LAKE LANIERSTORIESSwitch Lake
Lake Lanier Stories
Source-backed catches, championships and memorable fishing moments tied directly to Lake Lanier.
Fishing history worth knowing
Paul Mueller earned his first Elite victory in a Lanier shootout
BassmasterPaul Mueller won the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier with a four-day total of 69 pounds, edging Chris Zaldain by less than a pound. Bassmaster reported several five-pound-class fish and a 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth during the event. Historical coverage used the spotted-bass label common at the time; Lake Monkey preserves that historical wording while keeping current Alabama Bass taxonomy separate.
At 21, Jacob Wheeler won Lanier wire to wire
Major League Fishing archiveJacob Wheeler won the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier with 60 pounds, 1 ounce over four days. At age 21 he became the youngest angler to win the Cup, led the event wire to wire and collected the $500,000 top prize.
One ounce separated first and second at Lanier in February 2026
Major League FishingJake Sisavath won the Feb. 28, 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Lake Lanier with five bass weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces. Brian Jamison finished only one ounce behind at 23-3 and also landed the event's 7-pound, 4-ounce big bass.
Alex Prince finally won on his home lake during extreme summer heat
Major League FishingAlex Prince won the August 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Lanier with six bass weighing 26 pounds over two days. Because of extreme heat, MLF reduced the daily limit to three fish for both boaters and co-anglers.
Roland Martin capped his 1984 Angler of the Year season with a Lanier win
BassmasterBassmaster's historical timeline notes that Roland Martin's eighth Angler of the Year season in 1984 was capped by a victory at Lake Lanier.