Lake Lanier

[Lawyer33]

I have a house on Lanier a litlle north of the rowing venue in a cove. I can catch catfish nearly anytime with nearly anything from my dock. They are all 2lbs or less (mostly less). I know there have to be some big cats around, but can never seem to catch any. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Klag]

Bigger bait. Try big cut bait with a 4/0 hook. A big bream head keeps the little guys away, hooked through the eye still gets good hookups.

I've been to Lanier a few times lately, got one good size channel cat, and about 10 small white cats... the white cats are out in full force.

I've found that the white cats seem to be out more in the spring and early summer, and then go away and the channels are more common starting mid-summer all the way through the fall.

[Klag]

heres one of them dinky white cats... this one from the bank at Van Pugh

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/pulverize1/spring004.jpg

[Lawyer33]

Thanks. That picture of the "white cat" is what I catch. Never heard them called white cats. I'll try the bream. Do you fish it on the bottom?

[Klag]

Thanks. That picture of the "white cat" is what I catch. Never heard them called white cats. I'll try the bream. Do you fish it on the bottom?


Yea, I only fish on the bottom. Cut bait or old shrimp are all that I use.

The quickest way to tell the difference between the white cat and channel cats are that white cat does NOT have a forked tail like the channel cats do. White cats also have a big giant head, and white chin barbells (the 2 small ones under the jaw). Whereas I've never had a Lanier channel cat swallow a circle hook, them white cats seem to swallow deep almost every time.

White cats dont get very big either, get one over 3lbs and you might have the Lanier record :)





WHITE CATFISH

Scientific Name: Ameiurus catus

Identification

A member of the bullhead (http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg03_Fishing/profiles/pages/Brown_bullhead.htm) group of catfishes, the white catfish is usually blue-gray above, fading to gray on sides with a white belly. It has a moderately forked tail with rounded ends, and its upper jaw extends slightly beyond the lower. The white catfish is sometimes mistaken for the channel catfish (http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg03_Fishing/profiles/pages/channel_catfish.htm), but the white catfish has a much wider head and lacks black spots on its sides.

Habitats and Habits

Unlike flathead (http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg03_Fishing/profiles/pages/flathead_catfish.htm) and blue catfish (http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg03_Fishing/profiles/pages/Blue_catfish.htm), white catfish are native to rivers and streams that flow to the Atlantic Ocean. They can also be found in the French Broad and Pigeon rivers, although they may have been stocked in these Tennessee River tributaries. While quite common, white catfish are often overlooked. This may be in part to their small size compared to flathead, blue and channel catfish. However, these fish are aggressive feeders and have a tendency to feed more during the daytime than other catfish.

Fishing Techniques

White catfish make excellent table fare, and anglers can catch them using many of the same methods for other catfish. Worms, minnows, scented baits and hellgrammites fished on or near the bottom work well.

[Klag]

Here is a picture of a Lanier flathead. I did not catch this.

This is the only actual flathead I've seen from Lanier. Heard many stories, but never seen proof like this :)

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/pulverize1/LanierFlathead2.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/pulverize1/LanierFlathead.jpg

[catfisherman_eky3]

Welcome to the BOC its great to have you aboard, if you can catch some small blue gills and stuff like that you can use small blue gills, and you can catch some bigger ones and cut the heads off of them and use them, plus shrimp chicken livers and stuff like that is good channel baits good luck and keep us informed on how you do.

[Lawyer33]

Thanks for the information. I am not getting to fish much due to the the low lake levels. Soon as I can I will be back at it. Walked down the bank of my cove and fished last week. Caught a one pounder or so, but no other cats. Did catch bluegill.

[Klag]

I've been going about once a week, but I think the cats might be on the bed, the bite has slowed a bit. The carp have been active and are fun to catch though :)

[papasage]

if you want to catch a big flathead use a whole live brim . they don`t eat ded fish like channels or blue cats do . the bigger one are better to eat . like 30 lbs and bigger are still good to eat.

