Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Report: 3/24/2013

Hey Everyone - Sorry for the long delay since my last report. Lots of reasons for it but no excuses, I should be better about it. I was sick as a dog with the flu for 3 weeks or so and only made it out on a few trips during that period. Also, my youngest daughter had emergency ear surgery last week. She is good now, thank God, and I am feeling human again. Lastly, the weather has been terrible as you all know. I have postponed many of my trips just to ensure we go at a time that my clients are ensured an enjoyable, comfortable trip. So, with that said, let me catch you up on fishing and other interesting stuff. Allow me to begin by announcing an exciting new sponsorship. I recently accepted a "full ride" sponsorship with Shimano and G-Loomis through the Don Coffey company. I look forward to repping these outstanding products as well as others to come in the near future through the Don Coffey relationship. Safe to say my customers will be fishing with the best as many new NRX and GLX rods recently made their way to my door - LOL. I do want to send a big "Thank You" to Randy and his crew with St. Croix. I have enjoyed my time with them and I appreciated the opportunity to be involved with such a classy bunch of people. All the best to them. Finally, onto fishing! We have been working a couple of different productive patterns of late. One is the classic winter "ditch" pattern that I have spoken about in recent posts. That bite is still there and we are catching some solid fish running this pattern. Most of the time, we have used the Fish Head Spin on these fish and they have been in the 10-25 ft range for the most part. A shaky head tipped with a craw immitation has been my second choice for these fish when they are not as active. On sunny days, these fish have been pulling to the docks and can be caught on worms, jigs, and a even ajerkbait on some days. Just depends on their mood. Don't be afraid to fish the very backs of these ditches in the early mornings for some big bites at daylight. The FHS and jerkbait have been our main weapons in this scenario. Also, we have been working rocky main lake points and pockets with a jerkbait and crankbait when the wind is up for some good bites. When no wind, the worm and jig can produce as well. Most of the jerkbait and crankbait fish are in 15 feet or less. The worm and jig fish are often a bit deeper. This may be a repeat for some of you, but going back a couple of weeks, I am happy to report my customer (and now good friend) Ron Clark and I WON the Hammond's Winter Trail Classic Tournament! Ron and I weighed 18.90 pounds and anchored our sack with a 7.88 largemouth that I was fortunate enough to catch right away that Saturday morning. In fact, other than a small upgrade later in the day, Ron and I caught everything we weighed on our first stop. We had a limit at 7:38 AM. I found this area, which was in the back of a small ditch/pocket, while out scouting on Friday. Upon inspection, the graph was loaded with fish, and a couple of bites gave me confidence to come back to that area to start the day on Saturday. When we got in there first thing Saturday, it was on! Ron and I had a blast and really ended out season on a high note. In addition to winning the Classic, we also posted some very good results in the other tournaments in the series. Out of the four regular season tournaments we fished in the Winter Trail, we had 3 top ten finishes including a 2nd, and a 6th place cash. I did some calculating, and had it not been for the deer hunting incident with my Chevy on the morning of the second Hammond's Tournament, we would have contended for the points championship as well. Congrats to Steve Gerbig and Matt Springer for bringing that home this year - well done guys. Well, if the forecast holds, we are finally in for some spring-like weather in the week ahead. I have Friday and Saturday open this coming week, so give me a ring and let's go enjoy some warm weather and fun fishing! Call me now to reserve your spring trip! 770-542-7764 Thanks to all, and May God Bless! Jimbo For Reports on other Georgia Lakes, please make sure to visit: www.havefunfishing.com

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Guide Service Fishing Report: 3/6/2013

