Oconee On The Fly

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October 2018: Fall fishing is here!

Finally, fall has arrived! This summer was brutal and 2 weeks ago the surface temperature on Oconee was 89 degrees. I fished yesterday, and the temps have cooled down to 75 degrees. This means if you like to crappie fish you need to come on down now.

Crappie trips $300.00 half day! (But we will have fly rods ready for rising fish.)

Crappie – I must put crappie at the top of the forecast as they are on fire right now. Long lining trolling 8 rods out of the back of the boat is as relaxing as fishing can get. Just pick up the rod and pit the slab in the cooler. I use litewire hooks so if we get hung up, just straighten out the hook. The key to success is to fish over submerged timber, use your electronics to calculate how far under the surface the timber is and troll at 9 tenths mph just over that structure.

Hybrids – I love to fly fish, thus the name Oconee on the fly. However, fly fishing is all about timing. This summer and even into October was not good for fly fishing, water temps in the high 80s and even the 90s means nothing is happening. I called many customers to push back their trips. Our policy is to always inform you what the fishing is like before you come. THIS IS ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE! With temps now at 75 degrees the fly fishing for hybrids will take off. These are early morning trips and if they are not hitting the fly, we are happy to break out the light spinning tackle for you.

Largemouth Bass – Fall is the best time for Largemouth. The topwater bite comes early in the morning and late in the day. Spinning tackle with Zara Spooks and even a Red Fin can be exhilarating. I love to throw a wiggle minnow on an 8-weight fly rod at them too. I have caught some in the 5 lb range on the fly.

Gift Certificates – Want to give someone a gift they will always remember. Just call or e-mail and we will make it happen. Ask anyone that enjoys the outdoors would they rather go fishing or get some other gift and they will take the fishing every time!

The “pump back bite” will start in June. We are booking up quickly so call 706-816- 4281 or e-mail me at wmoore1700 @outlook.com and request your dates. Remember, we offer fly fishing and conventional tackle trips for the best of both worlds.

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Book now for September and October

Book now for September and October (August is fully booked)

Fall trips ½ day $300.00 for up to 4 anglers. Call 706-816-4281 or e-mail wmoore1700@outllok.com

Fall trips are awesome!

Here at Oconee On The Fly, Inc. we have some exciting news! First, we have a brand-new boat! It is a Sea Hunt BX 22 BR bay boat. We can accommodate up to 4 anglers very comfortably. With state of the art electronics including a Minn Kota Ulterra 112lb 36 volt trolling motor (auto deploy) and a Simrad NSS12 evo3 with Navionics, Sonar, and Structure scan. Every detail on this boat has been designed with the fisherman in mind.

For the fly fisherman, we have invested in top of the line Scott fly rods with Lamson reels. Three Scott Meridian 8 weight rods, and a new 9 weight for the heavier flies.

For conventional tackle, we have spinning rods, down line rods, and rods for pulling U-rigs. We also have a full line of crappie rods for long lining and pushing jigs. We are ready for your trip!

Fall trips are usually early morning trips beginning at first light. We offer fly fishing and conventional tackle trips for the best of both worlds.

A fall trip usually begins at first light. There is usually a great top water bite and if you want to fly fish, this is the time! If you would rather spin fish, we throw popping corks and rooster tales.

Later in the morning, we throw sub surface flies or go to jigging spoons. Larger hybrids really key in on those spoons.

Call or e-mail and book a trip for September and October. In December, we will switch gears and start targeting very large crappie!!!

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June Forecast – The Night time is the right time!

It’s getting close to the best time of year on Lake Oconee for the fly fisherman; that is from late June through late October! The pump back bite, when Georgia Power pumps water up from Lake Sinclair (usually from 6:00 am to 9:00 AM) creates a lot of surface activity because the shad are pushed upwards to the surface. I start these trips with surface flies, then switch to clousers (a sinking fly) , then put down the fly rod and pick up a spinning reel with go after the monsters with a jigging spoon. Can’t wait!

Hybrids – Oh my! Fly fishing lighted docks at night is on fire. I use the Henry Cowen’s something else fly for this on the 8 weight Scott Rod with a 10 lb tapered leader. Last Tuesday evening 10 huge white bass off one dock in a little over an hour. Last night 2 hybrids both pushing 5 lbs. and a believe it or not a 5lb catfish on a fly. Call me if you want to give this a try, you will not be disappointed.

