no joke. The first day was last week - we were up north, and the fish size was modest at best - our biggest was about 3.5 lbs, and about 25 of the 42 were keepers. Tuesday of this week was also a 40+ day as we boated 44 spots. The size recently has been much better down south as most of the 40 were keepers, and our best 5 were just shy of 19 lbs.

As far as baits, you name it, and we have caught fish on it. A brief summary would include: swimbaits, flukes, Fish Head Spins, Lil Dudes, worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, topwaters, carolina rigs, jerkbaits, and I am sure I am forgetting something. Mix it up and see what is working - the fish change their preferences every day!

The water on the north end is now above 70 at daylight. The south end is about 67 or so depending on where you put in. Numbers have been better up North until recently, but the South end is catching up quickly. It seems the North end is about 10 days to 2 weeks ahead of the South end.

As far as location, we have been hitting steeper banks coming out of creeks, islands, rock points, and main lake pockets for our fish. The depth the fish are holding changes everyday, but the range has been from 3 - 15 feet.

Make sure to check out my fishing reports on the Bass Fishing Home Page (WMI.org). I post there at least twice weekly, so check it out! Also, I have a new video out - if you have not seen it, click here to view. Enjoy!

I am filling up for May, but I have some dates open the next few weeks-call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines and God Bless -

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: March 15-27, 2011

Hello Everyone -

Well, I just finished a 13 day stretch on the water with trips each day. It has been great to be on the water non-stop. I love what I do! Contrary to the nay-sayers on BFHP, I have found the bite to be pretty good each day. There are always exceptions, but overall the fishing has been solid. On sunny days, I am getting bit on flats and key secondary points at the mouths of creeks. The dock bite is also good on the sunny days as many of the fish use the docks to stage prior to the spawn. On cloudy days, the fish roam more, but still can be caught on spawning flats and secondary points. I have also just found a jerkbait bite on the main lake - I believe these fish are just coming up and and are clearly in the pre-spawn stage.

That being said, I also believe that many fish are spawning right now, and some have spawned already. I have seen several pods of bass fry in certain areas, both south and north. I think many of the fish are farther along than most people believe, and can explain the tough bite for many folks. I have just putting the trolling motor down and going fishing. I have found active fish in areas that you may not expect and caught fish in many different locations. So, my advice is to stay on the move until you get bit, and then work that area thoroughly, as you will likely catch more fish in that same area.

Baits of choice:

1. Jerkbait - work these baits around secondary points in pockets along the creek channels and adjacent to main lake. The water has warmed nicely over the past 2 weeks, and the jerkbait bite has gotten steadily better. Fish these baits around docks adjacent to spawning flats as well, especially when the sun is out.

2. Fish Head Spin - I have been working these around shallow secondary points. Slow has still been the ticket - keep the lure in contact with the bottom and wait for the fish to load up - they haven't been eating it agressively on most days.

3. Slong's Shaky Head - I have been working the 3/16 oz Slong's Shaky Heads around the same areas as noted above when the bite is less aggressive. I have been using a Wackem Pointy Tail and Trick Worm in pumpkin green for my bites. I have found fish up on flats too on certain days - look for the "highways" or ditches that feed the flats - the fish will position around docks that are closest to the ditches first.

4. Crankbait - When the morning bite is on, you can pick off some studs with this bait, as you have seen on my blog posts and website. Use something with a tight wobble - work grass/brush flats and secondary points for the best bites.

I expect the fluke bite and swimbait bite to really work well soon too. Keep trying these baits as you are fishing - you just never know when you might collect a good one on these lures.

I recommend everyone check out the LanierMAPPED.com site ASAP - there are lots of recent changes that I am sure you will be interested in!! And remember gang, use the JIMBO Code at LanierMAPPED.com for a 20% discount on all clips you purchase.

I am filling up for the Spring, but I have some dates open the next couple fo weeks -call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines!!

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: March 1-14, 2011

Hello Everyone -

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the great spring weather! The fishing has really picked up over the last week or so. I have had several trips over the past few days, and the catch has gotten steadily better each day. I expect the bite to be "off the charts" any day now, but each day should be at least good!

I still have been using 3 main baits to get bit - locations are still the same as well:

1. Jerkbait - work these baits around secondary points in pockets along the creek channels and along main lake. The water has warmed nicely over the past 2 weeks, and the jerkbait bite has gotten steadily better. Fish these baits around docks adjacent to spawning flats as well.

