|
Meet Ken Sturdivant Saturday's at
Bass Pro Shops "Outdoor World" in Lawrenceville Georgia.
Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance
Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE! Sonar Seminars at Bass Pro
Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville Georgia. The 2009 Sonar Seminar dates: November 28 and December 26. All
seminars start at 2pm and are subject to change without notice.
See samples of the
New Lowrance HDS Structure Scan Down Scan at this address:
http://havefunfishing.com/fishingreports/lowrance.htm
Our NEW! DVD, FINDING FISH
WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY is now on sale.
November 6, 2009
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 68 DEGREES, STAINED BY ROGER MCKEE, 706-342-8555
Largemouth bass fishing has been fair but could turn great any day now as the
shad have been found in the backs of coves and major creeks lake wide. Lake
Sinclair is stained and running between 64 and 68 degrees. Two different
patterns have been productive over the past week: 1) fishing shallow docks in
creeks and pockets off the main river with a jig head and trick worm or a 1/4
ounce Strike King Bitsy Flip jig in black and blue with a Zoom super chunk Jr.
or casting a 1/2 ounce Strike King red eye shad in black and silver in the back
of Rooty, Crooked, and Shoulder Bone creeks. Look for the shad rap bite to
continue to improve as the water cools and gets into the high fifties and low
sixties. It's hard to beat the chartreuse and pearl or fire tiger color patterns
on Sinclair. Use 10 pound test P Line and a reel with a 5 to 1 gear ratio or
lower to properly fish the shad rap. Slow your retrieve down to a crawl for more
bites. With colder weather just around the corner, be sure to check your
batteries, both starting and trolling, for corrosion/water level/ load test for
optimum performance while on the water.
Lake Sinclair is located north of Milledgeville off U.S. Hwy. 441. The reservoir
covers more than 14,750 acres and stretches over Baldwin, Hancock and Putnam
counties. Georgia Power Company (GPC) owns and operates the reservoir but the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)
manages the fishery resources. This reservoir provides good fishing
opportunities for crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, hybrids and stripers.
The quality of the crappie catch in 2008 should be similar to the past several
years. There will be abundant fish, but the average size will be somewhat small.
Approximately 30 percent of the catch this spring will be over 8 inches in
length with a fifth of the catch larger than 10 inches. A few fish will be over
two pounds. A strong year class produced in 2006 should enhance the quality of
the catch over the next several years. The current lake record for black crappie
on Sinclair is a 2 pounds 11 ½ ounce fish caught in 2000. Late winter trolling
in the Beaverdam Creek arm or spring trolling in the upper ends of coves with
crappie jigs or Hal flys is usually productive for spring spawning crappies.
When the water warms in late spring, try pitching jigs, small crank baits or
fishing minnows in deeper submerged treetops and around docks with brush. When
the water really warms up in the summer, try fishing with lights under bridges,
deep brush in coves or around deepwater lighted docks at night. Catfish are both
abundant and popular on Lake Sinclair. The primary catfish species of interest
is the channel catfish. However, both white catfish and bullheads are also
common in the reservoir. Lake Sinclair has some of the highest catfish densities
among Georgia piedmont reservoirs. Most channel catfish caught will be ½ 1½
pounds with fair numbers up to 4 pounds The reservoir has trophy potential with
some fish in the 20 30 pounds range. WRD research on the Sinclair indicates an
expanding population of blue catfish. This species initially was detected in the
lake during 2004. Anglers probably introduced the blue catfish illegally into
Lake Oconee and the fish have since spread downstream into Lake Sinclair. Blue
catfish have the potential to reach large sizes, in excess of 50 pounds Anglers
prize this fish in its native range due to the large sizes it can attain and
high value as a food fish. Initially, most blue catfish caught in Sinclair will
be of good eating size, in the ½ 1½ pounds range. Larger numbers of 5+ pounds
pound fish will start showing up in the catch in 2008. Popular baits for blue
catfish are live or cut shad. While not typically noted as a trophy bass
reservoir among bass anglers, Sinclair produces many harvestable sized
largemouth bass that are caught and released each year. This lake also hosts
many bass tournaments. In fact, Sinclair ranks third only to Clarks Hill and
Oconee in the number of tournaments held in the State (according to the most
recent Georgia B.A.S.S. data available 2006). Largemouth fishing will be good in
2008 with the numbers of harvestable size fish similar to the last several
years. The most noticeable difference will be in the early part of the year with
the increased numbers of stock size fish (<12 inches) in the catch. Excellent
reproduction and recruitment in 2006 and 2007 produced large year classes that
will dominate early in the year. Those fish should become harvestable around
early to middle summer. Recruitment of these two large year classes to the
fishery should produce quality bass fishing over the next several years! The
lake record is currently a 13 pounds 2 ounce fish caught in 1990. Studies show
that over 90 percent of the bass caught on Sinclair are typically
released, rather than kept. Best fishing for largemouth bass in the early spring
is on main points in deeper water or on underwater structure (humps). As the
water warms, the fish move to shallow water to spawn. Anglers should try fishing
drop offs, deep brush piles and lighted docks at night in the summertime. The
edges of weed beds early in the morning or late in the afternoon can also be
productive. In the fall, the fish move back into the shallows of the creeks.
