Lake Sinclair Fishing Report July 2011

Sinclair: Level: Down 1.3 feet. Temp: 90 degrees. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Aaron Batson said the best thing going right now is fishing areas where the mayflies are hatching. The best times will be early, late and on cloudy days. Aaron fishes Pop-Rs, buzzbaits and Chatterbaits in colors that’ll mimic the bluegills that are feeding around the mayflies. “Up the Little River tends to have a few more mayflies, but they’re up the Oconee, too,” said Aaron. Some fish have been caught deep cranking. The best time to catch them is when Georgia Power is moving water. “A lot of the fish they’re catching right now are smaller fish,” said Aaron. Look for points or humps that top out in 16 to 18 feet of water. Aaron suggested a Norman DD22, Spro Little John DD or a Strike King 6 XD. Finding these areas with bait will increase the odds of hooking up. A lot of anglers will drag a Carolina rig in these areas, but Aaron confesses he probably wouldn’t have one tied on. He’s looking for those bigger bites, the ones that come deep cranking. Aaron will also look for big bites around docks that have at least 8 or 10 feet of water on the front of them. He recommends flipping your favorite confidence baits under them. Ol Monsters and jigs are go-to baits for these deeper docks. Aaron has been enjoying recent success flipping a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog.

Catfish: Very good. Guide Chad Smith said right now lake Sinclair catfishing has been a carbon copy to Lake Oconee. “I have been catching great numbers of smaller fish in the 3- to 5-lb. range. For the night, when the target is smaller fish, we are catching 20 to 40 fish with a big fish mixed in. July is a good month for a chance at a 30-plus-lb. fish. Look for the fish to be around and in the deep channels. If they aren’t there, head to the main-lake flats in the 5- to 10-foot range. Use cut threadfin shad or small gizzard shad cut into chunks. For bigger fish, big bream cut into chunks work great.”

Linesides: Guide Doug Nelms said the fish in the tailrace of Wallace Dam have been doing very well. “You can find them by casting pearl-white flukes or Sassy Shads when Georgia Power is generating. Although the fish in the tailrace seem to be smaller than the ones up top on Lake Oconee, there are a lot of them down there. If you go down, make sure to wear your lifejacket.”