Lake Oconee is a top destination in Georgia for bass fishing, but it also contains many other gamefish including crappie, catfish, white bass, bluegill, stripers, hybrid striped bass and sunfish.With 19,000 acres and 376 miles of shoreline, Oconee offers quality fishing from the banks and from all kinds of watercraft, which will find easy access to the lake from one of its many boat ramps. The lake is close to the town of Greensboro in east-central Georgia.

driving directions

The anglers of Lake Oconee have developed some tried-and-true techniques for catching largemouth bass. In summer, fish on the Oconee and Apalachee rivers above I-20. Use deep crankbaits along the main lake points, deep bridges, and river channels. In the fall, use spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits around the backs of creek arms. For winter, use crankbaits, jigs and jig-head worms in deep rocky banks and other deep cover, and take it slowly. In the spring, try jerkbaits and spinnerbaits, as the largemouths tend to gather around shallow cover. Year-round, spinner, crank and jerkbaits are viable around rocky terrain and other cover. Sometimes for breeding purposes, there is a limit on how many largemouths you can catch below a certain size, so check ahead of time.

Oconee has catfish, including whites, and increasing numbers of blues and flatheads. Use live and cut bait, or bluegill. Warm temperatures and summer nights are the best times for catfish.

Crappie are plentiful from February through May. In February, head toward creek mouths for Crappie. Move toward shallow waters as temperatures rise. When the water temperature is in the lower 60s, you’ll find crappies around shallower shoreline cover. In the fall, fish on creek mouths and river channels. Jigs and minnows are recommended bait for crappie.

Hybrid striped bass make spawning runs up the Oconee and Apalachee rivers during spring, so you’ll find them in the middle and upper end of the reservoir using live baits and artificial baits that imitate shad. Hybrids are often found closer to bait schools deep in the water during the winter months. Focus on the Oconee River arm from Lick Creek to the dam.

For the White Bass fishing, head to Lake Oconee during March and April, when the whites are making spawning runs up the rivers. Use small crankbaits, rooster tails, Little George’s, crappie jigs and curly tail grubs.

Lake Oconee has free parking and admission.

Lake Oconee boat ramps:

The following boat ramps provide access to Lake Oconee.