Guide to Fishing Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area Nestled within the boundaries of Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area in Bleckley County, Ocmulgee PFA offers a 106-acre lake for your fishing enjoyment. The lake can be fished from the bank or by boat and is fertilized and intensively managed to maximize fishing success. Due to its unique location and close proximity to the Ocmulgee River, this area offers many opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. Visit Ocmulgee PFA for a peaceful fishing or outdoor experience with friends and family. Facilities Concrete boat ramp Fishing piers Restrooms Picnic tables Some facilities accessible Fish cleaning station to persons with disabilities Trip Check List Check the current boating regulations about life jackets at http://www.boated.com/assets/pdf/handbook/ga_handbook_entire.pdf Boats with enclosed areas that may trap gas or vapors are required to be equipped with a USCG approved fire extinguisher. Carry your current license and boat registration with you. Check your boat's trailer and navigation lights, and fuel before leaving home. Carry a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, extra clothing, food and drinking water. Be aware of and abide by all fishing regulations. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. BE AN ETHICAL ANGLER! Ethical anglers fish responsibly, consider the rights of others, portray a positive image, and help to protect and conserve our natural resources. Be an ethical angler, the future depends on it. Et hical Angl ers: # Know and obey the fishing regulations. # Keep only the fish they can use and release all others. # Pass on the tradition by taking a child fishing. # Leave a place cleaner than it was found. # Do not transfer fish or plants between bodies of water. # Report violations and pollution. # Do not litter! # Dispose of fishing line prope rly. # Do not tresspass. # Are courteous of others. # Lend a helping hand. Major Fish Species and Fishing Tips Largemouth bass Crappie Bluegill Redear sunfish (shellcracker) Channel catfish The standing timber left in the lake during construction concentrates both crappie and bass for anglers. Crappie will utilize the shade that the timber provides as cover during the daytime. Fishing minnows or jigs to these suspended fish is a good technique. Bass will suspend in the thicker cover as they lay in ambush for passing prey. Early in the morning, top-water baits fished around the edges of the thicker brush may fool hungry bass. Later in the day, fishing swimming lures around the edges of the thicker timber or pitching weedless baits right into the thick cover can be productive. Bluegill and shellcrackers (bream) like to spawn over sandy areas with good hard bottoms. The old submerged haul road that lies just underwater and runs along shore from the boat ramp down to the east end of the dam is excellent spawning habitat. Just up-lake of the dam on the west side, a large sandy flat with scattered cypress trees is another prime bedding location. Try fishing crickets or earthworms just at or on the bottom in these areas during the late spring and summer for these spawning fish. When the bluegill aren't bedding, try casting small artificial lures, spinners and topwater poppers around the shallow edges. The aeration system creates a current in the lake that also tends to concentrate game fish. Points and high spots underwater that concentrate current flow will also be ambush points for game fish. The narrow break in the old pond dam just down lake of the upper fishing pier is a good example. Underwater features and cover in the general vicinity of the aeration heads themselves also are likely locations where bass and other game fish will be found. Crankbaits or worms fished in these type areas when the aeration system is operational will be productive. Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset. Regulations Public fishing areas have special regulations that are posted on site as well as published in the Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations. Anglers 16 years of age and older, except honorary license holders, must possess a current fishing license and a wildlife management area (WMA) license to fish. An angler possessing a 3-day fishing/hunting, sportsman's or lifetime license is not required to possess a WMA license. For more information, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or call the phone number listed at the bottom of the page. LARGEMOUTH BASS CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY! Directions From Hawkinsville: Take Hwy. 341 towards Eastman, turn left on Hwy. 26 towards Cochran. Travel approx. 0.25 miles and turn left on Upper River Rd. Go about six miles, turn left onto Allison's Landing Rd. then turn right into the PFA at the sign. From Cochran: Take Hwy. Alt. 129 North Turn left onto Porter Rd. Travel about eight miles and turn right onto Allison's Landing Rd. then turn right into the PFA at the sign. For more fishing information, visit the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division Web site at www.gofishgeorgia.com or call (478) 825-6151. T.I.P (Turn in Poachers): To report game/fish law violations, fish kills or hazardous spills, call (800) 241-4113 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES / WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION / FISHERIES SECTION 2070 U.S. HIGHWAY 278, SE / SOCIAL CIRCLE, GEORGIA 30025 Fish Species Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Bluegill White Crappie Channel Catfish Facts Best Fishing Times Bass spawn from February to May. Occupy a variety of habitats in reservoirs and rivers. Feed both day and night motivated by hunger or striking. Females are typically larger D N J O F S M and more aggressive than males. Bait: Crankbaits, plastic worms, & jigs A A J J M "Shellcracker" feed primarily on aquatic insects including midge larvae D N J to snails. Unlike bluegill, O F shellcracker typically do not stunt. Fast growth, larger size and good S M flavor make these a desirable fish. Bait: Crickets, Red Wigglers, & small top A A water lures J J M Most likely the first fish caught by children. They aggressively guard nest during spawns. Bluegill are hard fighters, hit a variety of baits, and are abundant in most rivers and lakes. Known as a tasty pinfish. Bait: Crickets, Red Wigglers, & small top water lures N O S A J D J F M A J M Closely related to Black crappie. Prefer areas of submerged brush or other structures. Average life span is approximately 10 years. Typically grow larger than Black crappie. Are D N J O F S M considered a tasty pinfish making them highly desirable by anglers. Bait: Jigs, Red Wigglers, & minnows A J A J M Channel catfish are a highly adaptable and desirable fish that are easily caught. They can reach sizes up to D N J O F 20 lbs and use their barbells for taste. Larger individuals are often confused S M with Blue catfish. Bait: Chicken livers, worms, "stink bait," A A & crickets J J M Best Fishing Times Key: Fair Fish Images: Duane Raver/USFWS Good Excellent Locator CA1 5.9 C DE B A J WD1 F 13.6 