April 19 - 21 Lake Lanier, Ga --- OK, just got back from Lake Lanier, Georgia. Fished with Dale Sheets of Lineside Outfitters, 770-888-9897. His web site is www.strictlystriper.com . Had a great trip but fishing was slow. I have to hand it to Dale, he worked from the time we left the dock until the time we returned. Each morning we would go out to the coves where the water was warmer and Dale would throw a 12 foot net to catch Gizzard Shad, our bait for the day. We trolled the shad which were from 8 to about 16 inches about 30 to 40 feet behind the boat. We tried to say in water that was from 3 to about 15 feet deep. Primarily, we fished points and areas where the bottom had structure and drop offs. We fished for 3 days and only landed 6 fish but the fish were quality fish. I sure wish we could count on the same quality of fish in this area, I would probably change my habits and start fishing weekends. My fishing partners were my Brothers, Ron from Florida and Andy from Georgia. The first day was very slow, we only landed one fish but lost 3. Had we landed all four fish, we would have had a great day. The size of the fish was rewarding. During the entire excursion, we only got large fish. That is to say, 13 to 18 pounds. To the upper left is the first fish of the trip. The second day we did better with hookups. We hooked 3 fish and landed 2 of the 3. The fish were all just beautiful. All females but in Lake Lanier, they cannot spawn. They think they can and they develop eggs and the males develop sperm but the water conditions are such that they cannot spawn successfully. Anyway, on the second day we fished the same areas as we did the first day and fish seemed to be holding in the same general spots. To the right is the second fish of the trip, caught by my brother Ron. The third fish was caught by Andy and it make his day, as well as Dale's day. Poor Dale, he worked every minute we were out there and finally got some reward. To the left is Andy with his catch. Now, for day three!!!!. Day three was the day from HELL. We were on the water at about 7:30am and fished all the successful areas from the previous two days with NO LUCK. Finally, after noon, we decided to go up the river to see if the fish had started their attempt at spawning. We ran for about 8 miles up the lake and abut 5 miles up the river. Didn't even see a fish rise!!!!! After drifting the entire 5 miles of river, we pulled up and started back toward the dock. I really thought we were going to get SKUNKED!! We stopped at an area where Andy got a fish the day before and started trolling. Now it was about 5:00pm and we still had no fish, not even a bite. We made one pass and had a fish or two attempt to take our offering but no hookups. Then on the way back, the center rod loaded up and within seconds, one of the outside rods loaded up as well. Both Ron and I had a fish on at the same time. Yes, a DOUBLE!!! and we landed both fish. Picture is to the right. I could not believe that after a full day of fishing and not even one bite, we had a double. Dale was determined to get at least one more fish, making the total 6, two fish for each of us. His perseverance paid off because we made two more passes and Andy's rod went down. Another nice fish and a great way to end our trip. I could not have been more pleased with the size of the fish and we all had a great time. Below is a pictureof the last days catch and a picture of Dale Sheets holding the largest fish.
Lineside Outfitters, 770-888-9897. His web site is 
Ron from Florida and Andy from Georgia. The first day was very slow, we only landed one fish but lost 3. Had we landed all four fish, we would have had a great day. The size of the fish was rewarding. During the entire excursion, we only got large fish. That is to say, 13 to 18 pounds. To the upper left is the first fish of the trip. The second day we did better with 
hookups. We hooked 3 fish and landed 2 of the 3. The fish were all just beautiful. All females but in Lake Lanier, they cannot spawn. They think they can and they develop eggs and the males develop sperm but the water conditions are such that they cannot spawn successfully. Anyway, on the second day we fished the same areas as we did the first day and fish seemed to be holding in the same general spots. To the right is the second fish of the trip, caught by my brother Ron. The third fish was caught by Andy and it make his
day, as well as Dale's day. Poor Dale, he worked every minute we were out there and finally got some reward. To the left is Andy with his catch. Now, for day three!!!!. Day three was the day from HELL. We were on the water at about 7:30am and fished all the successful areas from the previous two days with NO LUCK. Finally, after noon, we decided to go up the river to see if the fish had started their attempt at spawning. We ran for about 8 miles up the lake and abut 5 miles up 
the river. Didn't even see a fish rise!!!!! After drifting the entire 5 miles of river, we pulled up and started back toward the dock. I really thought we were going to get SKUNKED!! We stopped at an area where Andy got a fish the day before and started trolling. Now it was about 5:00pm and we still had no fish, not even a bite. We made one pass and had a fish or two attempt to take our offering but no hookups. Then on the way back, the center rod loaded up and within seconds, one of the outside rods loaded up as well. Both Ron and I had a fish on at the same time. Yes, a DOUBLE!!! and we landed both fish. Picture is to the right. I could not believe that after a full day of fishing and not even one bite, we had a double. Dale was determined to get at least one more fish, making the total 6, two fish for each of us. His perseverance paid off because we made two more passes and Andy's rod went down. Another nice fish and a great way to end our trip. I could not have been more pleased with the size of the fish and we all had a great time. Below is a pictureof the last days catch and a picture of Dale Sheets holding the largest fish.