Hello Friends and Sponsors - I hope y'all staying warm on this very chilly, blustery day! I am home and have been home the past few days fighting this nasty flu - no fun! I was blessed with an awesome weekend and wanted to share the events and pictures with everyone. On Saturday, my customer (and now good friend) Ron Clark and I WON the Hammond's Winter Trail Classic Tournament! Ron and I weighed 18.90 pounds and anchored our sack with a 7.88 largemouth that I was fortunate enough to catch right away on Saturday morning. In fact, other than a small upgrade later in the day, Ron and I caught everything we weighed on our first stop. We had a limit at 7:38 AM. I found this area, which was in the back of a small ditch/pocket, while out scouting on Friday. Upon inspection, the graph was loaded with fish, and a couple of bites gave me confidence to come back to that area to start the day on Saturday. When we came back Saturday morning to that area, it did not take long for the action to start. I hooked that big LM on my second or third cast back there. I knew it was a monster - the head shake gave it away. Not to mention feeling like I was pulling on a small tank. LOL. As soon as we got it in the net, the Fish Head popped right out of her mouth. Scary! From that point we kept throwing the Fish Head Spin and a jig in that same area to round out our limit. Ron had another big one hooked back there, but it just came unbuttoned about half way to the boat. It was a no fault loss - it just happens! We caught several fish through the day, but as I mentioned, not much help on the weight side. Still, Ron and I had a blast and really ended out season on a high note. In addition to winning the Classic, we also posted some very good results in the other tournaments in the series. Out of the four regular season tournaments we fished in the Winter Trail, we had 3 top ten finishes including a 2nd, and a 6th place cash. I did some calculating, and had it not been for the deer hunting incident with my Chevy on the morning of the second Hammond's Tournament, we would have contended for the points championship as well. Also this weekend, I was proud to be involved with the Spring Classic at Bass Pro Shops. I gave tank demonstrations on both Friday and Saturday nights and represented my awesome sponsors like St. Croix Rods and Sworming Hornet Lures as well. Thanks to everyone that came out and visited this weekend. I enjoyed speaking with and meeting each of you! After a seemingly long recovery time, I am back out on the water tomorrow through Sunday on trips. Next week, I have the 11, 12, 13, and 16 open. The weather looks like it is finally going to warm up and the fishing is already good and should only get better. Give me a call and let's go fish!!! 770-542-7764 For fishing reports on other Georgia lakes, please visit: www.havefunfishing.com Thanks to all, and May God Bless! Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Guide Service Fishing Report: 2/19/2013

Hey Gang - I have been very busy with trips almost everyday for the last 2 weeks. Most have been tournament preparation trips for several different tournaments recently and in the near future. Took me awhile to get some pictures together that I could post! I have been running several different patterns, both North and South, shallow and deep. Lots to chose from out there right now, as you might expect with the water temp hovering around 50, and the days lengthening which prompts the big girls, both spots and LM, to start moving up. We have found some solid 2 - 3.5 lbs limit fish up North in the pockets and ditches. These fish range from 1 to 40 feet deep. Jigs, shaky heads, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and a Fish Head Spin are apt to catch these fish given the conditions on any given day. I prefer the stained water over the clear water up there, but anything is likely to produce. Down south, we have been focusing on rock points for the most part in search of the big spots starting to move up. We have caught a few monsters out there recently. Not a bunch of bites to be had, but the ones you get running this pattern are big. We have caught these fish on worms, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and the FHS. Again, just fish the conditions presented. If the wind is up, chose a moving bait. If no wind, opt for dragging something. I would like to provide more specifics but I just don't think it fair given all the help I have given to the tournament guys - don't want to spoil it for them. I'll be able to provide more details in next week's reports. The highlight for my week was the honor I had of introducing young Noah P. to tournament fishing. he is pictured above with a LM from our catch that day. Noah and his dad Steve have came out on several trips with me over the last year and have really learned alot about our beloved sport. They have came along way, and Saturday Noah and I fished Perry's Hi-Tech Marine tournament out of Laurel Park. The weather was terrible for the most part, but we had a blast, and Noah learned the ins and outs of tournament fishing and loved it. We missed some opportunities through day so our catch was not competitive, but that was not the purpose anyway. Noah was introduced to tournament fishing and the many difference from just fun fishing. Great Job Noah - can't wait to do it again with you!!! And a special thanks to Perry, Trent, and Brett for running a great tournament. You guys should check out this club - great bunch of guys and talented anglers to boot. Also, congrats to Kevin Stowers and his partner Perry who brought home the victory with a mixed bag of heads and spots that weighed 18 and change. Well done guys. I am booked the rest of this week, but I do have this coming Sunday open, Feb 24th and most of the weekdays next week. Sunday's weather looks great for anyone interested in coming out. Hopefully some of the rain will go out of the forecast next week, but it still should be a great fishing week regardless of weather with the fish starting to move up. Give me a call and let's go fish! 770-542-7764 For fishing reports on other Georgia Lakes, please check out: www.havefunfishing.com Thanks to everyone and May God Bless! Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Guide Service Fishing Report: 1/31/2013

