Lake Oconee Fishing Report May 2019

Oconee: Level: Full. Temp: Low to mid 70s. Clarity: The rivers are muddy down past Sugar Creek. The south end is more stained than usual but fairly clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Karl Pingry reports, “According to Morgan Arnold and Carson Childs, who both compete on the high school fishing team for North Oconee, first thing in the morning hit your favorite rip-rap bank for the shad spawn. Baits to use are spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, Whopper Ploppers, Chug Bugs and square-billed crankbaits. When the shad spawn ends, stay on shaded rock and rip-rap banks with topwater, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Trick Worms, concentrating from the banks out to 4 feet, according to Morgan. After the sun gets up, move to the docks. Morgan and Carson boated more than 30 bass, mostly males, Saturday on shaky heads with monster worms and Senkos. The females were still recovering from the spawn at press time, but they will recover this week and be feeding by the end of the week. Carson thinks the deeper docks may hold the bigger bass by the end of the week. Long points and roadbeds with Carolina rigs are also a good choice to find those recovering females. Over the next few weeks, look for a topwater bite on the rip-rap and seawalls early, followed by working the docks with your favorite plastics and jigs. Target the docks near the main-lake points and on first and secondary points. Carolina rigs and crankbaits on main-lake points will also come into play near the end of May as bass move to a summer pattern. Morgan reiterated to remember hitting the shade lines in the time between the early morning bite and fishing the docks.”