Other Information

Dates Open : Year Round

Lake or Area Name : Lake Lanier, Georgia
Boat Safety Information :
       Pleasure Craft Operator Card

In 1993 Bill was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a "Legendary Guide". Bill offers guide services, copies of his hit book Secrets of Fishing Lake Lanier, and his renowned Swirleybird Spinners™.
Welcome to Fishing Lanier with Bill Vanderford, specializing in professionally guided, educational fishing trips and wildlife tours on the Upper and Lower Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier, including fly fishing. Bill Vanderford also sells educational fishing books, Swirleybird jewelry, and Greeting cards for all occasions with Bill's award-winning photography and words by internationally-famous travel writer, Chris McBeath.


Bill Vanderford owns Georgia's oldest registered fishing guide service and offers a wide variety of whole or half day trips on Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River. In 1993 Bill was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a "Legendary Guide". Bill offers educational guide services for all types of fish and wildlife tours, and fly fishing for trout, spotted bass, striped bass, and panfish. This site also sells copies of Bill's hit books, Secrets of Fishing Lake Lanier and The New Guide to Bank Fishing on Lake Lanier, and numerous combinations of his world-renowned Swirleybird Spinners™.

The Chattahoochee River system in North Georgia begins in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains just above the Alpine village of Helen and descends through numerous sections of whitewater during its journey to Lake Lanier. For most fishermen and nature lovers, most of this gorgeous trek is totally inaccessible. However, thanks to a specially-designed, 18 foot aluminum boat that incorporates both a tunnel hull and a jet outboard motor, I have been able to open the fabulous fishing and picturesque scenery to my clients for wildlife tours, fly fishing, or specialized fishing for rare species like the shoal bass. I also use this boat to allow clients to comfortably access the Chattahoochee River below Lake Lanier. After passing through Lanier, the “Hooch’s” cool waters that teem with rainbow and brown trout continues another 45 miles into downtown Atlanta.