Hey Everyone - It is has been awhile since my last report. I have been on the lake several days, but have also taken some time off to be with the family. Many busy days lie ahead with spring fast approaching, so I have enjoyed recharging my batteries over the past few weeks. For January, I have been on trips about half of the days this month, including a one-day jaunt up to Carters with my good customer Uncle Steve, who you may remember comes from Richmond, VA to fish with me several times a year. I had never fished the lake before, but we had a good day up there with the Fish Head Spin, as you can see from Steve's pic above middle. Lanier has been changing a bunch over the month of January as many of you already know. The water level has been rising dramatically with the rains, including the one we got yesterday, which has already raised the level another foot as we sit around 7.5 feet down from full pool. Water temperatures have been fluctuating a bunch as well as the rains have been very warm for this time of year, but the cold temps that follow these storms always quickly brings the lake back down around the 50 degree mark. The bait and fish are scattered, and can be found both shallow and deep. Not much has changed on the fishing front, especially that the best bite literally changes every day. Some days there is a good shallow bite, other days deep right away is the key, and some days mid-depth is the best location. Stay flexible and search for the best bite and run that pattern through the day, pausing to check other options in the other categories mentioned above from time to time. In the early mornings, work a mid-diving crankbait, fish head spin, and a jerkbait shallow in ditches, pockets, and on steeper rocky/clay points. Some creeks have loaded up with bait near the back and the fish are active in these areas, particularly at daylight. Try these type areas or main lake pockets or points first thing in the morning. After the shallow bite slows, we are then working out deeper in ditches and pockets near the main lake. Focus your efforts near sharp drops and ledges in ditches and near the timber line, and fish timber edges as well as right in the thick stuff in the middle of the ditch when you are fishing deep. The worm and jig seem to be the best producers out deep, but don't ignore other options such as a spoon or even a fish head spin, both of which we have used successfully right in the timber. This past week, we had some really good days in the timber from 30-45 feet deep. February is filling up fast for me. I am booked both this weekend and next, and only have all day Tuesday and Thursday morning open next week. As a recap, I have the following dates open in February: 5, 12, 14, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, & 28. The forecast looks great for next week with the temperatures coming back to normal and lots of sunshine with a warming trend! Give me a call and lets go fish! For Fishing Reports on other Georgia Lakes, please visit: www.havefunfishing.com Thanks to all and May God Bless! Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Fishing Guide Service Report: 1/17/2013

Hello Friends and Sponsors - I had the pleasure this past weekend of being involved in presentations on the Bass Tank at the Atlanta Boat Show. My presentations focused on the Fish Head Spin and its effective use in all seasons, but particularly the winter time. I demonstrated all the specifics of effective presentation with the bait, and it was a big hit! The fish in the tank ate the fish head spin (with hooks removed of course!) on every cast. After each presentation, I answered individual questions and personally explained the proper use of the bait. Thanks to everyone that attended - I enjoyed meeting each of you! Also, thanks to Scott Pledger over at Wackem for giving me that cool jersey to wear! Finally, a special thanks to Ken Sturdivant for inviting me to speak at the show and for doing all the fabulous Lowrance presentations - great job Ken! Fishing has been fun this week. The the lake has changed dramatically over the past few days with the unseasonably warm weather and massive rain. The lake is up over 2 feet in just the past 2 days and continues to rise. The water temperature has risen nearly 5 degrees. The good news is that the fish have responded positively and are biting! A number of different patterns are working right now and things are changing each day with the changing conditions. The fish head spin, crankbaits, jigs, jerkbaits, and Davis Shaky Head worms have all been productive. As has been the case, both shallow and deep approaches will work on any given day. The creek ditches remain our focus - we work both shallow and deep each day and then pursue the best options as the day progresses. We have caught fish as shallow as 3-5 feet and as deep as 45-50 feet. Stay flexible in your approach and find the best pattern on any given day and go with it - I recommend staying on the move and finding the active schools of fish willing to feed. Once you find them, your first accurate cast should catch them. The weather looks to be stabilizing the next week with lots of sunshine and good temperatures most of the week. I am booked over this weekend and next weekend, but have most of the weekdays open this coming week. Give me a call and lets go fish and enjoy some sunshine and good fishing!! For fishing reports on other Georgia Lakes, please visit: www.havefunfishing.com

