Lake Oconee Fishing Report – September 2007

Oconee: Level: Down 0.8 feet below full pool. Temp: 86-90 degrees. Clarity: Mostly clear, except for a light stain up the rivers.

Bass: Right now the bass are still hard on summer patterns, and it’s generally been slow. Try main-lake points and humps that have brushpiles, and fish them with Carolina-rigged Trick Worms in green pumpkin. If Georgia Power is pulling water, try a deep-diving crankbait. Guide Al Bassett said that over the next few weeks water temperatures should start to cool. “The bass will start their move back to shallow water as they follow the shad,” Al said. When they first start to move up, fish the points leading into the pockets with a Carolina-rigged worm in watermelon or watermelon candy. “Use a 3/8-oz. Ol-Nelle spinnerbait in a white/chartreuse color fished in the pockets around the lake where you see the schools of shad. Start by working the first few docks going into the pockets, but as the month comes to an end, work the backs of the pockets and coves around the lake,” Al said. “A small crankbait like a No. 5 Shad Rap or a 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Trap in chrome/black or chrome/blue will also work good in these areas,” he said.

Crappie: Slow, but by the end of September if the water temperatures drop into the lower 80s, night fishing for crappie will pick up. Al said that during the first part of the month, fishing over brushpiles in 10 to 15 feet of water with live bait on light line is the best bet. “Be a line watcher, as most of these bites are very light. Fishing under bridges or in the standing timber with lights off the side of the boat should bring you a limit of fish,” he said. Use light line, 4- to 6-lb. test, with live minnows.

Linesides: Slow. Al said for some fun fishing, go at night and cast small, 1/16-oz. jigs fished around the lighted docks for a mixed bag of white bass and small hybrids and stripers. Plus, you’re likely to catch some crappie and largemouth, too.