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
Click here for fishing boat rentals available at this lake.
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.
Marinas
Click here for marinas available at this lake.
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
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.
062225
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.