[Klag]

if you want to catch a big flathead use a whole live brim . they don`t eat ded fish like channels or blue cats do . the bigger one are better to eat . like 30 lbs and bigger are still good to eat.

Flatheads are EXTREMELY rare on Lanier. In 10 years of living near the lake, there has only been on confirmed catch that I've been aware of. No blues either. Just channel and white cats.

[catfishtonyd]

I fish Lanier alot. What do you use for carp bait? I like to put a line out for them when I'm catfishing.

[Klag]

I fish Lanier alot. What do you use for carp bait? I like to put a line out for them when I'm catfishing.

I used to put out corn, regular canned corn one one line but I gave up after a few weeks of nothing. I have caught a few carp lately out of Lanier - on shrimp. Shrimp is a good bait for both cats and carp. I get more bites on cut Bluebacks, but no carp. Shrimp gets both :)

[Lawyer33]

There are a lot of big carp up north of clark's Bridge. They are fun to catch.

[Klag]

There are a lot of big carp up north of clark's Bridge. They are fun to catch.

What do you normally catch them on? I'd like to catch some big carp :) I'm not familiar with that area though, any bank access?

[catfishtonyd]

I just thought I would let you folks know that over the weekend my wife caught her largest channel cat yet. It weighted 4 lbs. and she really had a time getting it in using her Zebco 33. We were fishing from the bank about mid lake using Magic Bait (Night crawler formula).

[Tyrone Stewart]

go to pro-cure.com the best scent from the west coast

[Tyrone Stewart]

these scent are so excellent, I always out fish who ever i fish with for what ever this stuff really works well for all types of fishing:wink:

[Lawyer33]

The way I catch carp is I take a loaf of bread and start throwing small compressed pieces in the water. If carp are around, they will start coming to the top and sucking the bread off the surface. From there I put a piece on my hook with no sinker and wait. There are carp up around lula bridge and you can fish from the bank there. About this time of year you will see guys up there bow hunting for them in the shallows.

[chambers bd]

Flatheads are EXTREMELY rare on Lanier. In 10 years of living near the lake, there has only been on confirmed catch that I've been aware of. No blues either. Just channel and white cats.
Their are photos of some blues in my photo section.

[Klag]

Their are photos of some blues in my photo section.

It was confirmed by the DNR no blue cats in Lanier. Just white cats, channels, and the few and far between flatheads.

[chambers bd]

DNR doesnt always get it right every time, but they came out of lanier. I be glad to take them where I caught them?



Here is todays catch at balrus creek I think?

[chambers bd]

More from today at lanier, Balrus creek!

[chambers bd]

More picture from lanier today!:big_smile:

[chambers bd]

And the last from lake lanier today!

[chambers bd]

proof is in the pudding!:wink:

[chambers bd]

There was a thread not too long ago on the GON forums, it was confirmed by the DNR no blue cats in Lanier. Just white cats, channels, and the few and far between flatheads.


This on the corp of engineers web page for lake lanier it tells you the type of all fish in the lake!

Catfish Family
Ictaluridae

Ictaluridae is the bullhead catfish family. This is the largest family of freshwater fishes endemic to North America, north of Mexico. There are 19 species that occur in Georgia with 3 common in Lake Lanier. Four pairs of barbels around the mouth, no scales, stout spines at the pectoral and dorsal fin origins, and abdominal pelvic fins are characteristics of the family. These fish also have what is known as an adipose fin, which is a fleshy section of skin in the rear dorsal area. The function of this fin is unclear at this time. The fish in this family are mainly active at night when they use their specialized senses to search the substrate for food. There is a wide range in the size of species in this family, the smallest being only a few inches up to the giant blue catfish that can reach up to 5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds.

http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/agfc_ccat2_small.jpg (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/Channel_Cat.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/whitecat_small.gif (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/White_Catfish.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/agfc_brwnbullhead2_small.jpg (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/Brown_Bullhead.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/FishSpecies.htm

[Klag]

proof is in the pudding!:wink:

Nice fish! Those are all channel cats. Also that link you posted about Lanier specifically says 3 types, and none of those 3 listed are blue cats (it lists channel, white and bullheads).

