Lake Oconee Crappie Fishing Report – April 26, 2024

I was able to get back to Lake Oconee twice this week and was happy to discover the pollen is gone and crappie are moving back to brushpiles and trees for the summer. I love this time of year because initially the biggest crappie move back to the wood first.

I was able to catch 26 crappie in a fog-shortened morning on Tuesday, April 23, and I caught 41 crappie yesterday morning, April 25. Every fish but one was over 10 inches, and I caught some up to 15 inches long.

Livescoping is by far the most efficient way to catch these Lake Oconee crappie. Go to your favorite trees and brushpiles and look for fish from 6 to 12 feet deep. The fewer fish there, the bigger they seem to be.

I am seeing some evidence that the crappie are reacting negatively to the Livescope transducer. I set my distance for 75 feet and cast to these fish from 30 to 60 feet away, and this improves the bite.

Most of the fish are coming on straight-tail, 2-inch baits. They want natural colors more as the water clears. Monkey milk and Chop Stover’s Slab Snatcher in gold digger on a light chartreuse head did the damage. Also, the Ricky Willis Sugar Bug #133 has been very effective.

This bigger fish bite won’t last long because all the youngsters will be out there soon with them. Get ’em while you can. I’m available a couple of days next week if anyone is interested in a trip—give me a call at 478.719.5678.