Lake Oconee Fishing Report – April 2008

Oconee: Level: Full pool. Temp: 55-60 degrees. Clarity: Muddy up the creeks and rivers, stained throughout most of the main lake except for clear water in Richland Creek.

Bass: Good. There are a lot of bass in the pockets. Some bass are already on bed, although most seem to still be in a prespawn mode. “Use an Ol-Nelle spinnerbait in the chartreuse/white or a 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Trap fished on the small coves or pockets,” recommends guide Al Bassett. “A Carolina-rigged lizard in the watermelon-seed or watermelon-candy colors with a 24-inch leader will be a good bait to fish on the point leading into these pockets.” Also fish the c-rig very slowly along dock posts in the pockets, especially on docks with brush.

Crappie: Excellent, but the best time to catch the really big crappie is about over, according to guide Doug Nelms. “You have about two weeks left to have the crappie-fishing experience of a lifetime,” Doug reports. “This week and next week will be the best time of the year because the water has warmed up, the moon is right and every year the huge slabs come in on the shallows to do their thing. After they get done, the ladies go to deeper water and the males are left to mind the house. Normally I talk about places on the lake where you can catch fish, but understand that in just about every cove on the lake the fish will be there,” Doug said.