Lake Sinclair Fishing Report – October 2023

Sinclair: Level: 1.5 feet below 340. Temp: Mid 80s. Clarity: The lake is clear at the dam and only a mild stain above Twin Bridges.

Bass: Karl Pingry spoke with Ed at Lakeside Chevron, who said the fishing is still good. It took 21 pounds to win the Berry’s Fall Series tournament. There are only a few patterns to choose from, though. Ed says the bite is in the shallow hydrilla up the Oconee River in  the morning with a black buzzbait or a popping frog. There’s a crankbait bite on a Bandit 200 and a Shad Rap No. 7, but the fishermen are tight-lipped as to what they are targeting. A spinnerbait with nickel and gold blades is also starting to produce. The most consistent staple right now is flipping the docks with big worms or shaky-head worms with colors of black emerald and junebug red. The second half of our report is courtesy of Troy Harris. Troy is a college senior right there in the heart of Milledgeville and fishes Sinclair often. Troy says the topwater bite (he favors the frog right now) is in the grass near the mouths of pockets and on the main lake. Look for the frog bite to remain, but the buzzbait bite will really pick up as we get toward the middle and end of October. The bass will move from the mouths of the pockets to the very backs of the pockets by the end of the month. Like all tournament fishermen on Sinclair, the docks will remain a strong pattern with jigs, shaky heads and creature baits. Look for the same migration. The bite will transition from the mouths and first point in the pockets and then all the way to the backs by the end of October. Troy says a crankbait at the beginning of the month will need to dive 4 to 7 feet, and he will be fishing shallower cranks that run 2 to 5 feet deep by the end of the month. He’ll also have a ChatterBait in green pumpkin tied on to fish the docks and grass, as well as two spinnerbaits. One spinnerbait will be a double willowleaf for fishing clear water, and he will throw a single Colorado blade in stained water. So as the month progresses, pay attention to what parts of the pockets you are getting your bites, as well as the depth; when you narrow down those two pieces, you can really narrow down the pattern and become really efficient at fishing the most productive water in each pocket. This is a great month to be on the water. The key will be to follow the bass as they follow the bait back into the pockets. Enjoy the bite and the lessening of recreational boater traffic.”

Lake Sinclair Page: Archived Articles & Fishing Reports

Troy Harris