It’s Tough Out There

[Koz]

We’ve had constant, oppressive heat in Georgia for a month now. Every day has been 90+ and heat indices of 100 - 112 degrees.

 

I saw the results of a recent tournament on Lake Oconee where the winning bag was a five fish limit of only five and a half pounds. That’s brutal.

 

I fished Sinclair the other morning and caught only one small bass and a 7 or 8 pound blue cat.

 

Baitfish are stacked up in the usual spots, but there are no predators to be found even on FFS.

 

What makes Oconee and Sinclair tough are that they are narrow, dammed up rivers with lots of pleasure boat traffic. If you want to try and fish the deep ledges you have pontoon boats and wake boats buzzing by you all day. That’s not a lot of fun if you have a bass boat and dangerous if you’re like me and fish from a kayak.

 

I was planning to fish both days this weekend, but temps are supposed to be 96-97 and a heat index of Hades.

[Swamp Girl]

Koz, since you have a kayak, launch at water too small for bass boats, pontoon boats, and jet skis. 

[thediscochef]

Man I feel you, I was done by 730 this morning. My favorite spot reopened for the first time since May, but no bites to be found. So much bait everywhere, I've been finding it all over the lake the last week, can't throw a rock without crossing a shad and a bluegill. But no bass biting or even making themselves known. I need to get out and night fish but I'm not sure how they're gonna treat after hours fishing with the pier still closed. Normally that means no fishing at night but maybe they'll be chill about it in the meantime. Lake needs to drop a couple more feet before I have deep water access during the day. Worst year of fishing I've had so far, by far

[Susky River Rat]

It’s been tough here too. Getting out early and hoping for the best. Can see fish but are completely uninterested in baits and do not look to be in “feeding” areas

[Koz]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Koz, since you have a kayak, launch at water too small for bass boats, pontoon boats, and jet skis. 

I’m actually going to try an 880-acre, electric motor only lake on Saturday.

 

On Sunday I was thinking about Clark’s Hill / Strom Thurmond, but @Hook2Jaw suggested I try the smaller Ocumulgee PFA and I’m leaning that way.

 

I’m still not sure I want to brave the heat, but this weekend there is an interesting regional two day kayak tournament where the rules state you have to fish a different public Georgia lake each day.

 

I have never fished either of the lakes and can’t find depth maps for them so I’m going in blind. But they are small enough that I can cover water easily,

[Koz]

2 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Man I feel you, I was done by 730 this morning. My favorite spot reopened for the first time since May, but no bites to be found. So much bait everywhere, I've been finding it all over the lake the last week, can't throw a rock without crossing a shad and a bluegill. But no bass biting or even making themselves known. I need to get out and night fish but I'm not sure how they're gonna treat after hours fishing with the pier still closed. Normally that means no fishing at night but maybe they'll be chill about it in the meantime. Lake needs to drop a couple more feet before I have deep water access during the day. Worst year of fishing I've had so far, by far

It’s frustrating because with Livescope and so much bait around it’s hard to believe the predators aren’t at least sitting there.

 

I’ve thought about just camping out on a point for an hour or two waiting for the bass to show up instead of running and gunning looking for bass. The problem is that I’m not that patient to sit around and wait for one good bite.

[Tackleholic]

Arkansas is the same.  Oppressive heat, water temp. 85 degrees and climbing, baitfish everywhere.  Begin fishing at 5:30 A.M., head for home at 7:30 A.M., maybe 3-5 non-bragging size fish, maybe zip.

[TnRiver46]

River smallies love hot sunny weather thank goodness 

[thediscochef]

2 hours ago, Koz said:

It’s frustrating because with Livescope and so much bait around it’s hard to believe the predators aren’t at least sitting there.

 

I’ve thought about just camping out on a point for an hour or two waiting for the bass to show up instead of running and gunning looking for bass. The problem is that I’m not that patient to sit around and wait for one good bite.

For me I just need to show up at night and I know I will have at least some success 

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, Koz said:

The problem is that I’m not that patient to sit around and wait for one good bite.

 

Me too. 

