Lake Oconee Fishing Report May 2013

Oconee: Level: Full pool. Temp: 65-72 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Good, according to tournament pro and guide Aaron Batson. “Most bass are in postspawn. Good news is they are fattening back up on the early morning shad spawn. Look around main-lake seawalls and rip-rap for the activity at daylight. Good topwater baits are Pop-Rs and Sammys. Once the topwater bite slows down, back off and slow-roll an all-white 1/4-oz. Ol Nelle spinnerbait. Then work any available cover with a Texas-rigged Wackem Baits Pointy Tail worm in green-pumpkin color. Dipping the tail of the worm in red or blue JJ’s Magic will increase bites.”

Crappie: Good, according to guide Al Bassett. “Fish have moved back into deeper water over brushpiles, standing timber and deep drop-offs. The key is to use your Lowrance HDS and LSS-2 to find the fish before you drop your bait into the water. Use live minnows, and fish right over the brush or drop-offs. Mark your area with markers, and then cast to the area using Jiffy Jigs. Once you find the fish in these areas, work it very good as you most likely have found a school of fish. This will likely last all summer long. Night fishing with lights off the side of the boat in the timbers has been good.”

Linesides: Guide Doug Nelms reports, “The hybrids and stripers have done their thing, and now comes the shad bite. They have all spawned out, and they will be moving from the dam, chasing bait schools and looking for an easy meal with little effort. We will be concentrating on the humps and points on the lower end of the lake. By this time water generation will be a key factor, as the bait will begin to congregate on these humps, and the stripers will be ready for ambush. Threadfin and gizzard shad ranging from 3 to 7 inches will be the preferred bait and can be found in Lick and Sugar creeks. It is important to keep your bait lively. There will also be a big group of fish that will be headed up the Oconee River in search of cooler water. This is the month for big numbers.” Guide Mark Smith reports, “The linesides are still at the dam area feeding on shad on downlines and flatlines. This pattern will last until the water reaches the 80-degree mark. Later in the month, the linesides will move up the lake and start to stage on the humps and flats, like the pipeline and the hay fields. Live shad will still be the bait of choice. The month of May is also a good time to troll the Capt. Mac’s umbrella rig on the south end of the lake. This is a good way to put extra fish in your livewell. I never go out without an umbrella rig this time of year. It can save your trip.”