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Lake Oconee, Madison Georgia
Capt. Doug Nelms
April 14, 2004
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Water Temp 60 to 65
It appears that winter just refuses to turn loose of Lake Oconee. Just when the fishing picks up and everyone becomes “the expert”, this cold front blows in here and who knows what it will do to the fishing.
Just before this happened things were really great for the hybrids and it seems as if every boat in the neighborhood has been bringing home really big catches. I am embarrassed to say, but last week I bootlegged the LARGEST HYBRID bass I have seen all year. As I reached down to lip him out with my $119.00 Boga Grip the thing decided he didn’t want to be anyone’s dinner or wall mount and turned into the dark abyss. He broke the leader, broke our hearts and my customer almost broke my nose……. but the large fish are starting to show up and this is the time to go and catch a trophy hybrid.
The fishing is best early in the morning and late in the afternoon at Wallace Dam. Right here is where I am suppose to tell you what is the best bait to use, but it seems like they are hitting everything. Bass Minnows, Shad, and Cut bait are the main staple but I spoke to someone last week that was catching them on CHICKEN LIVERS! Go figure.
Down-lining, free-ling, flat-lining, doesn’t matter, just as long as you have a line in the water you will probably land all the fish you want. Of course when GA Power turns the water on the fishing can get really great and before you ask; there is no rhyme or reason as to when that happens. Trust me I know. I have taken the wonderful Wallace Dam tour with my kids in hopes of befriending some nice dam guy, in order to get the dam schedule of pumping. The phrase they told me was the same each time, “We don’t know when we are going to pull water until we get the call”. If you have never taken the dam tour, you should take your kids and do it, it is really interesting! Maybe you can do better with them than I did.
When the water is being generated the fish will come up on the shallow points around the dam and feed like crazy. Just slow troll your lines over these points and watch your rods. You can also cast pearl sassy shads, Zara Spooks, Spittin Images, and just about anything chrome or white that makes a noise or wiggles. They love them!
Get out there now and you have the greatest chance this year of boating a double digit hybrid. The lake record is only 14.4. and maybe you can break it. If you do, I really hope you are fishing on my boat!
Tight Lines
Doug Nelms
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