Buford Dam / North Endon Lake Lanier
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Lake Lanier
- 01Cooler fall temperatures are promoting aggressive feeding by Carp and Suckers.
- 02Blue Wing Olives (sizes 16-24), Yellow Drakes (size 12), and Midges (sizes 16-24) are the primary active hatches.
- 03Top fly patterns include Woolly Buggers (Olive), Squirmy Wormy, Chironomid Pupa, Scud, and Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph.
- 04Target shallow flats, vegetated coves, and the mouths of feeder creeks for best results on Lake Lanier.
- 05Employ slow retrieves and dead drifts along the bottom to entice strikes from Carp and Suckers.
What to tie on at Buford Dam / North End
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Crayfish (Fly) (Olive/Rust)
Crayfish are a primary food source for many bottom-dwelling species like Carp in rocky lake environments during the fall.
Epoxy Minnow (Mississippi Shad)
The weighted, durable profile matches the slender winter baitfish found in Lanier. Its sink rate is essential for reaching spotted bass holding on deep secondary points.
Black Woolly Bugger (Bass)
Leeches and crayfish remain slow-moving targets in 50-degree water. A black bugger stripped slowly through deep brush piles is a reliable winter producer.
Mop Fly #12
This grub/larvae imitation is a general workhorse, effective for enticing bottom-feeding Carp and Suckers in diverse conditions.
Hare's Ear Nymph
A classic and versatile searching nymph, imitating a variety of aquatic insects consistently available to bottom-feeding Carp and Suckers.
Buy at AmazonGame Changer (Shad) death
Late February often experiences 'shad kills' when water temperatures bottom out; this articulated fly perfectly mimics a dying or disoriented shad, a primary trigger for trophy Striped Bass and Largemouth.
Clouser Minnow (Bass)
A chartreuse and white Clouser is a staple on Lanier for reaching depth quickly; it imitates the erratic flight of a baitfish and is effective for all three primary bass species.
Buy at AmazonHopper Juan
Mid-summer through early fall along grassy banks. Excellent for carp and suckers looking for terrestrials.
Buy at AmazonDragonfly Nymph (Olive)
Dragonfly nymphs are a substantial food source for cruising carp and suckers in lakes throughout the summer. Strip these slowly along the bottom near weed edges.
Georgia season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.