Hybrids – Recently the hybrids and stripers have been found in 50 to 60 feet deep water, high in the water column at 30 feet. Fly fishing in this case means sink tip lines and is not very effective. However, flat lining behind the boat with large bass minnows has been excellent. The rig is simple, a medium 6 and half foot spinning rod, 12 lb. test, a swivel, then a 10-lb. fluorocarbon leader about 3 feet long. I caught a 6 lb., 8-ounce hybrid doing this on a recent trip. We have been catching 10 to 12 in a short trip using this technique.

For the months ahead, the fly bite is going to get very good! In the next couple of weeks, the water will warm and the shad will start to spawn. This is an early morning bite and we will be casting wiggle minnows, clousers, and some 4 to 5-inch shad imitation flies up against the sea walls. Hang on!!!!

Once the sun is higher, say after 9:00 AM, we will switch to conventional tackle flat lining and down lining live shad. April and May will be great for Hybrids and Stripers!

Crappie – This year has been very good for crappie and up until recently spider rigging and long lining has been the ticket. Now the crappie spawn is starting. This means they are in the shallows and large numbers will be caught using a spinning out fit with 4 or 6lb test, a light bobber and a #4 True Turn hook. You will be able to smell them when they are bedding.

This is the one time of year when fly fishing for crappie can be very effective. I use a 5 weight 9 and ½ foot rod with weight forward line, a 4x, 9-foot leader and fish the fly under a strike indicator or even a narrow pencil style float with bobber stoppers. The fly can be almost anything that has some white and chartreuse. Crappie Kandy, is one popular fly that is easy to tie. Instructions can be found with a Google search. The advantage in fly fishing for crappie is, no minnows required and you don’t even have to reel in line, just re-cast the line you have out.

Largemouth Bass – What? Largemouth on a fly? You bet! This time of year, larger mouth are getting ready to spawn. There are many files that are very effective on large mouth. Georgia fly tier Craig Riendeau ties a “Wee Willie Wiggler” that is the fly fisherman’s answer to the plastic worm. It is fished under a strike indicator like a “float and fly” rig. Have you ever cast a Zara Spook to bass in top water mode? There is a large topwater fly called a “Pole Dancer” tied by Charlie Bisharat. It moves back in forth on the retrieve just like a Zara Spook. Bass will kill this fly when they are active on the surface!

We are booking up quickly so e-mail me at wmoore1700 @outlook.com and request your dates. Also, the “pump back” bite will run from late June through November. These dates for fly fishing are very popular, book yours now!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Wayne Moore USCG

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Here at Oconee On The Fly, our main focus is fly fishing for Hybrid and Striped Bass. There are certain times of year that are optimum for fly fishing and other times are better for crappie fishing.

CRAPPIE – January through the first week in March, crappie fishing is excellent. Large crappie migrate up the lake and long lining or pushing jigs off the front of the boat will often yield good catches of 1 one and half to two pound slabs! If your trip is booked around the full or new moon, it’s often better. Also, the old timers here always say the third day of warm weather is off the charts.

WHITE BASS AND SPAWNING CRAPPIE – Usually by the second week in March the famous white bass run is happening up Dyar’s Pasture on the Oconee River. Our G3 tunnel hull boat with hydraulic jack plates is perfect for running up the Oconee River. This is off the charts fly fishing, we can teach you to cast; or if you prefer you can use a light spinning rod. If timing is right, it’s not uncommon to limit out quickly. We will also be breaking out the light weight fly rods to catch the spawning crappie.

HYBRIDS DURING THE SHAD SPAWN – The shad spawn in 2017 started the first week in April. This is the time of year when we break out the 8-weight fly rods. These are bigger rods; we use exclusively Scott fly rods with Lamson reels. This is a top of the line outfit and casts like a dream. I have a saying, “if it’s not a Scott, throw it back.” Nothing beats the rush of fighting a nice hybrid on a fly rod. However, if they are hitting a spinner bait better, we break out the spinning rods.

THE SPOON IN JUNE – In late May and June, Hybrids and stripers can be taken on a spoon, trolling umbrella rigs, and live shad. We have a 35-gallon Super Saver bait tank and when the shad bite is on, you will have plenty of fresh bait and Shimano rods paired with Cold Water line counter reels.