2. Fish Head Spin - I have been working these around shallow secondary points. Slow has still been the ticket - keep the lure in contact with the bottom and wait for the fish to load up - they haven't been eating it agressively on most days.

3. Slong's Shaky Head - I have been working the 3/16 oz Slong's Shaky Heads around the same areas as noted above when the bite is less aggressive. I have been using a Wackem Pointy Tail and Trick Worm in pumpkin green for my bites. I have found fish up on flats too on certain days - look for the "highways" or ditches that feed the flats - the fish will position around docks that are closest to the ditches first.

I recommend everyone check out the LanierMAPPED.com site ASAP - there are lots of recent changes that I am sure you will be interested in!! And remember gang, use the JIMBO Code at LanierMAPPED.com for a 20% discount on all clips you purchase.

I am filling up for the Spring - call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines!!

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: Feb 21 - Feb 28, 2010

FISHING REPORT:

Hello Everyone -

My apologies for not posting a fishing report lately. The end of January and the first 2 weeks of February were tough on the lake, and I did not have anything spectacular to report.

Thank goodness that spring is here and the weather is cooperating! I have experienced improving success over the past 2 weeks - each day better than the next with the warming temperatures.

I have been doing 3 main things to get bit recently:

1. Jerkbait - work these baits around secondary points in pockets along the creek channels and along main lake. Focus on the pockets that get all day sun as they will warm the fastest. Look to your Northern banks for the best locations. Work the bait slowly with long pauses between snaps of the rod. The jerk around docks is working too - same locations and technique as noted above. Focus on areas with clay and pebble rock.

2. Fish Head Spin - I have been working these around shallow secondary points. Slow has been the ticket lately - keep the lure in contact with the bottom. As the water continues to warm, speed up your retrieve. Experiment - the fish will tell you what they want!

3. Slong's Shaky Head - I have been working the 1/4 oz Slong's Shaky Heads around the same areas as noted above when the bite is less aggressive. I have been using a Wackem Pointy Tail and Trick Worm in pumpkin green for my bites. I have found fish up on flats too - look for the "highways" or ditches that feed the flats - the fish will position around docks that are closest to the ditches first.

I recommend everyone check out the LanierMAPPED.com site ASAP - there are lots of recent changes that I am sure you will be interested in!! And remember gang, use the JIMBO Code at LanierMAPPED.com for a 20% discount on all clips you purchase.

I am filling up for the Spring - call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines!!

Jimbo

Lake Lanier Fishing Report: Dec 28 - Jan 7, 2011

FISHING REPORT:

Hello Everyone -

I hope everyone enjoyed a great holiday season. We here in Georgia are in the midst of one of the worst snow storms that I can remember. It snowed about 6 inches Sunday night, followed by freezing rain and sleet - a mess to say the least - particularly here in GA, where we have almost no snow removal equipment!!

The good news is, the cold weather has brought on a great spoon bite, and it should only get better as the weather stays cold. The cold weather will cause a shad kill, particularly back in the creeks where the threadfins are concentrated, and these conditions help make for a rockin' spoon bite.

I have been working outside creek channel bends that also offer other significant structure nearby - standing timber, roadbeds, brush, etc. The fish have been in 40 - 55 feet of water, and I have been vertically jigging a flex-it spoon on top of them. I have been alternating between a silver and a white spoon based on the sun. Sunny days I favor the silver spoon, cloudy the white. Mainly, I have been using spoons in the 3/4 oz range to get them down a bit quicker. Alter your presentation over these fish in terms of your retrieves to find out how the fish want it on that particular day. Sometimes quick snaps work, sometimes a slow methodical yo-yo seems to work best - just depends.

There are also fish stacked in certain areas of the main lake and at the mouths of creeks - these tend to be the bigger fish from my experience. Work back from main lake humps and points until you hit the 40-50 foot zone and look for the timber or other significant structure on your graph that could offer the fish and bait a haven.

The weather is supposed to clear and warm up by this weekend - once the roads are safely passable, you should get out there with the spoon and go to work! Let me know if I can help - I would love to share this technique with you if you are interested - just call me to book a trip. 770-542-7764

I recommend everyone check out the LanierMAPPED.com site ASAP - there are lots of recent changes that I am sure you will be interested in!! And remember gang, use the JIMBO Code at LanierMAPPED.com for a 20% discount on all clips you purchase.

I am still booking Jan/Feb and the Spring - call me TODAY at 770-542-7764 to book your trip!!

Until next time everybody - tight lines!!

Jimbo