Lake Oconee 11/12/2011

This is my first time posting. I fished Oconee at Sugar Creek on Saturday, and caught ten keeper crappies and a few catfish in the stumps off the main lake before you get to the bridge at Sugar Creek. The boat ramp owned by Georgia Power was good, and had no problems launching, but getting in, and out of the boat at the dock was a little tricky. I watched anglers on the shore jigging pulling out some slabs under the bridge. There were many fish showing up on the graph. A guy in a boat at this location ran out of minnows. He was killing them! I on the other hand I did not do so well.
I’m from PA, only lived here for three years, and have never fished a lake that was influenced by a Power Company operating the generators at the dam. The dam is thirteen miles from this location, and the current is really strong sometimes. In the spring of this year, before I had my boat here in Georgia with me, at this location under the bridge, the locals were pulling 2LB Slabs out right by my feet jigging from shore, one after another. I could not replicate what they were doing! I thought that I was very learned at jigging. How Sicking! They spoke of “their pulling water, or pushing water”. I had no idea what they were referring to. Also, I never knew why people tied off their boat on the beams under the bridge. Now I know. I tried anchoring with two 30lb anchors at the front and back off the boat Saturday, but could not stay put once the generators were turned on. Also, the guys Saturday jigging from shore were commenting how the fish prefer jigs over minnows, and how they have five dozens minnows at home they did not bring.
I knew from the spring the fish would be here in the fall, and how I would do better once I brought the boat from PA. I Still have a Lot to learn on fishing at this location when their pulling, or pushing water.
God Bless!:)

Welcome to the Ga. Board. Thanks for your post. We are having a Crappie Tournament next Saturday at Oconee. I hope we can figure out how to catch seven big uns. Seven two pounders would be sweet.

I went today and only caught 3 slabs. The wind was horrible. The past 3 or 4 weeks I have fished the stumps at sugar creek and brought about a dozen slabs home each time and caught a lot of dinks that I released. 412 it sounds like that guy that ran out of minnows is why I didn't catch many today! Haha!

EARL, this tournament you mention. Where is it being hosted at and where can I find more info on it?? I have never fished a fish tournament and as much as I love crappie fishing I wouldn't mind trying it out!

MTNMAN. Go to SouthernCrappie.com for all the details. We are starting our Slabmaster Tournament trail in December at Lake Sinclair.
Look at the Ga Off Topic section on the top of the Ga. page for more info or go to the Slabmaster website. We would love to have you.
I will pm my cell number to you.

412 - Welcome from Gray Ga. Went to Sugar Creek myself yesterday. Had a good day of fishing. I am in a BassTracker with 60 HP mercury. See you around sometime on the lake.

Welcome to the boards 412. Sounds like you had a good day on the water. Thanks for the report on the ramp too............good ramps are getting to be hard to find these days.:rolleyes: Congrats on your catch.Thumbs Up