Lake Oconee Fishing Report – December 2021

Oconee: Level: Full pool. Temp: 56-63 degrees. Clarity: Clear from I-20 to the dam.

Bass: Guide Norris Edge reports, “Bass fishing is slow, but it’s getting better every day. Mid-lake and Lick Creek are producing the best fish on topwater baits, such as Whopper Ploppers and buzzbaits. If you’re going to fish around docks, target water depth in the 3- to 5-foot range, and try jigs and shaky heads. The best jig color is black and blue and shaky-head colors are junebug and redbug. Also try the middle of the coves with spinnerbaits and small crankbaits.” Tournament angler Karl Pingry reports, “Michael Lynch is catching his bass in 2 to 8 feet of water. A ChatterBait is catching bigger bass, and a shaky head and spinnerbait is catching the smaller bass. Most of the fish were caught near the front of the pockets, but there were a few caught close to the back, as well. In December, Michael is going to continue to fish in 2 to 8 feet of water and really concentrate on crankbaits in the shad and crawfish colors. Once the water cools into the 40s, really focus on the sunny banks in the afternoon, especially rock or red clay banks and docks and wood.”

Stripers: Capt. Doug Nelms reports, “At the time I submitted this report, we have just had one of our best half-day striper trips, putting 52 fish in the boat. Yep, they’re back, and they’re fat, mean and hungry! Over the past seven trips, I have not carried any live bait in my boat. Everything is being caught on artificials. I’m not saying they won’t bite a bass minnow or threadfin, but the bite has been so fast that live bait would have just slowed us down. This week was also the first time I have spotted the gulls, a very welcome site for us striper guides this time of the year. They’re just trickling in, but this month we will be full bore chasing them and making those long casts to schooling fish under the birds. Historically, you shouldn’t even look above the Highway 44 bridge for any fish, everything will be mid lake all the way down to Little Stone Mountain. However, the main deep-water areas around the Rock Islands will be the place you’re going to find the big ones. I am using several different types of lures and approaches right now. Some of my spinning rods are loaded up with 3-inch Sassy Shads on 1/4-oz. DOA heads so we can cast them a mile. On the other spinning rods, I keep an A-rig or a Captain Mack’s Mini Mack ready to troll or cast at a moment’s notice. On my baitcasters, I’m using the old standby, a 7/8-oz. War Eagle Spoon. If it’s sunny, use silver, if it’s cloudy use gold. I think for so many years the only real spoons out there were Hopkins, and they were only made in silver and gold, but these War Eagles come with lots of different colors. Sugar Creek Marina carries all of them. Citrus shad is a green/white spoon that creates a beautiful color on the fall. Their purple spoon, which we fondly call Purple Haze, is another great selection on a cloudy day. I think gold and the colored spoons are what you want when the clouds roll in. Over the past five trips when I have located those big clouds of bait, I try to stay right on top of them. If you can find those huge schools of threads that are so thick it gives your fish finder a false reading, then you have found the stripers. Drop your spoons down into the bait and just starting yo-yoing it. It really makes me wonder why a striper would eat a piece of fluttering lead/brass over a live bait, but 52 of them did today.”