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Lake Oconee, Madison Georgia
Capt. Doug Nelms
July 20, 2004
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Water Temp 89
Well the dog days are here and people have left the water, all except the jet skiers and wake boarders of course. The water temperature is really high in some places and our beloved hybrids have chosen their summer time spots to show up.
Are we still catching them? Yes. Is it difficult? Absolutely! You faithful few that read this report know how I often stress the importance of water movement for the hybrids to bite. Truthfully, during the spring months we can catch them if the water fails to come on, but right now, in the dead heat of summer, it is mandatory to have water movement if you are going to catch hybrids.
Since it is summer and everyone has their air conditioners wide open, the water is moved a lot, but of course we never know when. The hybrid bite was great yesterday and it appeared to me that Georgia Power pulled 3 foot of water out of the lake. Now I know they only pull 18 inches a day, but it drained so quickly that it made me think the dam was breached. When this happens, you can slay the fish. Anglers all over the lake are sitting in their favorite spots around Flagpole, the hayfields, and the 19th hole, just waiting for the fish to start schooling.
Last week a buddy of mine boated over 50 in an hour or so, catching a mixed bag of hybrids and white bass. It is a blast to find these fish chasing shad and tearing up the water, but it has mainly been in the late afternoon. Arm yourself with a popping cork and a thing popper or a rattle trap, chrome and black or blue being the color, and watch for piranha. If you don’t know what I am talking about go back and watch a Tarzan movie where the piranhas attack the bad guys crossing the river. It will look just like that on the lake when these fish school.
Don’t make the mistake of running into them with your motor open. Just slowly troll around the outside of them and cast as far as you can in the school. You can quickly load up the cooler in no time. The size of the fish you will catch out of a typical school will go from a half pound to maybe 2 pounds. It is a lot of fun.
News flash. I have an email from the DNR that states they will reintroduce striped bass into Lake Oconee starting next year. That means Happy Days for us who chase the line sides. If they do half as well as our hybes you won’t be able to unload a boat here in 5 years. Good luck and were plenty of sunscreen.
Doug Nelms
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