Lake Oconee Fishing Report September 2016

Oconee: Level: 0.4 feet low. Temp: 87-91 degrees. Clarity: Light stain across the mid lake.

Bass: Tournament angler Aaron Batson reports, “Get out early and late when the temps are not as high. Fishing remains tough with hot temps. Look for fish to be mostly deep in the 18- to 22-foot range. We have been catching fish on Greenfish Tackle football jigs on main-lake points, mainly when Georgia Power is moving some water. Good colors are brown craw and Cal 420. Tip the jig with a Missile Baits Baby D Stroyer. Adding some JJ’s Magic to the trailer will help increase bites. Fish will begin to move shallower later this month with cooler night temps, hopefully. Target coves and pockets with bait present with a white/nickel Greenfish Tackle Hammerhead Buzzbait, and flip any wood cover with a Greenfish Tackle Skipping Jig in bright, sunny conditions.”

Crappie: Guide Jody Stephens reports, “Fish are bunched and tight to select treetops and brushpiles around the lake. These fish can be caught single-pole jigging or pushing minnows right in on them. Good downscan imaging units are a must this time of year, with spotlock trolling motor functions and marker buoys. If you want to brave the heat and know what trees and brushpiles to look at, a good mess of crappie can be caught right now.”

Linesides: Poor. Guide Doug Nelms reports, “September should bring some much anticipated cooler temps, which in turn will start the long journey back to the fishing excellence that we love on Lake Oconee. It has been a long, hot summer, and I found out several weeks ago that oxygen readings at the south end of the lake were at an all-time low. It may take another month for the striper fishing to get good again, but most of you reading this already know how difficult it can be to catch our stripers and hybrids during the dog days of summer. This will change very soon, and by October, we will be hard at it again.”