Fishing Lake Lanier
AKA: Lake Sidney Lanier
Popular Fish Species Lake Lanier, GA
Striped Bass Fishing
Lake Sidney Lanier is notorious for excellent striped bass fishing. Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lake Lanier. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.
Largemouth Bass Fishing
Lake Lanier offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass. Lately the fishing here for bass has continued to impress bass fishing enthusiasts. Some very big bass roam Lake Lanier, thanks to excellent fisheries management by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as the availability of extensive cover for both baitfish and bass. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Lake Lanier on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers.
Crappie Fishing
Black and white crappie both reside in Lake Lanier, with black crappie typically out-weighing white crappie. They do school together so when you find them you may catch both species. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.
Lake Lanier Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth, white bass, yellow perch, striped bass and longnose gar at Lake Sidney Lanier in Georgia.
Notorious for great striped bass fishing, Lake Lanier AKA Lake Sidney Lanier is a favorite for striper anglers. In addition to being a great striper fishery, the lake has healthy populations of catfish, bass, crappie, sunfish, walleye, perch, and gar. It is also stocked with rainbow trout.
This 37,000-acre reservoir located in the upper-central portion of the state has almost 700 miles of shoreline and a bunch of islands to fish around. There are areas with public access for fishing from the bank, but the lake is ideal for fishing from a boat. Dozens of boat launch ramps handle pleasure boats, fishing boats and pontoon boats with plenty of parking.
Fishing report for Lake Lanier
Primary fish species residing in Lake Lanier
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Lake Sidney Lanier Amenities
Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Bait Shack Watersports
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoons
678 234-4371
Captain Watersports
Rentals: Pontoon boats
678 643-8010
Gainesville Marina
Rentals: Pontoon boats
770 536-2171
Port Royale Marina
Rentals: Pontoon boats
770 887-5715
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Balus Creek Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off Mountain View Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.
Big Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off Big Creek Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.
Bolding Mill Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Chestatee Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Charleston Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Charleston Park Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Clarks Bridge Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, at the north end of the Clarks Bridge Road Bridge, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Duckett Mill Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Duckett Mill Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
East Bank Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southern section of the lake, off East Bank Park Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Keith Bridge Access Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Old Keith Bridge Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Lanier Park Access Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southern section of the lake, off East Bank Park Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Little Hall Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Little Hall Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks (for tournaments) and paved parking.
Little Ridge Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Lanier Beach South Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Little River Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Little River Park Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Long Hollow Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Bryant Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Mountain View Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Hulsey Circle, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Mary Alice Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Mary Alice Park Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.
Old Federal Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off Jim Crow Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.
Robinson Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Robinson Park Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Sardis Creek Access Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off A Thomas Road Exd, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Shoal Creek Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southern section of the lake, off Shadburn Ferry Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Tidwell Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Sunrise Lane, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Two Mile Creek Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Bethel Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Vanns Tavern Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Vanns Tavern Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
War Hill Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off 318 Road, this is a five-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Young Deer Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Heard Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.
Marinas
Gainesville Marina
2145 Dawsonville Hwy
Gainesville, GA 30501
770 536-2171
Habersham Marina
2200 Habersham Marina Rd
Cumming, GA 30041
770 887-5432
Holiday Marina On Lake Lanier
6900 Lanier Islands Parkway
Buford, GA 30518
770 945-7201
Port of Indecision Marina
7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy
Buford, Georgia 30518
470 323-3444
Port Royale Marina
8800 Port Royale Dr
Gainesville, GA 30506
770 887-5715
Safe Harbor Aqualand Marina
6800 Lights Ferry Rd
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
770 967-6811
Safe Harbor Hideaway Bay Marina
6334 Mitchell Street
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
770 967-5500
Sunrise Cove Marina
5725 Flat Creek Rd
Gainesville, GA 30504
770 536-8599
Fishing Guides On Lake Lanier
Catching Not Fishing Guide Service - striped bass
Big Bite Charters - bass, crappie, stripers
If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.
Fishing License
Click here for a Georgia Fishing License.
Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby
Don Carter State Park Campground - 678 450-7726
River Forks Park Campground - 770 531-3952
Old Federal Campground - 770 967-6757
Van Pugh North Park Campground - 770 945-9531
Van Pugh South Campground - 770 967-6315
Shoal Creek Campground - 678 482-0332
Sawnee Campground - 770 887-0592
Bald Ridge Creek Campground - 770 889-1591
Shady Cove Campground - 770 205-6850
Shady Grove RV Park Campground - 770 887-8906
Bolding Mill Campground - 770 534-6960
Lake Lanier GA Map - Fishing & Camping Areas
Contact Information
Lake Lanier
Holiday Marina On Lake Lanier
6900 Lanier Islands Pkwy
Buford, GA 30518
770 945-7201
Fishing lakes in each state.
021425
Lake Sidney Lanier in Georgia.
GEORGIA
Information about fishing lakes in Georgia
Lake Lanier is a great destination for bass, rainbow trout, striped bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, walleye and perch fishing in the north-central portion of GA.
