Tournament Fishing on Lake Lanier

“Mister Bass” — Don Poole. (Photograph by Robert Sutherland)

“If you build it … they will come.”  That works for both baseball and bass fishing, evidently.

The Wise Ones invested money to transform Lake Lanier’s Laurel Park from one of dozens of spots to put a fishing boat into the lake to the premier spot on Lake Lanier to put dozens of boats into the water.

Think: bass tournaments.  Think: revenue.

Laurel Park has what they call a “mega-ramp” that is 350 feet in length.  Believe it or not three distinct state entities — Hall County, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the State of Georgia Governor’s Go Fish Program Grant — actually worked together and finished a project that is nothing short of a brilliant success.  Now we have a super-duper fishing tournament staging area, restrooms and abundant parking.

Even when other state agencies do their best to drain Lake Lanier dry, we can still go fishing during droughts.

This weekend the fishing tournament that must have been named by competing committees visits Lake Lanier: the Georgia B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Classic.  That title won’t fit onto a business card, but it won’t hinder them as they match wits with our famous Southern bass.

Gainesville Tourism and Trade Manager Deb Gregson said, “When you have a venue like Lake Lanier and ramps and access like Laurel Park it’s easy to understand why so many groups want to come here.  It’s been great working with the anglers and the weekend weather appears to be perfect for fishing.”

Sixteen anglers — including two youths — will advance to April’s southern divisional tournament in Tennessee.

We welcome them to Lake Lanier!  All we ask is for them to leave a bass or two for the rest of us.


About Author

Robert J. Sutherland is a travel writer enjoying life in Gainesville, GA.
Robert has two adult daughters, seven practically perfect grandchildren and a zippy Kawasaki. Contact Robert at [email protected].

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