Many anglers report their best success during the generation or pump back phase
at Wallace Dam when water movement occurs, especially in the Oconee River arm.
Baits to try include spinner baits, crank baits, jig and pig, plastic worms,
lizards or buzz baits.
Striped bass, and to a lesser extent hybrid striped bass, should provide
Sinclair anglers with an added sport fish dimension. The hybrid catch this
spring will be dominated by a few fish in the 2 4 pounds range that remain from
earlier stockings. A few smaller hybrids will also be present and are probably
escapees from Lake Oconee. The current lake record for hybrid striped bass is a
10 pounds 7 ounce fish caught in 1998. WRD plans to continue with the re
introduction of striped bass to better utilize larger forage species in the
reservoir. This also adds a trophy potential with fish of 10 20 pounds possible
in the next several years. Striped bass were stocked in Sinclair in 2007 at the
rate of 16 stripers/acre, and some of the stripers stocked in 2005 will be over
26 inches in length by the middle of this summer. The lake record for Sinclair
stripers is 42 pounds However, due to changed water 17 quality conditions, WRD
personnel does not expect stripers to reach this size again.
White bass populations have leveled off to consistent, but low, levels since a
decline following the construction of Wallace Dam in the early 1980’s. Sizes
will generally average between 1 2 pounds Look for hybrids, white bass and
striped bass in the Beaverdam Creek arm during late winter. The action will move
up in the major tributaries during the spring spawning run. Good locations
include Little River and Murder Creek. Another traditional area for white bass,
large hybrids and stripers during the spring is directly below Wallace Dam,
although this area is not as productive as it once was. Another area worth
trying for large hybrids and stripers this spring is the Oconee River below
Sinclair dam.
Both bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcrackers) are available for harvest on
Sinclair, but like most other middle Georgia reservoirs sizes are generally on
the small side. Average bluegill size will be about 4 5 inches with some
individuals up to 7 or 8 inches. Sizes of shellcrackers will be better with the
average size of 7 8 inches with some individuals up to 10 inches.
Public access is readily available through four GPC and U.S.
Forest Service facilities and ten privately operated lakeside marinas. Many
privately owned marinas offer boating access for a fee in addition to camping,
food, bait and tackle. GPC owns and operates the Sinclair Dam tailrace area, a
popular area for bank anglers. This area is found immediately downstream of
Sinclair Dam and is accessible from Sinclair Dam Road on the west side of the
river. Amenities include a fishing platform designed for physically challenged
individuals and a safety railing that extends along the west side of the
tailrace for a distance of 800 feet. WRD has constructed a boat ramp (on land
leased from GPC) below Sinclair Dam. This ramp will allow access to a mostly
untapped fishery, as it will open up motorboat fishing to the dam safety zone
and downstream for approximately 1.5 miles to the first major shoal. Fishing
piers for bank fishing opportunities are located at the Oconee tailrace below
Wallace Dam, at Cosby’s Landing in the Island Creek area in Hancock County, at
the east side of Hwy. 441 just north of the Little River bridge and at the
Dennis Station Access located off Twin Bridges Road. Other popular areas for
bank anglers include the areas near and around most bridge and railroad
overpasses on Lake Sinclair. Anglers use the bridge overpasses for shoreline
fishing along U.S. Highway 441, Crooked Creek, Twin Bridges and Georgia Highway
212. For more information concerning the location of boat ramps, bank fishing
opportunities, location and directions to fishing piers, or other facilities,
contact the GPC Land Department at 706 485 8770.
