Lake Lanier Heating Up with Spotted Bass and Crappie Bites This June

Lake Lanier is buzzing this June morning, with the water level sitting a bit above full pool and surface temps riding in the high 70s. Clarity across the lake remains mostly clear, making for ideal sight-fishing conditions. First light broke over Lanier at 6:25 AM, and sunset will tuck us in at 8:43 PM—a solid window for bending a rod today.

No tidal swings here since Lanier is a reservoir, but don’t let that slow your roll—the post-spawn topwater bite is as hot as a Georgia summer afternoon. According to Jimbo’s Lake Lanier Spotted Bass Guide Service, wolfpacks of spotted bass are tearing up the surface off brushpiles in 20 to 25 feet of water, especially around long points and main-lake humps. There’s nothing quite like watching a spotted bass rocket up and explode on a plug in June.

Moving baits are the ticket. Topwater plugs—think Gunfish, IMA Skimmer, and chrome walking baits—are drawing strikes around the brush and schooling fish near points and reef poles. White spinnerbaits with silver willow blades, slow-rolled near rocky points, have been picking off fish over four pounds. If the topwater slows, a jerkbait with a slow retrieve or a shakey head rigged with a green pumpkin or Trixster Tamale worm will still fill the well, especially around docks and shallow rock. Swimbaits like a three-inch Keitech on a Spot Choker underspin are consistent producers deeper, especially on brush and drop-offs.

Bass aren’t the only thing biting: crappie are sliding off the banks and starting to suspend in 8 to 20 feet of water, while stripers are chasing bait in the deeper creek arms. For the slabs, keep trolling jigs or minnows on long lines around docks and brush. For stripers, target the mouths of creeks like Flowery Branch and Flat Creek with live herring or larger swim shads.

For hot spots, you can’t go wrong with Bald Ridge Creek on the southeast side for bass and crappie. Browns Bridge is a go-to for trophy spotted bass and offers deep, clear water with plenty of rocky cover. Flat Creek is another reliable crappie honey hole. And if you want stripers, Flowery Branch is a summer favorite, with plenty of bait drawing in big fish.

The wind has been a bonus for anglers, especially when it sweeps across main-lake points and draws baitfish in tight. Don’t forget to watch for schooling activity on the surface—have that topwater tied on and ready.

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