Lake Oconee Fishing Report – July 2024

Oconee: Level: 0.2 below 435. Temp: 85-89 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Nick Knapp, with Elite Guide Service, reports, “The mayfly hatch has been going on for a week or so now. Look for fish around dock lights and overhanging bushes early in the morning and target them with topwater baits. The topwater bite will last into mid morning and even longer on cloudy days. When the sun gets up, try deep cranking in 10 to 20 feet of water. I look for the topwater pattern to dwindle as it gets hotter and fish move more toward their deeper ledges and drops.”

Linesides: Capt. Doug Nelms, with BigFishHeads Guide Service, reports, “The hot July temperatures this month will bring a hot striper bite on Lake Oconee thanks to the wonderful bubble line that will run most of the day. There are five lines down at the dam that stretch out almost a mile long each, and on most days you will find stripers hanging out really close to them. Lately the bite has been awesome one day and then non-existent the next day. Kind of weird! Normally during July, they will be there most every day and anglers are catching them by using many strategies. You will see a lot of guys trolling u-rigs, Mini Macks and even crankbaits behind their boat. Be prepared to add additional weight to anything you are using because some days the fish are deeper than others. Sometimes the fish are just below the water surface and a regular Mini Mack will hit the perfect depth. Sometimes they are 25 to 30 feet deep, so you have to add a little weight. Live bait is always a great option. When you’re moving down the line, stay between the bubbles so they don’t interfere with your electronics. When you see them, stop and drop a bait. It’s just that simple.  Downlines have worked better than flatlines on most days. If anyone has ever fished with me, they know jigging spoons are one of my favorite ways to fish. Just like with live bait, you position your boat where you can actually see your electronics without interference and you drop to them. To make it easy, it is really important to use line-counter reels. I tell my clients ‘Drop to 40 feet,’ then I might say, ‘burn it back up to 25 feet, then let it flutter down to 35 feet.’ There is a lot of action when fishing this way.”

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