Doug Nelms
March 18, 2003
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Hybrids/Crappie
Water temp 58
The key to finding the fish right now is warmer water. I was fishing last week and we were wearing them out when I looked at my trusty Lowrance and realized the water temp in this particular cove was at 63 degrees. I had stumbled upon this cove by accident and obviously the surface temp had heated up quickly and the fish were there!
After all of this rain leaves, it will only take a few days of sunshine to get the fish active again. When this happens the crappie will be headed to the bank and catching them will be a breeze. Throw white curly tail grubs, minnows, Hal Flies and whatever you feel comfortable with. They will be hungry and the bites should come regular.
The Hybrids are full of eggs and they are showing up at the dam for their annual spawn. We have been catching some in the 8 to 10 pound range on a regular basis. If river fishing is your game head up to Dyars Pasture and get in on the hybrids and the white bass. Anglers are presently limiting out on white bass and some hybrids have been brought out in the 8-pound class.
Live shad and cut bait is the ticket for the hybrids on the river. For white bass throw rooster tails, grubs and minnows. Drift fishing is probably the most productive way to catch the white bass right now.
It is a great time to be on the water and just as soon as the rain lifts, get out there and you will be rewarded.
Doug has been guiding on Lake Oconee for over 10 years. His specialty is trophy Striped and Hybrid Bass, and huge Crappie during certain months. His boat is a Ranger 2300 Bay Series powered by a 225 Yamaha 4-stroke motor. It is spacious and can fish up to 6 people! Lake Oconee is the second largest reservoir in the state of Georgia with over 18,000 surface acres of water. The lake is heavily stocked each year with Striped and Hybrid Bass. Doug tries to catch all of them!
