Big News! Accepting weekend and weekday bookings beginning March 2021
That is right! For the past three years I have been guiding primarily on the weekends. After 40 years, I have retired from my day job selling software to physicians and I can now accommodate trips during the week.
All trips are $300.00 half day for up to three anglers. You can add a fourth angler for an additional $50.00. If the fourth angler is 16 years old or younger this is waived. All tackle, bait, light snacks, and soft drinks are provided. You just need to have a fishing license and to show up!
E-mail the dates you want to wmoore1700@outlook.com , text or call 404-317-9556.
Forecast for April 2021
Hybrids / Stripers (spinning tackle) – April is the beginning of the top water bite for stripers and hybrids. No matter what type of fishing you like to do, it is one of the best months to fish Lake Oconee.
We will begin the month long-lining bass minnows from mid lake to the dam and up the Richland Creek Branch all the way to the Ritz. The set up is simple and its a fun way to fish. I use medium / heavy spinning rods spooled with 12 lb. test. On the business end is a swivel to keep the line from twisting, a leader of 10 lb. fluorocarbon, and finally a #4 circle hook. This a small hook for our quarry, but it allows the minnow to swim freely. I run 4 of these rigs off the back of the boat and troll between .05 to .09 mph. When a fish hits, the rod will double over and the fight is on!
Hybrids / Stripers (fly fishing) – Early April, fly fishing will be hit or miss. The bite will be for the first hour after day light and the last hour before sunset. The best fly fishing here occurs when Georgia Power pumps water up from Lake Sinclair. They do this when power demand is high, usually in warmer temperatures. They do not publish a generation schedule. I recommend doing a combo trip (fly fishing and spin fishing) so if the fly bite is off, you can still have a great day. The shad spawn usually occurs towards the end of April. This will provide a good opportunity for fly fishermen at first light as the hybrids and stripers move shallow to feed on the spawning shad.
Here are some pics from trips in April over the last three years:
Crappie –
There are several good options in April for crappie fishing. If the fish are bedding, I like to “beat the banks.” One method is to cast a 1/24th jiffy jig under a weighted bobber to the shoreline; no minnow needed. Work it slowly back to the boat jiggling the rod tip slightly. When you hit an area with a bed, you can load up. Of course, the traditional minnow under a bobber method will work well if you do not cast into the bushes along the bank.
The other method is to use a 5-weight fly rod. You can use the same 1/24th jiffy jig under a strike indicator. Better yet, try the new micro game changer fly. Its looks just like a small shad.
If the fish are not on the bed, long lining jigs behind the boat is a tried-and-true method. It allows you to cover a lot of water and be adjusting the weight of the jig you use; you can target fish at various depths.
Here are some pics from crappie trips in April over the last three years:
Book your trip early and enjoy the great fishing on Lake Oconee!
Tight Lines,
Captain Wayne