 |
Lake Oconee, Madison Georgia
Capt. Doug Nelms
September 27, 2003
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Fishing Report
Water Temp 83
The fall bite is just about here and now is the time to start making the final preparations to get ready for an awesome fishing season here at Lake Oconee. The spring was the best I have seen in a long time for hybrids and according to the latest DNR reports; the coming year is going to be as good or better than before. What a great time to be an alive boat owner!
Right now the key is to begin looking for bait. Now I know everyone wants to run out and just start catching tubs of fish, but this is the time of year I begin to take notes on where the shad are. By the time the fish go to their staging grounds they will be looking for food and you are one step up on them.
A hybrid is some different than a largemouth bass. Largemouth become lethargic during the winter months and their eating habits slow up but for some reason it does not effect the hybrid/striper bite as much. The truth is I catch more hybrids starting now until May than anytime the rest of the year.
Lets get back to those shad. When you hit the lake and begin fishing your favorite haunts, watch you fish finder for bait. If you find water 15 to 30 feet and you see shad there, there’s a good chance the fish are going to be close. Should you luck up and find “balls of shad” it usually means fish are already present. I am sure you have watched documentaries on various channels like Discovery showing whales, dolphins, and other sea monsters chase down and eat bait. When bait is being attacked they bunch up in tightly formed balls to increase their chances of survival. It is the poor little soul that wonders outside of the ball that normally gets picked off by some crazed sailfish. Ever wonder why out of the millions of shad down below your boat that yours actually gets found and eaten. It is because it gets singled out of the group and has to swim by itself, or more correctly it has to swim where you put it. Well shad are shad and their behavior from salt to fresh varies very little. So when a basketball size dot comes over your screen, it means that something has frightened and it is probably not the roar of your 2-stroke that is doing it.
Most of the areas to begin looking around will be toward the dam on Oconee. Not AT the dam, but around it. Begin to look toward the different deep coves and pockets in the south part of the lake. Sooner or later you will come across a lot of fish hanging somewhere close to the bait. Drop out your lines and get ready for some really good fishing action.
It is still just a little early to really begin to slay ‘em, but patience my friends, soon there will be plenty of stories to go around.
I am booking trips for fall action right now. Give me a call!
Tight Lines
Doug Nelms
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
