Which Lake???

[NE GA Pappy]

I have never fished Oconee or Clarks Hill. My brother and I are wanting to do some crappie fishing in mid-March when I get back from the Middle East. He will be taking his 13 y/o son, and I will be taking my 12y/o. We mostly fish with live bait, and I haven't targeted crappie in years. Which lake would you pick? Any tips and advise would be appreciated.

Pappy

[NE GA Pappy]

I was just looking at the Elijah Clark state park. Any good fishing around it? I would like to camp a little with the boys. This could make a great trip.

[Dutch]

I can't help you with Clarks Hill...but Oconee is a good lake for crappie fishing. Check out Lawrence Shoals for camping.

[NE GA Pappy]

thanks Dutch. I will check it out. any recomendations on how to fish the lake?

[Slabby15]

Your best bet and a way to make memories is to hire a guide. You will have a great time, you will learn some fishing secrets and learn the lake. You could camp and take your boat and after fishing with the guide you could use what you learned to catch crappie the next few days. It is a great way to get a leg up and your boys would love it. We have two good Oconee guides on here: golfprocrappieman (Jody) and bigfishheads (Doug.) They both fish Oconee all the time and will put you on fish. Good luck fishing, Wes

[NE GA Pappy]

a guide might be a good idea. Thanks. I will talk it over with my brother.


if you guys have any other ideas, let me hear them.

Pappy

[Fish2DMax]

I'm familiar with both Clark Hill & Oconee. Have never crappie fished at CH. There the Hydrilla has made it into a different lake. Now at Oconee my advice would be to start at Sugar Creek. There you have a marina with gas, bait, ramp and a restroom. Across the cove there's also a Forest Service boat ramp. There's plenty to explore there and finding crappie should be no problem in mid March. Other areas that pop to mind are Swords & Redlands up the river. We also get into White Bass there. Down lake there's Lick Creek. Forum help for Lick Creek is at http://www.crappie.com/crappie/georg...d-lake-oconee/

I watched the water back up when they shut the dam and created the lake and have been fishing down there ever since so if I can be of assistance please let me know. Favorites are the Jiffy Jig in Christmas Tree, Black and Blue or the Pumpkin with Limetreuse tail. Run alone or tipped with minnow and fish shallow. Can even cast to bank. Roadrunners in Red & White or the Black with Chartreuse tail work good too!

Camping is available at Old Salem (1530 Old Salem Road, Greensboro, GA). This would put you below Sugar Creek and above Lick Creek.

[hobo]

Don't thank old Salem is open till April.

[golfprocrappieman]

Your best bet and a way to make memories is to hire a guide. You will have a great time, you will learn some fishing secrets and learn the lake. You could camp and take your boat and after fishing with the guide you could use what you learned to catch crappie the next few days. It is a great way to get a leg up and your boys would love it. We have two good Oconee guides on here: golfprocrappieman (Jody) and bigfishheads (Doug.) They both fish Oconee all the time and will put you on fish. Good luck fishing, Wes

THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS WES! CRAPPIE WILL BE FROM MID CREEK BACK DURING THIS TIME AND IN DEEPER HOLES UP THE RIVER AND SPREADING OUT TO SHALLOW FLATS IN WARMER AFTERNOONS TO FEEL OUT SPAWNING LOCATIONS....OF COURSE THIS ALL DEPENDS ON THE WATER TEMPS / RAIN / AND CLARITY....AND RAIN AND RAIN AND RAIN!!!!

NE GA PAPPY...MESSAGE MYSELF OR BIG FISH HEADS IF WE CAN HELP YOU


JODY

[NE GA Pappy]

We are coming down on the 27th and fishing the 28th and 29th morning. I sure hope we can put these youngsters on some crappie, and maybe daddy can catch one or 12 also.

I am sure looking forward to it, and I know the boys will enjoy it too.