I had the pleasure of taking Kathleen and Alex out on February 8th to go after Hybrid and Striped Bass here on Lake Oconee. We caught 8 and Alex said that this Hybrid is the biggest fish he has ever caught.

He lives in Atlanta and is really getting into angling. It’s a great pleasure to help someone that is developing a passion for fishing.

Check out this short video of his trip:

I’d love to provide you with an experience like Alex had!

Capt. Wayne Moore
USCG Licensed
Oconee On The Fly, Inc.
wmoore1700@outlook.com
www.oconeeonthefly.com
404-317-9556

BY CAPTAIN WAYNE MOORE – USCG LICENSED
Book now to reserve your fishing trip date!
As of March 2, 2025, fishing for Hybrid Bass and Striped Bass has been productive. The techniques we use vary from trolling crank baits, small umbrella rigs, and live bait.

Spring is near. Contact me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or 404-317-9556 to book your trip.

Hybrid Bass & Striped Bass:
The water temperatures are warming up and we are finding fish from mid lake to the jumping rock area.  Currently the water is stained from recent rains, so we are trolling crank baits in an orange color.  Trolling small umbrella rigs called “Mini Macks,” designed by Captain Mack Farr, that imitate a school of shad, has been productive as well.  Flat lining (slow trolling) bass minnows behind the boat have put some nice fish in the boat too.  There is nothing more exciting than seeing the obvious bend in the rod as the fish takes off and you prepare for the fight!

Crappie:
In days gone by, many anglers had a saying, “When the Dogwoods are in bloom it’s time to go crappie fishing.”  Well, they might be in the shallows then, but the best time to go is when you see the Bradford Pear trees first start to bloom.  We are trolling for crappie now and the large females will be in the upper stretches of the lake soon seeking the warmer water in the flats from the 44 bridge to north of I-20.  Trolling is a relaxing way to load the boat and provide tasty filets for crappie tacos!

Fly fishing:
By the end of March, we will be approaching the spawning period of the threadfin shad.  If you have never seen this, it’s amazing!  These two-inch bait fish can be seen at first light throwing themselves up on rocks and sea walls along the shoreline.  Spin fisherman can throw white spinner baits and catch huge hybrid bass and largemouth gorging themselves on the shad, while the fly fisherman can throw clousers in white and chartreuse and white game changer flies with an eight-weight rod and have a blast.

Bottom Line:
Book your trip early, as spring starts to kick off our busy season.  Fishing will only get better as we move through the spring fishing season!

Tight Lines and God Bless.
Capt. Wayne Moore
USCG Licensed
Oconee On The Fly, Inc.
wmoore1700@outlook.com
www.oconeeonthefly.com
404-317-9556

BY CAPTAIN WAYNE MOORE – USCG LICENSED

Book now to reserve your fishing trip date!

As of this writing on January 10th, 2025, the fishing for Hybrid Bass and Striped Bass has been outstanding. And…. we are experiencing a rare snowfall, so it is absolutely beautiful here. Winter fishing is a great experience. You can reach me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or by cell at 404-317-9556 to book your trip.

Hybrid Bass & Striped Bass:

For the remainder of January and I expect through the month of February we will be “chasing the birds.” This simply means cruising the lake (usually mid-lake) looking for the white gulls circling and dive bombing the baitfish, threadfin shad.

Once we find them, we sneak in with the trolling motor to within casting distance, which is a long way when you are casting spoons. While a couple of anglers are casting spoons others can jig the spoon directly under the boat. This is usually the winning ticket.

If Georgia Power is not generating, down lining bass minnows will often produce some larger fish.

Finally, while scouting we usually flat line some bass minnows behind the boat. It’s an effortless way to find fish and when the fish hooks itself on the circle hook, the bend in the rod is obvious.

Fly fishing:

This is one of the times of year when you have a good opportunity to connect with hybrids and stripers on a fly rod. It is usually hybrids. I always bring spinning tackle and fly rods so if the fly bite is not on, we can use the spinning tackle. If the fish are hitting the surface near the birds circling, we can cast clousers and let them drop on the retrieve. Many times, they will follow the fly and hit it just as it is almost back to the boat.

Crappie:

On warmer winter days trolling for crappie can be very productive. The cooler water temperatures have made the crappie move from their favorite structure to open water. If we have three nice days, that third day is often quite good! Trolling will be my go-to method for the next two months. When the water warms up and the fish starts to hang tight to the structure once again, we will be fishing brush piles using forward facing sonar.

Bottom Line:

Book your trip now, bundle up and come on down! Winter fishing here is great, fewer boats, big fish, and great scenery. I will do my best to make your trip safe, relaxing, and fun. I look forward to taking you and yours out!

Tight Lines and God Bless.