TOP WATER FLY FISHING PEAK MONTHS – from late July through early September we often have what is called “the pump back bite.” When Georgia Power is pumping water up from Lake Sinclair the top water bite is unbelievable. These trips usually mean we are on the water before sunrise. The hybrids come up first and we use the Scott 8 weight and “wiggle minnow” fly. It moves through the water like a Rapala. Later in the morning we catch largemouth on a clouser minnow type sinking fly. Finally, when the pumpback stops, we drop spoons and get into bigger hybrids and stripers.

FALL FISHING – Crappie and late fall chasing the birds to find top water Hybrids. The crappie are usually around Lick Creek in the fall and in late fall the birds may come in to show us where the hybrids are.

OUR PHILOSOPHY – Mixing fly fishing and conventional tackle gives you the opportunity to learn something new; experience the thrill of catching a hybrid, striper, or largemouth on a fly rod; and still load the boat on conventional tackle after the peak hours of fly fishing.

We will call you a few days before your trip to advise you of conditions on Lake Oconee, what is biting and what to expect.

We want you to have a safe and fun trip; we will work hard to make it a trip of a lifetime!

Tight lines,

Wayne W. Moore

The good news is we are starting to see the gulls dive down and pick the shad (bait fish). The bait fish are abundant now and in large schools easily seen on the Lowrance HDS12 on my boat. The schools are all over the lake and I have seen the largest schools in 20 feet of water about halfway down below the surface.

The best fly set up to catch the fish that are usually just under these schools of bait is a small clouser dressed with some pink on top of the fly. This fly sinks quickly and can be used on an 8-weight rod with an intermediate or sink tip line and a 9 foot, 10 or 12 pound leader.

The “main event” for stripers and hybrids is coming soon as cooler temperatures come in. When this happens, we will fish mid lake to the dam looking for the birds. This is top water fishing and is a blast. The setup is a floating line, a 10 pound leader, and a wiggle minnow. The retrieve is a constant strip, sometimes done with the fly rod under your arm and using both hands to strip line back in.

Crappie – Oh my, it is off the charts right now. I have used both down lines pushing jigs tipped with minnows and ling lines pulling behind the boat. The latter has been the most effective. I am using 2 1/16 jigs and because these fish are so big, 8 lb test. I have been catching up to 20 in 4 hours mostly large to very large crappie. Several in the 2 pound range recently. In terms of color, a blue / chartreuse curly tail has worked best.

I love fishing this time of year, jet skis are gone, fewer boats on the water, and the bite will be good until late March.

The pump back bite is killer for fly fisherman and usually happened somewhere between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM from August through late October. That bite has become unpredictable as power demands changed with cooler weather.

We are focusing on fly fishing at night under dock lights right now. This bite is good all over the lake. On the upper end, the water can become stained with rain, but so far it has not been a problem. I had a guest out Monday 11/6 and he boated 6 smaller hybrids, serval nice crappie, and had some much bigger fish break off on a 10-lb. leader. All with only one fly and in just a few hours.

There are a few keys to success doing this. First, a clouser type fly that sinks quickly and a retrieve of 3 to 5 short strips as soon as the fly hits the water, then pause and repeat. The pause is key.

Secondly, the hook set; it must be a striping hook set with the rod tip down. This is not like fly fishing for trout where a high rod hook set works well.

Most importantly, a 4 lb. Hybrid is a heck of a fight at night on a fly rod. Getting the fish on reel as soon as possible will keep the fish from breaking the leader. Fight the fish with the part of the rod closest to the reel. It’s an adrenaline rush to catch a big Hybrid at night on a fly, just remember they play by their own rules and landing one means getting it away from the dock and any other structure as soon as possible.

Crappie – The cooler weather has made the crappie move off the deep-water structure and start to disperse in open water. The trolling bite has not started on the upper end of the lake, but I am hearing good reports from people long lining in the area near lick creek. The fishing on the docks at night has been fair, the fish are good size slabs. We are catching them on crappie minnows and on the same flies used for Hybrids.