Topwater bite fires up as Lanier spots chase herring

What anglers are reporting Water temperatures are sitting around 75 degrees and the lake is down just over seven feet. The water remains clear. Cooling conditions have the spotted bass feeding actively, and the topwater bite is producing steady strikes right now.

This week's outlook Expect the topwater action to hold strong as long as the water keeps cooling. November on Lanier is all about blueback herring. As bait balls move toward creek mouths and gather over main-lake points, the spots will follow them up to feed. Wind will be your best friend for breaking up the clear surface and extending the topwater window past the early morning hours.

Where to start Focus on long main-lake points, offshore humps, and the mouths of creeks. Keep your boat in deeper water and cast over brush piles in 20 to 35 feet. If the surface activity slows down, drop down to the brush with a shaky head or a drop shot to pick off fish that have moved deeper.

Bait box

• Walking topwater baits in bone or chrome
• Riser baits for schooling fish
• Soft plastic jerkbaits in pearl or white
• Small swimbaits on a lead head
• Drop shot with a straight tail worm

This weekend With the lake down and clear water conditions, boat traffic will push fish deeper by mid-morning. Get on the water early to capitalize on the low-light topwater bite over the humps, then transition to standing timber and deeper brush piles as the sun gets high.