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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 – June 2025

By GON Staff | May 28, 2025

Sinclair: Level: 1.4 feet below 340. Temp: High 70s. Clarity: The lake is heavily stained north of the Highway 441 bridge and clear south of Nancy Creek. Bass: Karl Pingry reports, “Ed at Lakeside Chevron says most of the bass are in the backs of the pockets in the stained water. Docks are the main cover working at the moment. Bandit 200 cranks in chartreuse/white and black retrieved down the sides and fronts of the docks is a hot pattern. Old standbys, such as an Ol’ Monster worm in black emerald or plum apple, as well as skipping a blue/black jig, are catching some big bass. For topwater, a black buzzbait over the hydrilla in Island Creek and up the Oconee is the bait to throw. On the south end, a No. 6 X-Rap in pearl or glass ghost is working, as well as a chrome Rat-L-Trap. Last, a merthiolate…

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Lake Sinclair Fishing Articles

Sinclair Lake Record Hybrid Bass

David Phillips, of Milledgeville, caught this 10-lb., 7-oz. lake-record hybrid on Lake Sinclair on Nov. 27, 1998.

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., 11.6-ozs.Kelsey Helms12/07/24
Bluegill1-lb., 8-ozs.Duke Campbell Jr.03/31/15
Shellcracker1-lb., 13-ozs.Ben Bell05/29/22
Blue Catfish62-lbs., 15.2-ozs.Kevin Carey01/12/25
Bowfin7-lbs., 6.016-ozs.Benjamin Hammock07/24/23