July Lake Lanier Striper Fishing Report

The summer bite is starting to shape up.  The water temperatures are in the mid to high 80's and the thermocline is starting to set up.  We are starting to see more and more schools of stripers and the fishing is getting hot. 

 

Deep pockets off the main lake are your best places to start looking for these schools.  If there is a hump up to about 30 feet or so in the pocket, make sure you are there at first light. As the morning progresses, move out to the 60-80 foot depths and look for small pods of bait on your Lowrance at the 25 foot depth.  There have been lots of scattered singles and small schools down about 30-40 feet deep wherever you find those balls of bait.  Make sure you are trolling a 1 1/2 Captain Mack's Bucktail Jig with either a chartreuse or white trailer 25-30 feet down on your Cannon Downrigger or 8-9 colors back with lead core while you are looking for those scattered fish.  Once you find a good group of fish, put downlines with blueback herring on a 6-7 foot 12 lb fluorocarbon leader to make it a great day of fishing.