LAKE OCONEE FEBRUARY 20-21

My oldest son Wes drove up from Brunswick and joined Jim and I for two days of fishing on Lake Oconee. On Monday Wes started out with a bang catching the biggest fish of the trip a 2 lb, 15 inch crappie. The bite was tough all day and we were able to scrape together 25 good fish. On Tuesday we decided to fish one of the creeks. We put in at daylight and found fish everywhere. Did I say they were everywhere? Although there were tons of fish the bite for us was extremely tough. We fished hard and fought the wind until we ran the trolling motor down. We quit at 3:00 and kept 16 good fish. Even though the fishing was not as good as I had hoped for we had a couple of great days on the water. As usual we combo trolled. We pulled single 1/16 jigs with 1/16 oz split shot; double 1/16 oz jigs and some double 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz jigs. Jim pushed 1/16 oz jigs on a leader below a 3/4 oz sinker. The water temperature on Monday reached 60-62 degrees. On Tuesday the water was 57-58 degrees in the channel. Like I said the fish were everywhere at all depths. The darker color curly tails and sliders seem to be the best producers. Lord willing Jim and I will be on the water tomorrow. If you see two old guys stumbling around in a G3 jon boat with a Tohatsu motor on the back give us a wave.

"We're Confederates, but we ain't hostile - honest." (The Horse Soldiers, 1959).

Thank for the report and the sons and daughters want to catch fish, the daddy's just want time with them

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Originally Posted by hobo

Thank for the report and the sons and daughters want to catch fish, the daddy's just want time with them

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You right Hobo.

Thanks for the report going to be rough this weekend, cooler and very windy.

Next week ought to be getting good. We will be there all week starting Sunday.

I started out in the same spot this past tues morning as you are in your pic. Strong east wind and high barometer had em shut down. Gonna try em again tomorrow.

Nice fish. I enjoyed the video also. Do you ever save your route you troll on your xi5 and just replay it the next time so you don't have to steer?

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Originally Posted by Thunder

Nice fish. I enjoyed the video also. Do you ever save your route you troll on your xi5 and just replay it the next time so you don't have to steer?

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You know I have never done that. I experimented with saving routes when I first started using the xi5 but I found that it spins you around when you get to the end of the route. That was not particularly helpful when long lining. It works fine that way if you are pushing.

Those are some beautiful fish.
LittleJohn

The consensus is that the bite was tough. I was also there except on the other side. Sunday was beautiful day but wind out of the east played a factor.

Great report!!! I have a few question for the guys that fish Oconee. From what I read there are no white crappie in this lake and was wondering why? Be in town the first week in April doing work on our new house. Down to 17 months till retirement. Where I live now I drive 2 hours each way to decent waters to fish. The house We bought is 3/4 from the boat ramp. Gonna be spoiled

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Originally Posted by jim.b

Great report!!! I have a few question for the guys that fish Oconee. From what I read there are no white crappie in this lake and was wondering why? Be in town the first week in April doing work on our new house. Down to 17 months till retirement. Where I live now I drive 2 hours each way to decent waters to fish. The house We bought is 3/4 from the boat ramp. Gonna be spoiled

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I can't answer your question regarding white crappie. I'm sure others will be able to give you an answer. I've wondered why also.

Great report, looks like crappie season is off to a great start!

I don't know the reason why, but there is no white crappie in Oconee. Maybe that would be a question to discuss with the biologist of the lake. You will have to drive to Clark Hill if you want to catch some whites or Russel. Russel did not have any whites in it either,but they have started showing up in the last 4 years or so. I have caught some there but they are scarce.