Capt. Wayne Moore
USCG Licensed
Oconee On The Fly, Inc.
wmoore1700@outlook.com
www.oconeeonthefly.com
404-317-9556

BY CAPTAIN WAYNE MOORE – USCG LICENSED

Book now to reserve your fishing trip date!

Looking back on this time in 2023, conditions were very similar. I am writing on February 14th and this week we had a ton of rain. The lake is heavily stained even in Richland Creek. However, the water temperature today is 58 degrees and when the water clears, we will begin very good fishing for crappie, hybrid bass and striped bass.

I encourage you to call or text me at 404-317-9556 or e-mail me at wmoore1700@outlook.com to reserve your fishing date well in advance as I anticipate a very busy schedule for the next several months.

Last year on February 21st, I had the best fly-fishing day of the year catching 12 nice hybrids in less than 2 hours. The gulls were telling us where the bait fish could be found, and Georgia Power was generating in the afternoon. Below is a picture of one of the hybrid bass and the clouser fly I used. Fly fishing here is all about timing and it’s a good idea to bring spinning tackle in case the fly bite is slow. I always advise my fly-fishing customers about current conditions. Moving water from Georgia Power generating or pumping water up from Lake Sinclair is key.

Hybrid Bass & Striped Bass:

As I mentioned above, the gulls will still be here hopefully through the first week in March. When they are here, Hybrid Bass and Striped Bass can be taken on flies but many of my clients prefer spinning tackle. One technique is to cast spoons at the schooling fish. This is a great technique as you can cast the spoon a long way and avoid spooking the fish. If the fish are not feeding on the surface, jigging the spoon typically in water 25 feet deep or deeper can yield large numbers of fish. It’s a great way for kids to fish! We will also troll Mini Macks which are a small umbrella rig sold by Captain Mack Farr.

Below is a customer with a 10lb plus striper caught trolling a Mini Mack last March.

Crappie:

Crappie fishing is about to fire up. The bigger fish are caught pre spawn in February and early March. The fish will migrate from below 44 up the lake and above I-20.

They are looking for warmer water and the shallow water above I-20 over a mud bottom is just the ticket. We will either be pushing eight 14-foot rods out of the front of the boat (trolling very slowly with jigs tipped with minnows) or pulling (trolling around .09 MPH) eight rods out of the back of the boat usually with double jigs.

Either way, these fish are often large and always fine table fare!

Tight Lines and God Bless.
Capt. Wayne Moore
USCG Licensed
Oconee On The Fly, Inc.
wmoore1700@outlook.com
404-317-9556

BY CAPTAIN WAYNE MOORE – USCG LICENSED

Book now to reserve your fishing trip date!

As of this writing on February 19, 2023, the fishing for Hybrid Bass, Striped Bass, and Crappie is getting ready to burst wide open. We have had a lot of rain and up until now the water has been stained all the way to the dam.

Hybrid Bass & Striped Bass:

In March and April we will be flat lining bass minnows or threadfin shad behind the boat. If we are lucky and get some gizzard shad you will have the opportunity for much bigger fish. It’s a simple set up with four spinning rods rigged with 12 to 20lb test main line. I use a swivel with a glass bead in front of it and a #4 sinker. The hook is matched to the size of the bait ranging from a #4 to a #2 circle hook. The bite is obvious and the fight, even on a 4lb Hybrid Bass, is substantial! We will also troll Mini Macs  which are a small umbrella rig sold by Captain Mack Farr.

As we get to the end of April, we will begin to fish downlines directly under the boat with the bass minnows and shad. This action can be very good for numbers of fish. Also, my favorite technique (other than fly fishing) is using a jigging spoon. It’s simple, and kids love it! Just lower the spoon to the bottom, lift the rod tip up a couple of feet, and lower it back down. I’ve had a five-year-old catch an 8lb Hybrid Bass doing this unassisted by any adults.

Fly fishing… when I first started guiding here five years ago, we had a good topwater bite at the dam when Georgia Power pumped water up from Lake Sinclair. However, the last few years it seems Georgia Power does not leave the pumps on in the early morning hours as often. We did see a good topwater bite mid-lake in June last year. If you like to fly fish, I’ll always let you know if there is a good opportunity or not. Most of my fly fishing customers are happy to spin fish if fly fishing is not an option.

Crappie:

Many anglers think of crappie fishing with minnows and floats during the spawn. But we guides here know the best bite is pre-spawn. Trolling from now through the end of March should be very good. I troll eight rods out of the back of the boat usually with double jigs. The fish pre-spawn are typically large. Fish in the 1lb to 1-½lb size are common and occasionally we will put some 2 pounders in the boat. It is a great way to put some slabs in the boat and on your table!

Tight Lines and God Bless.
Capt. Wayne Moore
USCG Licensed
Oconee On The Fly, Inc.
wmoore1700@outlook.com
404-317-9556