Good morning folks, this is Artificial Lure with your November 26, 2025, Lake Lanier fishing report. We’re heading into a classic late fall morning here in north Georgia—temps are expected to edge from the upper 50s into the low 70s by midday, with sunrise rolling in at 7:13 a.m. and sunset landing at 5:27 p.m. Winds today are calm out of the south at about 7 knots according to Port Royale Marina’s forecast, and we’ve got just a slight chance of afternoon showers, so pack your rain jacket if you’re planning to fish through the evening.

Lake Lanier’s water level is holding steady, with visibility a bit murky around creek mouths thanks to some runoff earlier in the week. The First Quarter Moon is giving us bite windows right around dawn, again in the early evening, and a solid midday minor period. According to FishingReminder, your best bet for major fish activity is from 5:43 to 7:43 this morning and then again from 6:02 to 8:02 tonight. If you can swing it, hit the water for that post-work bite.

Now, let’s talk activity. The stripers are starting to chase schools of blueback herring up into the mid-lake creek pockets—expect strong action around Flowery Branch and up into Chestatee Bay, especially in the early morning. Anglers have been reporting striper in the 10- to 20-pound class caught on live herring as well as trolling with white bucktail jigs and flukes. Lanier Islands Resort reviews mention folks catching nice spots and stripers right from shore at daylight. If you’re boatless, don’t be shy about working those bank points and channel swings.

The spotted bass bite is firing up as water temps cool. Most folks are hooking up with fish in the 15- to 18-inch range—numbers are good, and quality’s not bad. Your best bet is a finesse worm on a shaky head around brush piles in the 18 to 25 foot range, especially off deeper docks in Big Creek and Balus Creek. Ned rigs and drop shots are scoring well too.

Best lures right now: for spots, you can’t go wrong with a 3.5 to 4-inch Keitech swimbait in electric shad or KY blue, dragged slow on a 3/8 oz ballhead jig. Some folks finessing shaky heads with Robo Worms in morning dawn and green pumpkin are reporting limits before noon. For stripers, white bucktail jigs, flukes on lead heads, and trolling Captain Mack’s umbrella rigs or live bluebacks are working. If you’re chasing crappie, target brush in 15 to 22 feet and fish small hair jigs tipped with minnows.

For live bait, herring reigns supreme for stripers and bigger spots. If you’re after numbers or a mixed bag, medium shiners under a slip float off deeper docks in Chattahoochee Bay and Flat Creek will keep rods bent.

Hot spots to focus on: Flowery Branch Bay and Chestatee Bay are both producing good mixed bags, especially at sunup. For bank anglers, Lanier Islands Resort offers easy access with ample shoreline. If you’re on a boat, Big Creek's long points and the big flats off River Forks are prime right now. Don’t sleep on Gainesville Marina for late afternoon dock fishing—the bait has stacked up and the action can be fast and furious as the sun drops.

No tides to worry about this far inland—just pay attention to wind direction and boat traffic, especially on the north end. Finally, a friendly reminder for all: keep an eye out for those invasive mystery snails that’ve been spotted in the lake, and always clean your gear before moving spots.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Lanier fishing report—this is Artificial Lure reminding you to subscribe so you never miss the bite!

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