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Lake Sinclair

Lake Sinclair is in central Georgia near Milledgeville directly downstream from Lake Oconee on the Oconee River. The 15,330-acre lake is operated by Georgia Power. Bass fishing and crappie fishing are very good and quite popular on Sinclair, and the lake is also home to plenty of catfish. The lake's dynamics changed in 2013 when Georgia Power ceased operation of Plant Branch, which created a warm-water discharge near the Highway 441 bridge area. Even the iconic Plant Branch smoke stacks were brought down. Lake Sinclair stretches through the counties of Baldwin, Hancock and Putnam. Lake Sinclair was created in 1953.

 

Lake Sinclair Resources

Lake Sinclair Fishing Report – October 2024

By GON Staff | September 25, 2024

Sinclair: Level: 1.8 below 340. Temp: 85-88 degrees. Clarity: Clear except for the upper ends of Little River where there is a little stain. Bass: Karl Pingry reports that Ed at Lakeside says it’s still taking 18 to 20 pounds to win most of the tournaments. The bass are wanting bigger baits as a general rule. The exception is a No. 7 Shad Rap. Slow is the key. Ol’ Monster and Magnum Shakey Head worms in junebug red or plum are working well. A green-pumpkin swim jig with a little red in it and a green-pumpkin Zoom Speed worm are other hot baits.  A black magnum Trick Worm rounds out the plastic arsenal needed on Sinclair right now. Other baits Ed says to have tied on are ChatterBaits to fish the grass and a prop bait in bluegill colors. Ed reports there are mayfly hatches on the lake—just like 1984 when he fished with Junior Collis! Ed said most…

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Lake Sinclair Fishing Articles

Tony Couch’s Lake Sinclair Summer Bass Pattern

Bass fishing can be tough everywhere in August, but anglers can head to Lake Sinclair and hit the right docks and points for some action. Tie on a couple of different baits, fish early and late to beat the heat, and enjoy a good catch of August bass. Lake Sinclair is an old Georgia Power…

Sinclair Dock Fishing For Cats

A lazy, yawning, stretching sun is warm, finally, as it peers across treetops bordering Crooked Creek. Winter’s bite has clung on tenaciously this year. After months of chilling winds, rain and more rain, Lake Sinclair almost feels like home again on this Monday, the second week of April. The old faded vest that has weathered…

Sinclair Beast! Record Blue Catfish Weighs Almost 80 Pounds

Just how big are some of the catfish swimming in the waters of Lake Sinclair? We can confirm right at 80 pounds! A new Lake Sinclair record blue catfish was caught this weekend by Guy Covington, of Social Circle, that pulled the certified scales to 79.5 pounds. And Guy released the beast back into Sinclair…

73 3/4 Pound Catfish Sets Lake Sinclair Record Then Released

On the afternoon of Jan. 26, long-time buddies Brandon Pitts and Kenny Scott set out on Lake Sinclair in hopes of wrangling some big stripers. Finding gizzard shad of a suitable size for bait proved to be difficult, forcing the anglers to alter their game plan. Unbeknownst to them, it put them on a path…

Barnes Takes Top 150 On Lake Eufaula

Ellaville native Justin Barnes emerged as the winner at the Lake Eufaula ABA-AFT Top 150 tournament after a remarkable turnaround on the second day, June 3. Competing against 117 other anglers, Barnes secured first place with a total weight of 38.16 pounds, earning a prize of $16,400. On the first day of the tournament, Barnes…

Lake Sinclair Record Fish

Largemouth Bass13-lbs., 2-ozs.Jimmy Edge02/10/90
Hybrid Bass10-lbs., 7-ozs.David Phillips11/27/98
Striped Bass42-lbs.Mike Wicks-
White Bass2-lbs., 7-ozs.James Borders Jr.07/12/92
Black Crappie2-lbs., 11.5-ozs.Brent Moye01/22/00
Channel Catfish21-lbs., 5-ozs.Kenny Durden05/02/07
Longnosed Gar15-lb., 3-ozs.Dustin Turk08/18/09
Flathead Catfish39-lbs.Tommy Spell07/19/22
Blue Catfish79-lbs., 8-ozs.Guy Covington04/27/2024
Yellow Perch15.04-ozs.Eric Phillips02/09/22
Spotted Bass3-lbs., 9.76-ozs.Larry Cason05/10/21
Warmouth12-ozs.Christopher Leverette02/22/23

Oconee River Below Sinclair Record Fish

Largemouth Bass10-lbs., 3.2-ozs.Tracey Jackson03/26/17
Channel Catfish32-lbs., 6-ozs.Rick Leitheiser04/07/96
Flathead Catfish62-lbs.Brian Estes06/13/99
Striped Bass63-lbs.*Kelly Ward05/30/67
Black Crappie1-lb., 9-ozs.Duke Campbell Jr.04/01/06
Bluegill1-lb., 8-ozs.Duke Campbell Jr.03/31/15
Shellcracker1-lb., 13-ozs.Ben Bell05/29/22
Blue Catfish50-lbs., 6.4-ozs.Eli Carey04/06/24
Bowfin7-lbs., 6.016-ozs.Benjamin Hammock07/24/23