Lanier Fishing Report: Less Water, More Fish as Drought Reveals Hidden Hotspots for Bass, Stripers, and Catfish

Lake Lanier regulars, this is Artificial Lure with your Friday morning fishing report for August 15, 2025.

The water’s low — lower than we’ve seen in a while — thanks to that long stretch of dry weather, with acres of mud flats showing up around the bends and a few old relics surfacing. Locals say the drought’s been letting the lake bed breathe, revealing everything from sunken cars to old foundations. But don’t let the water scare you off — because less water means less places for the fish to hide, and that’s working in our favor. Parrott and his crew posted up yesterday with ten rods on one of those fresh peninsulas and landed a good catfish and a couple of stripers pushing ten pounds before lunchtime.

Weather’s classic late summer Georgia: humid, mid-70s early, creeping up towards upper 80s by midday, with skies partly cloudy. A sprinkle or two is possible, but it’s nothing that’ll chase you off the water — if anything, it’ll stir up more action. Rainy weather has been productive this week, especially in those shallows.

Sunrise hit at 6:48 AM this morning, so most folks started casting in the gray light. Sunset will hit just after 8:22 PM. For optimal fishing, you’ll want to work the early morning and right before dusk.

Bass anglers, folks have been tearing up the shallows with soft plastics and topwater. The YouTube crowd is swearing by white and chartreuse buzzbaits and poppers especially after a quick shower. If you want a tried-and-true Lanier approach, go with a green pumpkin worm or big paddletail swimbait. Several summer bass in the 2–4 pound range were reported in the coves yesterday.

Stripers have moved in tighter, so focus on points and deeper channels closest to shallow mud flats. Live blueback herring is best for bait, but locals are having luck with weightless flukes and big spoons jigged just off bottom. A couple of ten-pounders were caught off a peninsula near the drying banks.

Catfish are hunkered along the muddy ledges. Go with chicken liver, stinkbait, or nightcrawlers for reliable bites. Yesterday, one group hauled in a whiskerfish close to eight pounds just before the wind picked up. Crappie reports are few, but if you’re feeling patient, drop a minnow under a float near bridge pilings or deeper brush.

For freshwater panfish, such as bluegill, the kids are getting easy action on worms and small beetle spins in the quiet pockets.

Never discount the lake’s ghosts: haunted tales from old town remnants make the evening bite extra interesting. Locals say the fish — and maybe a few spirits — come alive when sundown hits.

A couple of suggested hot spots for today:
- **Bald Ridge Creek:** Low water’s exposed new edges, and stripers are pressing closer to shore, especially at dawn.
- **Six Mile Creek Peninsula:** The muddy flats are dropping fast, concentrating bass and channel cats — set up early for best results.

Lanier’s lower water may be tough on the boat launch, but it’s prime fishing for bank anglers. Less lake, more fish in reach. Pack your patience, your best lures, and a cooler for your haul.

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