For conventional tackle, as we roll into June, the spoon bite will be turning on and for those who can stand to lose them, the umbrella rig bite is killer. I love the spoon bite, almost straight down, no casting and BIG fish!

Crappie – Long lining near lick creek is awesome in June, just remember you must go deep and over timber. Jiffy jigs with litewire hooks help, but be sure to use your electronics to calculate how far under the surface the timber is and how deep your jig is running. It’s common to use a double jig set up with a 1/16 on top and a 1/32 on the bottom. Fishing over brush piles with live minnows is a great summer pattern, but you must find the brush piles in deeper water.

Largemouth Bass –Henry Cowen’s something else fly is excellent in clearer water this time of year. I fish it on an 8 weight, 9-foot Scott fly rod. I use an intermediate line with an Orvis Mirage, Big Game fluorocarbon, knotless tapered leader in either 10lb. or 12 lb. This rig sinks quickly and casts well. I have caught more fish on Oconee (of every species on) Henry Cowen’s something else fly than any other fly. Unless they are feeding on the surface this is my “go to” fly!

Final words – Why fly fish? Well, ask the bow hunter the same question. He or she will likely say the challenge, and rush felt in the success of harvesting a deer at close range. I offer combo trips so learning is easy and you get the best of both worlds. For me personally, I’d rather catch one on a fly than ten on a spinning rod. Once you learn, casting is a blast! I subscribe to the Lefty Kreh method (Lefty is an internationally known casting instructor that many consider the father of fly casting!) This method focuses on 4 principals that allow you to cast farther with less effort. Most importantly, fighting and landing a fish on a fly rod is an adrenaline rush like no other in fishing.

The “pump back bite” will start in June. We are booking up quickly so call 706-816- 4281 or e-mail me at wmoore1700 @outlook.com and request your dates. Remember, we offer fly fishing and conventional tackle trips for the best of both worlds.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Wayne Moore USCG

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April Forecast

There is so much to look forward to that I find myself feeling like a kid anticipating Christmas. Fly fishing is our focus here at Oconee On The Fly, but we love conventional angling as well. Mixing the two gives an angler the opportunity to experience the best of both worlds!

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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February report

Wow – Where do I start? First of all on January 17th it was snowing here and water temperatures were around 47 degrees. One month later, the water temperature is around 67 degrees. We have had a lot of rain and until this past few days the lake has been stained well below mid lake.

Hybrids – I went out last Saturday and Sunday and found water that was not too stained around mid lake. I caught the biggest fish, a Hybrid that went about 5 lbs on a white and purple jigging spoon.

Sunday, I honed on fly fishing and took 5 on the fly. I found the fish in 15 feet of water and saw a few rising. I marked a lot of threadfin shad on my Lowrance unit as well. I hooked a fish on a “Cowen’s Coyote” then it slowed down so I switched to a wiggle minnow with a “Cowne’s Somethin Else”.

I use an 8 weight rod with an intermediate line so the wiggle minnow actually runs a little under the surface. I use a 9 foot, 12 lb fluorocarbon leader and the wiggle minnow is attached first then the Somethin Else is the dropper. I use 12 lb fluorocarbon for the dropper that is about 18″ to 24″ long. It casts well and the second fly is running about 2 feet under the surface. I got 5 fish on this rig!

Crappie – off the charts! The crappie don’t seem to mind the stained water as long as it has not rained in the past three days. The crappie are on the north end of the lake and the water temperature is in the mid to high 60s. Many limits are being take right now. I like to long line Jun Bug colored jigs, many here also spider rig 1/16 jigs tipped with minnows. If you want to book a crappie NOW is the time!

White Bass – The legendary white bass run up the Oconee river will likely start early this year. I think by this weekend it will be on. Rain comes in on Sunday but if it is not torrential the following week should be great as well. I will post an interim report after this weekend. This is a great trip for the fly fisherman that wants to catch a ton of fish. It only runs a week or 2 so call now if you want to go.

Finally – Don’t forget to take some time while fishing to just enjoy the incredible surroundings here. I am in constant awe of the beauty here day and night. I have been going out at first light and it’s a magical time as you get to observe the transition between night and day and often without any other boats in sight.

Tight Lines!

Wayne W. Moore