REPORT
We needed lemonade to get through the high water temperatures, dropping lake levels, and our fish habitats clinging to the cool of deep water and shade to escape the pressures of the transition to fall last week.
Alas, the break we needed, and Mother Nature, arrived right on queue.
At the end of last week, we picked up some refreshing wind, cooling us and our lakes down as nighttime temperatures began to drop. I am pleased to report that a consensus of current water temperature readings has shown a significant drop from mid- to high-80s to the low-80s. As a result, fishing production on both lakes has shown significant signs of shaking the hot tub effect away. A big step, though not quite there yet.
Last Saturday night, a full Harvest moon came to visit. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as wisps of cool air flowed off the shores of Oconee, and the big, bright, full moon over my home lit up the Earth, with experts saying it was near 100 percent illumination. I was in awe and enjoying it, rocking on my front porch.
Let’s revisit those 100 fishers that would give you maybe 10 honest answers after being asked whether you can, or can’t, catch fish during full moon nights. For me, you betcha.
Fish feed heavily at night under bright light, especially at the estimated 100 percent of brightness last weekend. As we are seeing, our fishing conditions are improving and highly favorable to ringing the dinner bell, lifted up by a waning Gibbons moon, or 99 percent illuminated, one day past the full moon.
Wise tales and lore aside, fishers can turn to a tried-and-true prediction maker to achieve their goals.
The solunar calendar was initially proposed in 1926 by sportswriter John Alden Knight, who analyzed 33 variables and concluded the sun, moon, and tides have the greatest impact on wildlife activity. Of course, weather, water conditions, and barometric pressure will always remain in play, too.
Knight concluded the moon has two phases, or periods on the solunar calendar: major and minor. During the major period, the moon is directly overhead (transit), or directly beneath us on the opposite side of the Earth.
According to FishNotify, peak activity windows last about two hours and usually offer the best fishing and hunting.
The minor activity period lasts about an hour during moonrise and moonset as secondary windows open up for activity. New and full moon phases amplify the gravitational pull, providing the highest activity rating on solunar calendars.
What does all of that mean for us? Well, largemouth bass on Oconee are slowly moving into shallow water but remain close to deep water and the main lake, and are not yet migrating to the backs of coves.
Docks are still the best bet. Richland Creek is money this week, so fish every dock on the right side. The word is out.
Fish a Texas rig shakyhead jig or small creature baits or finesse worms in June bug to find some fish. As the sun gets higher, move out to the main lake and fish my personal go-to, a quarter- ounce chrome Rat-LTrap or a Rapala Shad Rap in fire tiger.
Lake Sinclair, though down 1.7 feet, has embraced the cool, breezy weather and seen the shallow bite improve. There are a lot of shad and baitfish already moving back into the pockets and creeks. Shallow crankbaits and top-water pieces are hard to beat in the morning and evening, especially green pumpkin lines.
As the shad and baitfish school and migrate to the creeks and pockets on both lakes, the catfish and crappie are reacting and both will be very active between our sister lakes.
As we close, so many good people work diligently to produce the material and content that we all turn to for information and knowledge about our Lake Country. With that information and knowledge comes great responsibility. Thank you to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Wildlife Division. You make Georgia proud.
Also, thank you to Matthew Gerber, a fishing biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division with help from region staff and local experts contributing from the School of Fishing, Region 3 WRD fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.
We do what we love to do because of all of you.