Lanier question: shoot docks, or long-line troll?

Taking all rods anyway in the morning (up the north end), but which do you think would work better right now? I'm no expert, but surface temps are getting low 70s and water seems a little murky from turnover. Figured I'd troll at daybreak for an hour or two; if the fish don't bite, start shooting docks after the sun is up. Where are the crappie supposed to be this time of year?

I know basically, in the fall. they follow the shad/forage which migrate up the creeks, unless I have that wrong. So they go deep in the hot summer, and when fall arrives (finally), the lake cools down, and the shad go shallower, the crappie return to the shallower places and docks?

All advice is welcome. I have not caught a single crappie on Lanier (yet). Pitiful, I know. I question my angling skills daily. White Flag Icon

I noticed you posted this at 11:22 p.m. I know how that is. It is called crappie crazy. I have the same disease. I have never fished Lanier so I can't tell you where the fish are but I suspect there are some under the docks and I am pretty sure there are some on timber and brush piles. I can tell you where some are in Oconee and the water temperatures are about the same as Lanier or a bit warmer. In Oconee there are a lot of fish still tight to the trees and brush piles. I do not know if Lanier has standing timber but I would think there are lots of brush piles. I'm not trying to be flippant but if you are fishing where there are no crappie, you are not going to catch any crappie. Lanier is a big place and locating the crappie may be like the needle in the haystack so I would recommend the following: hire a guide if you can't find a local who fishes for crappie. The only person I know who occasionally fishes Lanier is Striperking. You may want to send him a PM. I wish I could be of more help. Don't give up. They are there somewhere.

Well, I finally got on some crappie today. Yay! I went up north on a river arm and when I got to the ramp before daylight, there were shad everywhere. I started long-lining right there, and ended up boating about 15, along with a number of spotted bass which wrecked my lines every time I pulled thru a school of 'em. At one point I had 5 bass on 4 rods at the same time. What a mess. I didn't mind too much. I wasn't keeping fish this morning so all were released.

After the sun came up the bite died off, so I started cruising docks looking for fish under them. I didn't find any, but by one dock there was a brush pile loaded with fish. I could not get any to bite, though. Called it quits at noon, had to be home for my birthday dinner with the kids. A great morning, and I am glad to finally break the ice on these crappie fish. I'll post some pics later.

Happy Birthday jawjatek hope u have a great day.
LittleJohn

What you witnessed on Lanier is typical for that lake. Trolling first thing and then the fish go to the docks or brush piles.If you were catching them there early and they quit biting they did not go far. The fishing up the Chestatee is better right now. I'm usually on Lanier some in the spring and I usually don't have a problem catching them trolling pretty much all day.Lanier has a good crappie population and I have caught some big fish out of that lake from the south end to the north. It's a lot of water to learn but I've been fishing it for 25+ years. If I were you I would concentrate most of my efforts up the chestatee or up the Chattahoochee and stay out of the south end. Good Luck

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Got on 'em good today, just not that many keepers. After trolling dark/daybreak to about 10AM, I started vertical jigging brushpiles I found on SI, then stopping for a closer look on livescope. I found a great pile with lots of fish, but they were mostly 9s. My boat min is 11.
Caught some more dang spotted bass, and a monster carp hit a Southern Pro Hot Grub being trolled deep. With a crappie stix and 4 lb test, it was 15 minutes of patient fighting before I ever saw the fish. I was pretty sure it was a big carp, but was hoping for something edible. LOL
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