Water Activities
Like Lake Sinclair, its sister lake to the south, Lake Oconee is fed from the Oconee River, the Appalachee River and several major creeks. Both lakes are surrounded by an area rich in Georgia history with many superb examples of architecture from the state's antebellum period.
Georgia Power has developed three 85-acre parks on it's 19,050-acre Lake Oconee. Lawrence Shoals, Old Salem and Park's Ferry all have full-service campgrounds as well as day-use areas. Each has a large picnic pavilion that may be reserved for groups of 30 or more. In addition, these parks have day-use picnic areas, equipped playgrounds, boat ramps and a beach including a beach house with bathrooms and dressing area.
Boating in Georgia - Georgia Department of Resources
Boating Safety Course - Boat Ed
U.S. Coast Guard
Boat U.S.
"Georgia Outdoors" on GPTV
Boat Safe Kids
Boat Safe: Boating Safety Course, Boating Tips, Boating Safety
Boat Rentals
The Sinclair Dam for Lake Sinclair was completed in 1953, and since that time the area has become a fishing playground for Georgia and many other states. Its 15,330 acres of water and 417 miles of shoreline allow good fishing opportunities. Catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and hybrids are plentiful. Lake Sinclair hosts nearly 5,000 avid fishermen each year for annual tournaments.
Georgia Power completed the dam to form Lake Oconee in 1979. The lake is 19,000 acres with over 300 miles of shoreline. The lake is filled by the Oconee and Appalachee Rivers as well as some very large creeks. Lake Oconee is unique in that the water never fluctuates more than 18 inches and is pumped down and filled back by Georgia Power daily. This movement of water makes the fish feed on the current movement just like that in the ocean. Oconee has a thriving largemouth bass population as well as hybrids and crappie. The abundant shad in the lake keeps the fish healthy. The lake has very little vegetation and some standing timber, most of which is in deep water. The primary holding areas for bass are boat docks and points. Golf communities such as Harbor Club, Reynolds Landing and Reynolds Plantation surround the lake and their docks provide excellent cover for bass. The legal limit for a keeper largemouth on Lake Oconee is 14 inches or larger.
The techniques used to catch bass are easy and anyone who fishes these lakes should expect to catch fish. The number one pattern for Oconee/Sinclair is a Carolina rigged lizard. The back up patterns are spinnerbait and crankbaits around boat docks. It doesn’t matter what color you fish with at Oconee/Sinclair as long as it’s green. Green pumpkin and watermelon seed plastics are the two best colors for bass. White spinnerbaits and natural colored crankbaits are the two best colors for these lures. Good luck if you come to Oconee/Sinclair, but if you need assistance, contact one of the local chambers or welcome centers for guideline information.
The Total Daily Limit per Day is 50 fish
- Bass: Limits/Restrictions: Largemouth, Redeye, Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, Suwanee: You can keep fish from 6” - 11” or over 14” but must release all fish between 11” and 14”. Daily limit is 10.
- Crappie: Black and or white crappie daily limit is 30 fish.
- Catfish: Channel and or Flathead No Limit
- Striped Bass : Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass daily limit is 15 fish. Fish between 44 and I-20 with Rat-L-Traps or drop a spoon.
- Sunfish or Bream: The daily limit for panfish is 50
Licenses are required for fishing on Lake Oconee
Resident Georgia fishing licenses are available throughout the state from approximately 1,800 license dealers in many sporting goods stores, marinas, bait and tackle stores, hardware stores, etc. Most license dealers also sell nonresident licenses.
Please call 1-888-748-6887 to purchase your Fishing and Hunting licenses by telephone. Or you may now purchase your license on-line at http://www.gadnr.org/
Bass Boat House Shop
Blue Spring Marina
Crooked Creek Marina
Georgia Watersports, LLC
Great Waters Marina
Haslam's AI Marina
Highgrove Harbor
|
Lazy River Kayaks Little River Park N Columbia St.
The WaterFront Marina
Reynolds Landing Marina
Reynolds Plantation Marina
Sinclair Marina
Sugar Creek Marina |