The Lake Oconee fishery is constantly changing and requires continual monitoring to insure a healthy population of fish. The ongoing monitoring by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), also looks at ways to improve the fishery and habitat in positive ways and to guard against the invasion of unacceptable species of fish and plants.

The WRD is working in two areas to improve the fishery within Lake Oconee. Those two areas are monitoring the existing fishery and the second activity entails aquatic habitat improvement. Both are ongoing projects by the WRD at Lake Oconee.

Fisheries across the country have been invaded and threatened by all types of illegally introduced fish and plants. Lake Oconee has been fortunate in that many of the invasions that have affected other waterways have not impacted its waters. Other parts of the country are dealing with foreign organisms like zebra mussels, alien catfish and flying carp and they have also been assaulted by foreign non-native evasive plants like hydrilla and giant salvia.

However, Lake Oconee is now seeing both large blue catfish and flathead catfish in the lake and they were likely introduced by someone illegally believing that it would improve the fishery. The shear numbers and size of both catfish species are increasing and the flathead has now made it through the Wallace Dam into downstream Lake Sinclair. One negative impact that has already been measured in Lake Oconee is the decreasing number of channel catfish in the lake.

Some of the most recent reports of man-made illegal introductions of fish in Georgia waters involve the spotted bass. Many reservoirs throughout Georgia including Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee now have some spotted bass according to anglers and those introductions were likely made by someone who thought their actions would improve the fishery.

Over time fish species like spotted bass, blue catfish and flathead catfish that were never intended for Lake Oconee will change the overall fishery in either a positive or negative way. Regardless, the introduction into the lake of any new fish species should be left to WRD Fishery Biologists.

Occasionally, we may hear about some foreign or non-native specie of fish or plant that has invaded Lake Oconee but usually those introductions were made by an aquarium owner who dumped his/her tropical fish and plants into the lake. Those man-made introductions do not usually threaten the health of the fish populations in Lake Oconee but they could have a detrimental impact depending what is being introduced.

Unfortunately, native grasses have been removed from Lake Oconee in the past. Native grasses are very important to the Lake Oconee fishery. When Lake Oconee first opened to fishing in the early 1980s, there was substantially more grass, primarily water willow, in the lake than is present today.

Removing native grasses can have just as much of a negative impact on a healthy fishery as when non-native plants are introduced. Fishing clubs like the Lake Oconee Anglers are currently assisting the WRD in planting native grasses in Lake Oconee. Grasses like maiden cane, pickerel plant and water willow are being planted in suitable habitat areas in the lake and they will provide cover for fish and help stabilize erosion problems.

Next week we will look at the results of the most recent electrofishing and gill net surveys in Lake Oconee and WRD’s assessment of how each fish species that was sampled is fairing in the lake. Good fishing and see you next week.

Bobby Peoples can be reached by e-mail at brpeoples@windstream.net.

Lake Oconee Fishing Forecast

Lake Conditions – There is stained and now even muddy water in many portions of the lake. The least stained water can be found in Richland Creek. However more muddy water is likely to come down the lake from the most recent heavy rains.

Lake Water Temperature – 50-55 degrees and slowly warming.

Largemouth Bass – FAIR/GOOD – Look for some slightly warmer water temperatures to get the fish into pre-spawn positions on the main lake points and flats adjacent to major coves. Some fish have already moved into the larger coves. Small crankbaits like Rat-L-Traps and Shad Raps have been taking the most fish. Use colors like chartreuse in the stained water and more natural colors if fishing in the very limited clear water. Carolina rigged lizards and worms are also good choices. Match lure colors to the water color which varies from place to place and fish slow.

Crappie – Excellent/GOOD – Best bet is trolling jigs and minnows in the center of the larger coves and creeks but as the stained/muddy water warms up, look for more crappie to move up to shallower locations where some are already spawning.

Striped/Hybrid Bass/White – GOOD – The fish are scattered around the lake around schools of baitfish. Some fish are being caught using live bait and others by using an umbrella rig. Anglers who were anxiously waiting for the fish to show up at the Wallace Dam are now being rewarded as more fish are now in that location.

Catfish – NO REPORT.