There are no blue cats in Lanier :)

[Klag]

This on the corp of engineers web page for lake lanier it tells you the type of all fish in the lake!

Catfish Family
Ictaluridae

Ictaluridae is the bullhead catfish family. This is the largest family of freshwater fishes endemic to North America, north of Mexico. There are 19 species that occur in Georgia with 3 common in Lake Lanier. Four pairs of barbels around the mouth, no scales, stout spines at the pectoral and dorsal fin origins, and abdominal pelvic fins are characteristics of the family. These fish also have what is known as an adipose fin, which is a fleshy section of skin in the rear dorsal area. The function of this fin is unclear at this time. The fish in this family are mainly active at night when they use their specialized senses to search the substrate for food. There is a wide range in the size of species in this family, the smallest being only a few inches up to the giant blue catfish that can reach up to 5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds.

http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/agfc_ccat2_small.jpg (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/Channel_Cat.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/whitecat_small.gif (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/White_Catfish.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/images2/photos/FishPictures/agfc_brwnbullhead2_small.jpg (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/fishing/Brown_Bullhead.htm) http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/FishSpecies.htm (http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/FishSpecies.htm)

This paragraph is a description of the catfish family in general. On your own link, under the description of the catfish - it lists the 3 types of catfish in Lanier. Those 3 are channel cat, white cat, and bullheads.

[chambers bd]

This paragraph is a description of the catfish family in general. On your own link, under the description of the catfish - it lists the 3 types of catfish in Lanier. Those 3 are channel cat, white cat, and bullheads.


There are 19 species that occur in Georgia with 3 common in Lake Lanier. Four pairs of barbels around the mouth, no scales, stout spines at the pectoral and dorsal fin origins, and abdominal pelvic fins are characteristics of the family. These fish also have what is known as an adipose fin, which is a fleshy section of skin in the rear dorsal area. The function of this fin is unclear at this time. The fish in this family are mainly active at night when they use their specialized senses to search the substrate for food.


There is a wide range in the size of species in this family, the smallest being only a few inches up to the giant blue catfish that can reach up to 5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds




THE GIANT BLUE CAN REACH 100 LBS AND BE 5 FEET LONG.

THE FISH SHOWN INCLUDE BOTH CHANNEL AND BLUE!
IT SAYS THREE COMMON NOT LIMITED TOO THREE!

EVEN SO I KNOW THEY ARE THERE FROM CATCHING THEM, JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES!

[chambers bd]

Hi Folks,
I contacted the Georgia DNR fish research Division Lanier office.
After looking at my pictures they said that it in fact looked to be a channel catfish! I was wrong, I also have a call into usace because its listed on their web site as being in lake lanier. I have not heard back but will let you know should there is a change in any finding. Kyle is correct at this point!
Doc

[chambers bd]

Hi Folks,
I contacted the Georgia DNR fish research Division Lanier office.
After looking at my pictures they said that it in fact looked to be a channel catfish! I was wrong, I also have a call into usace because its listed on their web site as being in lake lanier. I have not heard back but will let you know should there is a change in any finding. Kleg is correct at this point!
Doc

Kleg is right! not kyle , They did ask me to bring one by should I catch any more though!
:ooooh:

[jerseycat9]

It happens buddy I have talked with a good number of people who say they catch blues in lanier and every time they had some to show me they turned out to be white cats or channels with swollen heads. But there are flatheads as Ive seen three seperate photos of 3 seperate fish this year that have all come from lake lanier:big_smile:

[rooster1]

theres a pic in the july gon magazine with a guy holding what he says is a flathead from lanier big one too

[Klag]

theres a pic in the july gon magazine with a guy holding what he says is a flathead from lanier big one too


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/pulverize1/LanierFlathead2.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/pulverize1/LanierFlathead.jpg

[brother hilljack]

Man,, what kind of fish you all catching down there. I am very interested in catching cats out of Lake Lanier. What are the lake records down there.

