Tony Couch Marks Lake Oconee Map For March Bass

As February finally gives way to March, the largemouth bass in Lake Oconee gradually give in to Mother Nature and begin migration into shallow water. When March is coming to an end, the first wave of spawning bass are beginning to start bedding. The month of March has something to offer every bassin’ man. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms and lizards will all produce sometime during this month.

Over the years my guide business has had me on the lake nearly every day during March. During this time I’ve discovered many places, baits and patterns that consistently produce for me. For this reason I’ve been asked to share some of my March secrets with the GON faithful.

Tony Couch marks a March map in Richland Creek on Lake Oconee.

It would take too long and too much would be skipped over if we looked at the entire lake, so I’ve chosen Richland Creek to talk about. This way we can break down each spot I’ve picked and give more detailed descriptions and data about each one. So read on as I talk about my favorite month of the year for Oconee bassin’.

I’ll start at the upper end of Richland Creek (and its tributaries) and work my way south. These spots are not numbered in preference nor do they indicate which areas the bass migrate to first.

The first spot I’ve marked on the map is the rip-rap at Granite Shoals Marine in Beaverdam Creek (1). This is not a bedding area. This is for prespawn fishing with some schooling thrown in as an extra bonus. Because all the bass in this area do not spawn at the same time, this rip-rap will hold some prespawn fish the entire month.

Early in the month while the water is still cold, I fish mostly black and silver or natural shad-colored Shad Raps and chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps in the 1/4-oz. size. As the water gets warmer, I’ll start throwing the 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Trap instead of the 1/4-oz. Because I’m guiding most of the time, I normally have three people in the boat so we stay out and cast in toward the rocks. If you are fishing alone or have just one other person with you, I recommend parallel casting to the rocks. This way you can keep your bait in productive water all the time. The fish will normally be in very close. Most strikes will come within 5 feet of the rocks so if you’re casting in toward the rip-rap, make sure your casts are tight to the rocks. During midday hours or after a cold front, try moving out a little deeper. All baits should be worked either very slowly or with a stop-and-go retrieve. If these baits fail to produce, try a black-and-brown jig ‘n pig.

As the water begins to warm up into the mid 50s, I start leaning more toward a spinnerbait. I like the 1/4-oz. Edge Flash Back in white pearl with tandem No. 4 or 5 silver or gold willowleaf blades. The spinnerbait is my favorite bait this time of year. It normally catches bigger-than-average fish. Slow-rolling is the method to use now. Stay alert and be a line watcher. Most strikes will be light. A hit will feel similar to a crappie inhaling a small jig.

Some strikes are very hard and vicious but won’t be felt unless you are alert or watching your line. When you are slow-rolling, the fish normally hit from the rear coming toward you. This can knock as much as 3 or 4 feet or slack in your line and go unnoticed unless you watch your line or notice that the blades have stopped turning. I recommend 17- to 25-lb. test for spinnerbait fishing because your line is constantly in touch with the rocks or other heavy cover and will fray badly. Re-tie your line periodically as needed. Another reason for the heavy line—an 11-pounder was taken here last March. This spot will produce all month long.

The No. 2 spot I’ve chose is up Richland Creek. This is a larger area and I will break it down into the east and west sides. You will know you are in the right area when you see a steep bank where the channel swings into and then away from the west shore toward the next two coves south and directly across from both points on the east shore.

Slow-roll your spinnerbaits or cast diving crankbaits such as the No. 7 Shad Rap on the west side. Give a little extra attention to the point where the channel first touches the shore to the point where it bends out. Fish may be caught all along the deep bank, but most of the big fish come from these two points. Spinnerbaits almost always take the big bass.

The shoreline from these points to the second cove is mostly clay with lots of rock. Fish your Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps down this stretch and your spinnerbaits if you have a little stained water. As the water warms up toward the end of the month, move into the two coves. Some bass might try to spawn here late in March, but remember that all bass will not spawn at the same time so while some are spawning, others will be out on the main run in a prespawn mode.

The east side is similar to the west in that it is mostly clay with a lot or rock and few blowdowns. This side is a lot shallower and I normally use the Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits here. Use the same slow retrieves here as on the west side. The fish will usually be a little ahead on this side than those on the west. Because the water is shallow and in the direct sunlight longer, it warms up a little faster than the opposite side.

Spots No.3 is what we call the ski-ramp cove. The ski ramp has been moved to Towns Cree, but the name remains. This cove is the first cove on the right north of Beaverdam Creek and has standing timber in the back of it.

I’ve caught more bass than I can count out of this cove. It will produced all month with schooling bass, prespawn and spawning fish. Fish from the right-hand point entering the cove to the rear and halfway back out the left side.