WRD will continue to implement an aquatic habitat enhancement program at Lake
Sinclair over the next several years. High on the list of projects is the
installation of artificial material fish attractors. For many years, WRD
personnel constructed fish attractors with natural materials. However, personnel
realize that time, effort and cost could be better economized with the
development of an artificial material fish attractor. Brush and trees tend to
break down after a few years and need to be refurbished on a continual basis.
However, fish attractors constructed of artificial materials can last much
longer. Initial cost on a per unit basis is somewhat higher for an artificial
attractor, but costs over the long term are expected to be less. This past year,
WRD constructed and installed 117 PVC “tank trap” attractors in 10 ft. lengths
at five locations on Sinclair. Locations can be found at
www.gofishgeorgia.com .
Another aspect of the aquatic habitat enhancement program consists of shoreline
enhancement and protection through “bioengineering.” Selected erodible shoreline
areas will be enhanced with native aquatic vegetation. Vegetation along the
shoreline serves many useful purposes for terrestrial and aquatic organisms,
such as for feeding, reproduction or cover. Young fish and their food items
require abundant aquatic and semi aquatic vegetation along the shoreline in
order to thrive and even to survive. In 2007, WRD planted over 1,400 quart size
maidencane plants in suitable habitat areas in Sinclair. Once established,
maidencane can grow in dense stands, which will provide spawning habitat and
cover for many species of fish. In addition to maidencane, 100 experimental
quart size plantings of switch grass and 100 gallon size pickerelweed plants
were installed. Development has continued on a large, new angler access area in
Putnam County just upriver of the U.S. Hwy. 441 bridge on the Little River arm.
The undertaking for this project is a combined effort of WRD, GPC and Putnam
County. “Dennis Station Access” initially opened for public use in 2001 with a
double lane concrete boat ramp, dual service piers, a 100 ft. “L” shaped fishing
pier and ample parking. In 2002, another double lane concrete boat ramp with
dual service piers was added. Parking has been expanded to accommodate the
additional boat lanes. In 2003, the parking area was paved and accessible
restroom facilities were added. Numerous fish attractors were added around the
fishing pier to enhance bank fishing opportunities. In fact, the entire
shoreline of the area is available for bank fishing. There are no charges
associated with use of these facilities. Eventually, the site will have six boat
lanes for boat launching and parking for up to 300 boaters. It also will have
the capacity to hold large tournaments without crowding out other anglers and
boaters. The area is accessible off Twin Bridges Road (just follow the signs)
and is convenient to boaters and anglers from Macon, Eatonton and Milledgeville.
We have these books for sale: “BASS FISHING ON WEST POINT LAKE”, “BASS FISHING
LAKE RUSSELL”, “BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE” and “BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL”.
These books are written by Tim White and Ken Sturdivant and each one has over 65
locations exclusively for bass and covers every week of the year. Each book
$39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail to
kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools
Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
We have 3 books that cover all species in the lakes, “52 WEEKS ON LAKE
ALLATOONA, “52 WEEKS ON LAKE LANIER”, and “52 WEEKS ON WEST POINT LAKE” on sale.
Each book is $23.95. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools Inc. 106
Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS”: “Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or Maps and
Depth Finders. Call 770 889 2654 for details or see the web site:
www.havefunfishing.com.
Take a look at www.aquavu.com. You really need a camera. Copyright 2008,
Southern Fishing Schools Inc. calls us to set up a school “Rods, Reels and Lures
for Bass”. See our web site, www.havefunfishing.com for more details or call us
right away, 770 889 2654.
FREE SONAR SET-UP SHEET:
If you would like to have a
free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail to
kensturdivant@earthlink.net
and ask for the “Sonar Setup Quick List”.
|
