Lake Oconee Fishing Report – December 2019

Oconee: Level: 0.1 feet low. Temp: According to John Duvall and Norris Edge, the lake temps are currently in the high 50s in the backs of the pockets to mid 60s at the front of some pockets and in the main lake. Clarity: The entire lake is clear, even 3-foot visibility in the Apalachee River.

Bass: Tournament angler Karl Pingry reports, “Fishing in one word: Horrible. Due to the swift drop in water temps, the bass have really shut down. Tournament angler John Duvall suggests covering a lot of water with a flat-sided crankbait, ChatterBait and other cranks to try to find a fish willing to bite. Tournament angler Norris Edge has been fishing a Rat-L-Trap and flipping docks with a shaky-head worm or jig to catch his fish. The shad are still heading back into the pockets, but finding the bass with them has been difficult. Look for a good afternoon bite if we can get three days of sun and warm temps. Focus on rock and hard bottoms that will warm with the sun, as well as dock pilings if that occurs. Norris also mentioned that you can catch small stripers and some hybrids using jigging spoons near the Great Waters area 25 to 40 feet deep. Look for the bass to go into winter pattern. Fish flat cranks, slow-rolled spinnerbaits in stained water, ChatterBaits and plastics. Bites will be few, so be patient. The shad will work their way into the backs of the coves and then come back out toward the main lake. Hopefully the bass will start to show up, and patterning them will get easier to predict. Make sure to pay attention to what part of the pocket you start to get bit. Concentrate on the same areas in the next pockets you fish. When you get a bite, really work that area before moving on. Pay attention to your electronics to hopefully clue you in on the depths to fish by locating the depth the bait is holding. Spoons in gold and silver on the south end will also come into play for bass as well as linesides.”