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Lake Oconee, Madison Georgia
Capt. Doug Nelms
January 22, 2004
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Fishing Report
Water Temp 47-51
The water temp has a 4 degree difference from my home in the north arm of the Apalachee River to the water at the dam. As a result of this the fish and bait are stuck in the middle.
A few days ago I went out to looking for shad for some upcoming trips and I found them all around the Hwy 44 Bridge. There must have been one mmmmmiilllllooon of them in my 10 foot cast net as I drug it to the boat, and they were all about 1 inch long. These “butterbean” shad will be growing up in a few days and it should make the hybrid fishing red hot here.
The hybes are in River Bend right now and they move in and out of there like a band of gypsies. I took a group in there the other day and there was not a fish or bait to be found. One hour later every rod in the boat went down with 5 to 8 pound hybrids on the other end. Don’t ask me how they can just show up, they just do!
The problem right now is finding those beautiful 4 inch shad that hybes like so much. I would start looking in Lick Creek for them and if you don’t find any, go buy some bass minnows. If you find the fish and drop a shiner to them, they will eat it.
Let’s talk about crappie! YES CRAPPIE! They have arrived, they are huge, and they are being caught on a regular basis. I know its cold and spring hasn’t arrived and the moon isn’t and the vernal equinox………and all that stuff, but be that as it may, anglers are catching huge slabs up the Apalachee arm just like it was spring.
My family sat down at the dinner table a few nights ago with our friends, George and Shelby Cox, and enjoyed some of the biggest fried crappie filets even tasted by mankind; all caught the day before right here at Oconee. Slow trolling is the ticket for these beauties and on just about any day George has been going home with a good number after a morning of fishing.
I know its cold but no reason to stay home. Call me, let’s go fishing!
Tight Lines
Doug Nelms
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