Lake Oconee Fishing Report October 2014

Oconee: Level: 0.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 76-81 degrees. Clarity: Light stain to clear.

Bass: Good. Tournament fisherman Aaron Batson reports, “Bass fishing has been fair and getting better. Cooler nights have schools of shad on the move to the very backs of the creeks. Bass are following and feeding up before winter. Cover lots of water with 1/4-oz. all-white Ol’ Nelle spinnerbaits and 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Traps. Look for fish to be on the outside edges of the schools of shad. Also, try a topwater lure, like a Pop-R or a Buzzerbaits buzzbait in these places.”

Crappie: Guide Doug Nelms reports, “The crappie always seem to show up in Lick Creek during this time, and you will begin to see lots of anglers getting out their long lines. Between the bridges in Lick Creek is always a great place to start looking.” Guide Mark Smith reports, “The first of the month the fish will be staging in the tree tops in the mouths of the coves and large creeks. Use your Lowrance to locate the school in the timber, and drop a minnow down to the fish. As the water cools, the fish will move farther into the coves and creeks. Live bait will be the best way to put these fish in your cooler.” Guide Al Bassett reports, “Crappie fishing is currently fair to good as the fish are still over brush in 10 to 15 feet of water and drop-offs, but these fish are on the move. You will be able to catch a few here and a few there. You will need to move from one brushpile to another. By the end of the month, they will start to move with the shad into the backs of the creeks. During this time of year, some bigger fish will start to show up in these areas. Use your Lowrance HDS and LSS-2 unit to find the fish before you start fishing. The bites may be a very light, so use light line, and be a line watcher. Using live bait in the brush is your best bet. By the end of the month, fish should be starting to show up in the backs of the creeks around the lake. By the end of the month, some fish will be in the backs of the creeks just like they are in the spring. They will only be there for a very short time.”

Stripers: Guide Doug Nelms reports, “The stripers are already down at the dam, and in October we will be looking for deep fish that we can drop spoons down to. The spooners feel that just before a front moves in is the best time to get the fish to bite. A Hopkins spoon (shorty model) in silver and gold is a good choice. We will look in Double Branches, Little Stone Mountain and the deep coves at the dam.” Guide Mark Smith reports, “The best way to fill a cooler is to find the bait. Use your Lowrance to locate the large schools of bait roaming the middle of the lake. When you find the schools of bait, the stripers/hybrids will be close by. Drop a live bait into the school, and hold on. As the water cools, the fishing will just get better and better. I always keep an umbrella rig ready. It is a great way to look for schools of fish. I will troll it at 3 mph 100 feet behind the boat.”