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Lake Oconee, Madison Georgia
Capt. Doug Nelms
January 24, 2006
Lake Oconee - Freshwater Fishing Report
Water Temp 50
Lake is heavily stained from North Oconee all the way to River Bend.
We have had a lot of water running into the Oconee for the past few days, which has made the crappie fishing spotty at best. The big fish are just now showing up and it has been fun wearing them out when they have wanted to cooperate.
Anglers are starting to show up at the power-lines, up the Apalachee and the Redlands up the Oconee, looking for slabs. I have yet to experience or hear about limiting out just yet, but it is for certain to be just around the corner. Many of the seasoned anglers are saying the fish are not here as they were last year, but that could have a lot to do with the lake being so full in December.
The hybes are a different story. Just about every time I go out we boat 10 or more nice fish on a half day. As many of you know the hybes are my bread and butter and they have certainly not let me down this year! I spoke to an angler last week who was making a huge mistake when fishing for these things this time of year.
He was using nice gizzard shad and not getting a pull all day long. The big gizzards seem to disappear during this time of the year and the hybes are interested only in the small butter bean shad. When you catch a nice hybe, put him in your live well and go back after 15 minutes or so and take a look. Your well will be filled with tiny one to two inch shad.
The problem with that is you can’t fish these small baits on a hook, so the answer is to use store bought minnows. They are hearty and they will stay on your hook for a long time and the fish love them. Many, many crappie fisherman cuss more this time of the year than any other because hybrids attack their minnow offering and wrap up their lines.
Last year while crappie fishing I landed 3 hybrids over 8 pounds…..on a 4 pound test line. Must be some kinda record!
If you would like to be on my updated mailing list, just send an email to me and you will get a report just about every time I go out and fish.
Tight lines
Doug Nelms
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