Spencer Jones
Lanier’s spawning spotted bass hold on stump-studded clay banks, on gravel shallows and near boat docks in May. The spots are so jammed near shore that if a lure comes near a fish it’s almost always hit. The most popular lure on Lanier is a six-inch, Texas-rigged Zoom worm in smoke-glitter, sand or icicle color. Jig-and-pig combinations work well, too. A quarter-ounce, single-blade spinnerbait with a lime-green skirt is another effective lure, especially for big spots. Some anglers will throw in-line spinners or live salmanders on weedless hooks with no weight. Some of the more productive areas for spring spotted bass are Flowery Branch and Bald Ridge, Shoal, Big, Flat and Balus creeks. Contact: Lanier Harbor Marina (770-945-2884).