[Team9nine]

I’ve stopped fishing in this 90+ heat (SC). Last trip was June 27. No relief in sight until next Friday, so I won’t be heading out before then. I’m not a morning person, unfortunately, and all our launches lock at sunset, so night fishing isn’t an option. No biggie though…

[pdxfisher]

9 hours ago, Koz said:

We’ve had constant, oppressive heat in Georgia for a month now. Every day has been 90+ and heat indices of 100 - 112 degrees.

 

I saw the results of a recent tournament on Lake Oconee where the winning bag was a five fish limit of only five and a half pounds. That’s brutal.

 

I fished Sinclair the other morning and caught only one small bass and a 7 or 8 pound blue cat.

 

Baitfish are stacked up in the usual spots, but there are no predators to be found even on FFS.

 

What makes Oconee and Sinclair tough are that they are narrow, dammed up rivers with lots of pleasure boat traffic. If you want to try and fish the deep ledges you have pontoon boats and wake boats buzzing by you all day. That’s not a lot of fun if you have a bass boat and dangerous if you’re like me and fish from a kayak.

 

I was planning to fish both days this weekend, but temps are supposed to be 96-97 and a heat index of Hades.

 

I feel you on the boat traffic. I kayak fish two big rivers out here and in the summer the boat traffic can make fishing out of a kayak feel pretty dangerous. I am mostly worried about some drunk moron running me over in my bright green kayak with big orange flag. It is draining fishing the whole day with your head on a swivel. I love those rare (out here) rainy summer days. Not a drop of rain this month and none in the 10-day forecast, but at least the temps have dropped out of the 100s!

[Bankbeater]

I'll be heading out real early tomorrow.  Around here when the sun hits the water the bite usually dies off when the temps are over 90. I'm taking the UL rig just in case the bass don't cooperate.

[GreenPig]

6 hours ago, Koz said:

I’m actually going to try an 880-acre, electric motor only lake on Saturday.

 

On Sunday I was thinking about Clark’s Hill / Strom Thurmond, but @Hook2Jaw suggested I try the smaller Ocumulgee PFA and I’m leaning that way.

 

I’m still not sure I want to brave the heat, but this weekend there is an interesting regional two day kayak tournament where the rules state you have to fish a different public Georgia lake each day.

 

I have never fished either of the lakes and can’t find depth maps for them so I’m going in blind. But they are small enough that I can cover water easily,

Here's a few pics of Ocmulgee PFA before it was filled. It has a good bit of rock & man made structure with alot of brush along the banks. I only fish it during the Summer at night. It does have big swimming lizards so I'd advise against swimming.

[Koz]

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

Here's a few pics of Ocmulgee PFA before it was filled. It has a good bit of rock & man made structure with alot of brush along the banks. I only fish it during the Summer at night. It does have big swimming lizards so I'd advise against swimming.

Thanks. @Hook2Jaw called me tonight with more info and texted me some photos as well.

 

I appreciate everyone’s help. It’s a great benefit since I have never been there before and there’s a potentially short bite window with this summer heat.

 

And thanks for the tip about the gators. I’ve been around gators a lot of times when I lived in SC, but better forewarned than surprised.

[gim]

It’s actually supposed to be pretty nasty up here too. Temps over 90 and dew points approaching 70 which makes for a tropical-type feel out there. I had really good fishing last week even on a major holiday here but I’ll be taking the weekend off with this heatwave in town.

 

Next week has relief. Highs back in the 70’s again. That’s my desirable summer weather.

[GreenPig]

Koz, I almost forgot to warn you about the wasp in the trees/brush at Ocmulgee. I know you'll likely be sneaking back into those areas. 

[thediscochef]

Interesting wrinkle to this heat - scorpions. I've been stung like four time this year, first time I've ever been stung. It's like an ant bite mixed with a mosquito bite. 3 stars.

 

I also nearly set my whopper plopper combo into a giant wasp nest this morning. Isle finally opened back up but the pier is still under water and the bass are not cooperating. Seeing more bait than I've ever seen this time of year though, so that's cool and good. Maybe this is where I make the switch to Shad fishing. Sounds like good catch to cook video material.

[fin]

This is probably the time of year noodling was invented.