Lake Oconee Fishing Report – November 2023

Oconee: Level: Full at 436. Temp: 66-68 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Norris Edge reports the bass fishing is getting better, and this month the bass will move shallow and topwater will be the ticket. Early morning fishing should produce a better bite, and focus on docks and coves as the shadows get smaller. Shaky heads, Ned rigs and even big worms will work nicely this month. After the sun gets up, throw small cranks over shallow-water points and in coves. Richland Creek is the best place to look at the moment. The water is about as clear as it can be and oddly enough, it seems like all the stripers and hybrids are living on the other side. So if you get a big bite, you will be in business.”

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Crappie: Capt. Doug Nelms with BigFishHeads Guide Service reports, “This is the month the birds return! The gulls will begin their migration from the Atlantic to feed on the shallow-water shad that stack into the coves looking for warm water. Last year from November to February was the best months I have ever experienced in catching stripers, hybrids and white bass on artificials. The white bass were shaped like footballs and would spit up so many shad as you would flip them into the boat. This should also begin the topwater bite down toward the dam, and I am already seeing some activity early in the mornings. Right now it’s just small fish, but the big ones are on the way. You want to start looking as far north as the Highway 44 bridge and work all the way down to the dam. That is a lot of water to cover, but it is weird how one day you are on the stripers in the mouth of Sugar Creek, then the next day they are all on East Bank Hump. When you see topwater action, move quickly but quietly because they will not stay up long. I throw flukes on light spinning tackle while they are working the bait. As soon as they go down, I grab a Hopkins spoon and concentrate on the fish in the water column. It was my experience last year we would catch 30 to 50 fish in a half day.”