Oconee River

The Oconee River is home to great fishing, canoeing and kayaking with an America Outdoors outfitter! 

The Oconee River headwaters begin in Hall and Gwinnett counties northwest of Athens and flows southwest for about 265 miles were it joins the Ocmulgee to form the Altamaha River.  The Oconee River is regulated through two major dams.  The upper Wallace Dam was constructed in 1980 creating Lake Oconee and below is Sinclair Dam constructed in 1953 forming Lake Sinclair.   Fishing opportunities are somewhat different, along with the river appearance, above and below these dams.  Above, the upper Oconee River flows through the Piedmont Region where you will find bedrock outcroppings, stable bank cover, and a gravel or sand bottom.  Shortly below the Sinclair Dam, the lower Oconee River finds itself flowing through the Upper Coastal Plain.  Cutaway sand banks/bluffs, fallen woody debris, and a river bottom consisting of primarily sand and silt define this area.  Fishing opportunities and tactics between the upper and lower Oconee River will vary due to unique habitat differences.  

Fishing predictions have historically been reported in the lower Oconee River but at certain times of the year, the upper Oconee River may offer the best opportunity to catch a stringer of fish.  Most notable is the excellent white bass and crappie fishing opportunities in the stretch of river above Lake Oconee to Barnett Shoals Dam below Athens.  The best time to fish this area is between mid-February to late-April.  Small chartreuse screw-tail jigs are the preferred bait for both white bass and crappie and live-minnows are always a good bet when jigs are not working.