Striper fishing on Lake Lanier is great!

Striper fishing is good. The fish are biting but as always finding them is the challenge. With the increase in temperature the fish haved moved out into deeper water. I have been focusing on points over a 40 to 70 foot bottom in main lake and creek mouths. I am still catching a few fish early on weighted free lines but down rods at 25 to 35 feet has been the top producer. I have also had reports of fish being caught with down rods in pockets over a 60 to 70 foot bottom. You basically have two options. One is to run and gun deep water points with down rods and the other is to use your Lowrance electronics and check pockets and fingers from 70 to 40 feet until you find fish. I rig my down rods with 20lb test fluorocarbon main line, a 2 ounce weight and a 6 to 7 foot 12lb test fluorocarbon leader with a number 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu octopus hook depending on the size of the herring. I use the same set up for my free lines with a couple of split shots instead of the 2 ounce weight. Check your herring often! I have had some difficulty keeping Herring alive in some creeks. The Umbrella rig bite has picked up and should only get better as the water continues to warm. I am putting my downriggers on this week and hope to give them a try this week. Chestatee Bay, Flat Creek, Six Mile Creek and Baldridge Creek are good places to start