[bumper]

I think the only catfish record for Lanier is the 14 lb. flat in the GON.

[Slime of the South]

A D.N.R biologist told me the only sure way to tell a blue from a channel is to count the number of bones in its anal fin. A channel has between 25 and 29 and a blue has 30 to 35.

[Klag]

A D.N.R biologist told me the only sure way to tell a blue from a channel is to count the number of bones in its anal fin. A channel has between 25 and 29 and a blue has 30 to 35.

There's actually a little faster way, using that same fin. A blue cat has a longer looking RAZOR STRAIGHT anal fin, where the channel cats is slightly rounded. If you can just see a side by side comparison just once, it's actually very noticeable and unmistakeable and you'll always be able to tell the difference.

But yea, counting the rays in that fin is the only surefire way to be positive.

[craddock1]

Looks lie a flat to me. Good bait size. 15 to 18 pounder. About a small as i would want to eat.

[chambers bd]

Hi Folks
The good Lord gave me a great weekend, David my son and family were out on saturday north of clarkes bridge about a mile north of the jumping rock.

Bluebacks and night crawlers were the standard bait applied to their table fare.

[chambers bd]

Hi Folks
Teresa and went to charleston park and got quite a surprise!

8 1/2 lbs 25 inches

[rooster1]

i was out sat afternoon at jumping rock also chambers . did you see a older baby blue v hull with a navy blue stripe? there was a boat full of people beside me setting out jugs. the lake was real busy till dark jet skies everywhere. we sat out all night and sat through a bad storm . we didnt catch anything. did you see the guys camping out on the shore thats how you do it lol

[rooster1]

i was out sat afternoon at jumping rock also chambers . did you see a older baby blue v hull with a navy blue stripe? there was a boat full of people beside me setting out jugs. the lake was real busy till dark jet skies everywhere. we sat out all night and sat through a bad storm . we didnt catch anything. did you see the guys camping out on the shore thats how you do it lol i think that was you beside me setting out jugs . i just looked at your pics and that looked like your boat did you have about 5 people on there?

[chambers bd]

i think that was you beside me setting out jugs . i just looked at your pics and that looked like your boat did you have about 5 people on there?

6 folks
yes sir
That was the Chambers as a clan. Katherin was in charge!

Thats my son and his buddy , his wife, grand daughter, my wife and me.

That place, I was jugging is a good place to fish. I saw you were fishing the big cove , up stream (the river) about a half a mile on the right is a good place to fish near the rocks on the last section of the wma.

[chambers bd]

i was out sat afternoon at jumping rock also chambers . did you see a older baby blue v hull with a navy blue stripe? there was a boat full of people beside me setting out jugs. the lake was real busy till dark jet skies everywhere. we sat out all night and sat through a bad storm . we didnt catch anything. did you see the guys camping out on the shore thats how you do it lol

Yea, they were grilling stakes when we went by them it smelled oh so good!

[rooster1]

next time i see ya ill come over and have a chat . i go all the time so ill probably see you soon. i switched over to a circle hook for the first time and didnt get to try them we only had two bites all night. i was using liver and dead herring. where do you get your herring? i have to drive along way to find them? i freeze mine do you think that hurts the smell of them? dnr checked us around 9 by the 129 bridge they checked everything did they get to yall

[chambers bd]

Nah... DNR They have a few times, yea we should chat some times!

I get mine at hammonds and sportsman lounge soon the smoking fisherman will have them in clairmount.

Circle hooks work well.:big_smile: