Lake Oconee Fishing Report November 2016

Oconee: Level: The lake is at least 2.5 feet low and even lower when Georgia Power pulls water. Temp: Low to mid 70s. Clarity: Mostly clear to a light stain across the lake.

Bass: Tournament angler Aaron Batson reports “Fish are making their ways into the coves and pockets off the main lake. Try a square-billed crankbait or Rat-L-Trap near the schools of shad that can be seen near the surface. Most of these bass will be smaller, schooling-sized bass. For bigger bass, go with a 1/4-oz. Greenfish Tackle Skipping Jig in natural colors in clear water or blacks in stained water. Look for rocky banks with any wood cover. Tip the jig with a Missile Baits Baby D Stroyer, and dip the plastic in JJ’s Magic for added color and scent. Later in the month, expect fish the get on the spinnerbait and buzzbait. Try a GreenFish Tackle Hammerhead buzzbait in shad/natural colors.”

Linesides: Guide Doug Nelms reports, “This is the month when everything gets back to normal, and it will normalize in a huge way. Hurricane Matthew stirred up the surface for us, but the stripers are back chasing schools of shad. This time of year, my go-to bait for all my customers are jigging spoons. We will be using our Lowrance electronics and locating fish on certain drop-offs from the dam to the middle of the lake. Typically, the fish show up first at River Bend, and as of this report, there is a ton of bait there. The stripers won’t be far behind. November is a huge numbers month for us. It won’t be unusual to boat 30 stripers/hybrids on a four-hour trip. For us guides, this is the month we have all waited on.”

Crappie: Guide Jody Stephens reports, “Crappie fishing is on fire! Trolling submerged timber is a very effective method to catch good fish and large numbers right now. Fish are feeding heavily and are not super tight to structure like the summer pattern. Crappie fishing will continue to improve as water temps fall as we go into November.”