I've got the Lake Oconee blues

[Koz]

I just haven't been able to catch a break here so far this year as the weather has been wonky. For the past 4 or 5 days we've finally had some warmer nighttime temperatures and some bass started moving into the cove behind my hotel. Yesterday I caught my biggest one yet on Oconee (which wasn't big) that weighed 2.6 pounds and she was carrying eggs.

 

So I was hoping that was a sign that the fishing would improve, and then I saw the weather forecast for the rest of the week. Nighttime temperature back down into the 30's for three days. That probably means the bass are going to head to deeper water yet again.

 

The shad spawn usually starts in the first week of April and that's when the old timers say the bass fishing gets really good. I wonder if the weather is going to impact that much.

 

Granted, I'm only fishing a tiny part of the lake and have yet to get out on a kayak yet, but I was hoping for catching more than one or two dinks in my after work outings. I know that back in SC we'd be in a pre-spawn feeding frenzy right now.

 

I've fished a few times after dark and have yet to even get a bite. I hear fish breaking the surface out in the dark but I think they are catfish or carp. I guess I'll have to be patient all around, but I hope the fishing picks up or I may have to go looking for some farm ponds.

[TnRiver46]

Bank fishing on a reservoir? catching any bass is a pretty good outing 

[Koz]

53 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bank fishing on a reservoir? catching any bass is a pretty good outing 

We're in a cove with plenty of docks to fish from and toss under. My hotel is near the end of a shallow cove and there's a small feeder stream pumping in fresh water. We also have rip rap, submerged rocks, and a wooden sea wall. What we don't have is vegetation, but other than that it should be a great area to fish once the weather is warmer and stabilizes.

[00bullitt]

That feeder stream (what I typically call a drain) after storms and flooding are typically a great spot. I'm not sure of your access or positioning, but a spinnerbait, squarebill or small Keitech 2.8 Swimbait should yield. I typically like to locate the deepest center and fish back off on it and fan cast it. That might be more difficult bank fishing, so drawing a square bill across it might be best.