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Guide Service Fishing Report: 1/6/2013

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope that you all had a great holiday season and I wish you all a very prosperous 2013! Fishing has been good the past couple of weeks. I returned on December 27th for trips and have been on the water almost every day, save a couple of rain/wind outs. We have continued to work both shallow and deep for our fish. The FHS bite has slowed a bit for us, but the crankbait has been working well in the same areas. They just seem to prefer that crank lately. This bite seems to be best first thing in the morning shallow in the ditches, but can last through the day. We have also been working 1/4 oz jigs and Davis Shaky Heads in the timber and along the timber lines in those same ditches in the 30-55 foot range for some good bites. The spoon and the jerkbait have seen occasional success, but not consistent. Be creative in finding your ditches to fish. Study your map and look carefully at your contour lines to identify potential productive areas. There are some obvious ones, and then some not so obvious ones...stay sharp! If the water continues to cool, we should see a better concentration of fish and bait out deep. If it remains near 50, look for the fish to remain scattered both shallow and deep for awhile. This week I have all day Wednesday and Thursday open (Jan 9 and 10) as well as Friday morning, Jan 11 available for trips. Give me a ring if you would like to get out!! Thanks to all, and May God Bless - Jimbo

Jimbo's Lake Lanier Guide Service Fishing Report: 12/21/2012

Hey Everyone - We had another great week on the pond as my customers were blessed with some more monster spots as you see above. Despite the inconsistent weather, the big fish really bit well this week. Fish it and they will come. Rain, Shine, or Build-An-Ark type floods, catch monsters with Jimbo on Lanier! LOL. I want to start by sharing this video below with everyone. Just cut and paste this link into your browser to play the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9nSwyRPOHQ My customers Michael Eaton and Jeff Kelley put this awesome video together from our day on the water. This was filmed the day before Thanksgiving this year. As I watched and enjoyed this video, I came to grips with three things: 1. Michael is an incredible video guy - what a fun video and a great memory from an awesome day on our beautiful lake. Thanks Michael - Outstanding job!! 2. I am fat and I need to lose weight! I always knew I was "heavy" like Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket, but this is out of control! I have already started my lifestyle change in what and how I eat. If you are on my boat, make sure to hold me accountable! My goal is a 50 pound weight loss by my birthday in 2013 - June 10. I am looking forward to getting healthier and will soon start an exercise routine to go along with my changed eating habits. 3. I need to stop dipping. I look like an idiot with that stuff in my mouth - and maybe even without it - LOL. Goal for that is to be done by March 1, 2013. Again, feel free to hold me accountable. Now onto fishing this week. With the current weather and water temperatures, my focus area this week was 30 feet or less. There were plenty of big ones in that range to be had. The Fish Head Spin worked in the ditches produced a lot of very good fish for us and some big ones as well. These fish came in 10 feet or less in most cases. A big thanks to the Vision 110 Jerkbait for a few good ones too, including the one that Scott is holding above left. Other than that, the jig and worm worked out to 30 feet or so was the ticket for our bites. Creek Ditches mainly, but a few main lake points worked in there as well. I filled up for this week and next - thanks to everyone that called. I postponed today due to the high winds. My family and I are headed to Indy for Christmas this weekend, but I am back on the water with trips starting December 27th. My next open dates are January 1, 2, 4, and 5. Give me a ring if you would like to get out on any of those days. Lastly, I would request that each and every one of us keep the entire Hammond's Family in our prayers each day. They are going through some very difficult times right now and need our support. May God Bless them and keep them. I wish everyone of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and I look forward to another awesome and incredible 2013 with everyone on our beautiful and bountiful Lake Lanier! For fishing reports on other Georgia Lakes, please visit: www.havefunfishing.com May God Bless! Jimbo