Lake Sinclair, GA

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 1 ½ 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 1 ½ 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 (