Early in the month Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps will produce best with a spinnerbait gaining as the water warms. The fish will school on the secondary points first and begin to spread out (especially on the right side going in) as the water warms. As these fish begin their prespawn stage and spread out along the sandy shoreline, another wave will school up on the secondary points. When this second batch moves up on the secondary points, a Carolina-rigged Edge French Fry worm or lizard will produce best. The best colors will be pumpkin seed, camouflage, watermelon seed and cotton candy.

For the bigger bass, move behind the timber and fish all visible cover, especially the little pockets with logs washed up in them. Cast a spinnerbait or flip a worm or lizard up in the logs. These little pockets will have the larger fish and the first spawners toward the end of the month.

Spot No. 4 is the Armor Bridge cove. It has the Armor Bridge public boat ramp in it. This has been another of my favorites over the years and will produce through all the stages of bass fishing previously mentioned. Start early in the month with Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps, then graduate to spinnerbaits as the water warms. The spinnerbaits seem to work better when you have some stained or muddy water. If the water is clear and in the mid 50s or warmer, go to the Carolina-rigged worms and lizards mentioned earlier. The same colors mentioned before will also be the best here. Fish both sides and forks of this cove.

Spot No. 5 is the second cove south of Armor Bridge on the same side of Richland Creek. This cove is very similar to Armor Bridge Cove and should be fished exactly the same way. The only exception might be the points on both sides entering the cove. As the water hits the mid-50 range, oftentimes large schools of bass will move up on these two points in 5 to 15 feet of water. Throw your Carolina-rigged worms on these two points.

Spot No. 6 is exactly the same as the two previous holes except the left-hand point entering the cove is not as good. This is the next cove south of spot No. 5 and directly across from the island in the mouth of Sandy Creek. Fish it exactly as spot No. 5 The right-hand point entering the cove is long and shallow and often holds lots of bass.

Two things make spots four, five and six productive. They all have good bottoms (mostly clay and sand), and their locations on the west side of Richland Creek protect them from the prevailing west winds this time of year. Their locations also allow them to be in the sunlight longer each day so these two factors allow these spots to warm up a little faster.

Spot No. 7 is primarily prespawn and spawning locations from the middle of the month on. It is located on the north side of Sandy Creek. Fish from the launching ramp on the left to where the old roadbed enters the lake. This is mostly sandy pockets and secondary points. The sand is the key to this spot. I usually fish the Edge French Frey worm and Edge lizard here. Because the water is normally clear here, I prefer the watermelon seed and camouflage colors.

Spot No. 8 is exclusively for spawn and prespawn fish. It is the third cove south of Sandy Creek on the east side of Richland. This cove has sand from one end to the other on both sides. It is one of the first places where bass actually start spawning. Fish the entire cove with Carolina-rigged worms and lizards in the colors we mentioned earlier.

Spot No. 9 is different from the other places we’ve talked about. This spot is for big prespawn female bass. It is what we call the “Rock House.” It is located in the first batch of standing timber north  of Rocky Creek. There is an old house under water just on the edge of the standing timber. The old driveway to this house comes off the shore out a shallow, sandy point through the middle of the standing timber to the house. Along this old driveway in 5 to 20 feet of water is normally where the fish will be. Most will be suspended in the timber.

I like to throw big spinnerbaits here with tandem No. 5 and 6 gold and silver willowleaf blades. I use a 1/2-oz. with either white or chartreuse skirts. Let the spinnerbait sink down and slow-roll it through the limbs in the trees. Give extra attention to the large trees with big limbs under the water and the thick pines and cedar trees.

If that doesn’t work, try casting deep-diving plugs along the driveway. I like the Cedar Poes 400 series and Bagley’s DB-3s. Pick your colors accordingly. Shad colors for clear water and chartreuse or dark colors for dirty water. Most of the fish caught here will be heavy-weights. When the males are along the shoreline hunting bedding areas, the big females will be suspended in the timber. This place is better toward the end of the month.

Spot No. 10 is another spawning area. It is the stretch of bank from the mouth of Double Creek to the second pocket up in Richland Creek. This stretch is scattered with clay, sand, large boulders and secondary points. It is a good area for not only March but the entire spring season. Use the Carolina-rig with all the popular colors of worms and lizards.

Another tactic worth mentioning is clear-water fishing for spawning bass. If for some reason the water is clear in the pockets and the bass won’t take the spinnerbait, try the Edge bubblegum floating worm. This can be a real killer. Fish it like a topwater plug but keep it just under the surface. Try several short, quick jerks, then pause. This method sometimes works when others fail.

If you are out on Oconee this month and planning on fishing these spots, don’t be surprised if you run into me on one of them. If you get there and I’m not there, save a few for me.

There are countless other places in Richland Creek and the entire lake like I’ve mentioned here. Many of them will be as good or better than some of these spots. So check these out and find some new ones that look similar. In the meantime, you can bet these places I’ve marked will produce for you.