Lake Lanier Fishing Report: Spotted Bass, White Bass, and Deep Stripers Biting on Lures and Baits

Lake Lanier folks, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 fishing report. First light crept over the blueback herring schools at 6:55 a.m., and we’ll have daylight right up to 8:31 p.m., so there’s plenty of time on the water today.

Weather is classic Georgia August—expect it hot and humid, high near 94°F by mid-afternoon with only a light wind out of the southwest. Water temp’s been steady at around 82 degrees, so fish are pushing deeper by noon. No tide on Lake Lanier, but water levels have been a bit low, concentrating fish on ledges and long points.

Spotted bass action has been strong, especially in that early morning bite window. This week, multiple anglers have reported good numbers of 2–3 pound spots caught off laydowns and mid-lake points. Yesterday’s hot ticket was cranking with a Yo-Zuri 3DB Series Mid Range 1.5, but since that’s been tough to find locally, anglers have been reaching for the Strike King 3XD in citrus shad. Crankbaits diving 7–12 feet are getting smacked over brush, especially near Brown’s Bridge and East Bank Park, two consistent August producers according to multiple anglers on Omnia Fishing.

Some of the larger spots are stacking a bit deeper—think 20–35 foot brush piles and ledges—so don’t hesitate to drop a shaky head or a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm down if you see arches on the graph mid-morning. Swimbaits like the Keitech 3.8” in Sight Flash have drawn bigger fish, especially when worked slow off drop-offs near the main channel.

White bass are running hard in schools right around dawn and dusk. If you’ve got kids in the boat or just want steady action, bust out an underspin or silver spoon and chase the birds working just outside the mouth of Big Creek. Folks have been pulling up double headers on light tackle.

As for other bites, an early fluke or topwater around dock lights can nail a few surprise stripers, but the stronger linesides have moved deep by 9 a.m. and require downlines with live bluebacks—plan to hunt them near the river channel bends past Little River and Flat Creek.

For best baits, in addition to crankbaits and shaky heads, don’t overlook the tried-and-true Billy Baits Mini Turbo Slammer in silver flake, available at West Marine in town. This lure has taken several mixed bags this week, including a few bonus magnum white perch.

Hot spots this week: Brown’s Bridge is holding both spotted bass and some deeper largemouth; around East Bank Park there have been solid topwater flurries before 8 a.m. For numbers, run to the mouth of Big Creek or the humps south of Van Pugh Park—these have produced steady catches and active schools on the feed both dawn and dusk.

Quick tip—beat the pleasure boats by launching early and focusing on offshore structure till at least 10 a.m., then slide up under shaded docks or deeper timber midday if you’re hanging in.

That’s your Lanier rundown for August 13. Thanks for tuning in to your local fishing update. Be sure to subscribe for more reports and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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