LAKE OCONEE REPORT SATURDAY 3/5

[Hotwater]

The Kissimmee Kowboy and I fished Lake Oconee today. We arrived at the Sugar Creek Ramp around 7:15 a.m. The parking lot was about 2/3 full when we arrived as there was a Bass tournament today. It was cold and foggy first thing. We motored slowly towards the back of the creek to get away from the Bass boats, and started fishing around 7:45 a.m. The water was 52 degrees and lightly stained. Jim pushed 6 rods out of the front of his boat and also fished 4 of my long lines. I fished the remaining 6 long lines out of the rear of the boat. The bite was fair early on and we had 10 solid fish by 10:00. By then the sun was out and it was beginning to get comfortable. I was able to count 17 crappie fishing boats in Sugar Creek at that time. It was not crowed and everyone was able to move around as they wanted. The bite really slowed for us and we finally got fish number 20 at 2:30 p.m. just before we were checked by the Game Warden. This was the first time I had seen a Game Warden on Oconee. The afternoon water temperature had risen to 54 degrees and even higher in some places. At 3:30 we finally caught fish number 25. On the way to the lake, Jim and I agreed we would quit if we caught 25 fish. So at 3:30 we started trolling back to the boat ramp. That is when the fishing picked up for us. By the time we got to the boat ramp at 4:00 we had an additional 7 fish giving us 32 fish for the day. When Jim let me out at the dock he gave me the truck keys. When I got to the truck I could not unlock the door and I realized he had given me the wrong set of keys. I called him and had him return to the dock to exchange the keys. I walked to the truck the second time unlocked it and found that it had a dead battery. Fortunately, two crappie fishermen from Macon, Shannon and Larry, came to my aid and jumped started the truck. Thanks guys. Crappie fishermen are a good group of folks. We had an eventful blessed day. Countrytime it was good to see you on the water.

Best jigs for us today: Popsicle, Acid Rain
Trolling speed: .8-1.1 mph
Push rods 3/4 oz weight; 1/16 oz jig head
Pulling rods 1/16 jig head and 1/16 split shot