G H I I H G L1 F 11.1 19.9 E D 5.7 C B A 26.5 25.4 CA2 28.8 GB1 22.7 22.2 L2 D C BE A 8.3 CA4 6.3 10.5 22.6 13.4 L3 B A 2.7 L4 WD3 WD4 18.8 B A L5 18.3 19.9 11.8 C RP3 6.5 A B RP1 RP2 RP4 B A A WD2B B A RP5 4.6 7.9 RP6 5 CA5 B A 2.8 WD5 L6 D C 10.8 A B RP7 10.7 Depth Chart CA7 CA6 1 CA3 Service Building Shallow Deep Kid's Fishing Lake Welcome Center Discovery Center A B B A Crate Attractor Waypoint Inset D C CA1 BD F E AC G CA2 G F E CD B A CA3 FG E D C B A CA4 D A C A B C CA5 CA6 CA7 Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area Rock/Root Pile (RP) Crate Attractor (CA) Ledge (L) Gravel Bed (GB) Woody Debris (WD) Creek Bed A Feature Waypoint 2.3 Spot Depth (feet) Building Information Kiosk Restrooms Fishing Pier Parking Boat Ramp Map not for navigational purposes - display only! 3223'16"N 3223'16"N 3223'14"N 3223'14"N 3223'12"N 3223'12"N 3223'10"N 3223'10"N 8329'44"W 8329'42"W 8329'40"W 8329'38"W 8329'36"W 8329'34"W 8329'32"W 8329'30"W 8329'28"W 8329'26"W Crate Attractor Waypoint Inset A B C B A D C CA1 G F E D CA3 G BD F E AC CA2 FG E D C B A CA4 Depth Chart Shallow Deep Feet 0 150 300 Index Contour (5' Interval) Contour (1.5' Interval) 5.9 6.3 C D WD1 B E F G A 13.6 J H I I H G F 11.1 L1 19.9 E D 5 10 10.5 15 CA1 CA2 5.7 C B A 26.5 25 25.4 20 20 22.7 25 22.2 28.8 L2 D C B E A 8.3 CA4 Map 2 Match Point 18.8 L5 A 22.6 18.3 20 15 13.4 L3 B A 2.7 10 5 B 6.5 L4 A RP1 3223'8"N 3223'8"N 3223'6"N 3223'6"N 3223'4"N 3223'4"N 3223'2"N 3223'2"N 3223'0"N 3223'0"N 3222'58"N 3222'58"N 3222'56"N 3222'56"N 8329'44"W 8329'42"W 8329'40"W 1 CA3 8329'38"W 8329'36"W Map 2 Match Point Ocmulgee PFA Map 1 Rock/Root Pile (RP) Crate Attractor (CA) Gravel Bed (GB) Woody Debris (WD) Creek Bed Index Contour A Feature Waypoint 2.3 Spot Depth (feet) Building Information Kiosk Restrooms Fishing Pier Parking Boat Ramp Map not for navigational purposes - display only! 8329'34"W 8329'32"W 8329'30"W 8329'28"W 8329'26"W 8329'32"W 8329'30"W 8329'28"W 8329'26"W 8329'24"W 8329'22"W 8329'20"W 8329'18"W 8329'16"W 8329'14"W 8329'12"W 8329'10"W 8329'8"W Map 3 Match Point 8329'6"W 3223'12"N 3223'12"N 3223'10"N 3223'10"N 3223'8"N 3223'8"N 3223'6"N 3223'6"N 3223'4"N 3223'4"N Map 1 Match Point 10 10.5 22.6 20 15 L3 13.4 B A 2.7 10 18.8 L5 B A 19.9 18.3 C RP3 6.5 B L4 RP2 A RP1 5 10 15 20 11.8 RP4 WD2 B A B A RP6 WD3 WD4 5 CA5 B B A WD5 A 8.4 A D 2.8 L6 C B 10.8 RP7 4.6 7.9 RP5 10.7 Map 3 Match Point 5 Map 1 Match Point Service Building 8329'30"W 8329'28"W 8329'26"W CA 5 Waypoint Inset B A D C 8329'24"W 8329'22"W Depth Chart Shallow 0 Deep Feet 150 300 Index Contour (5' Interval) Contour (1.5' Interval) 8329'20"W 8329'18"W 8329'16"W Ocmulgee PFA Map 2 Rock/Root Pile (RP) Crate Attractor (CA) Gravel Bed (GB) Woody Debris (WD) Creek Bed Index Contour A Feature Waypoint 2.3 Spot Depth (feet) Building Information Kiosk Restrooms Fishing Pier Parking Boat Ramp Map not for navigational purposes - display only! 8329'14"W 8329'12"W 8329'10"W 8329'8"W 8329'6"W 3223'2"N 3223'2"N 3223'0"N 3223'0"N 3222'58"N 3222'58"N 3222'56"N 3223'16"N 3223'16"N 3223'14"N Map 2 Match Point 3223'14"N 8329'6"W 8329'4"W 8329'2"W 8329'0"W 8328'58"W 8328'56"W 8328'54"W 8328'52"W 8328'50"W 8328'48"W 5 10 Crate Attractor Waypoint Inset A A B C CA6 CA7 Depth Chart Shallow 0 Deep Feet 150 300 Index Contour (5' Interval) Contour (1.5' Interval) 3223'12"N 3223'12"N 3223'10"N 3223'10"N 3223'8"N 3223'8"N 3223'6"N 3223'6"N 3223'4"N 3223'4"N 3223'2"N 3223'2"N 3223'0"N 3223'0"N CA7 Map 2 Match Point CA6 10 Welcome Center Kid's Fishing 5 Lake 5 8329'6"W 8329'4"W 8329'2"W Discovery Center 8329'0"W 8328'58"W Ocmulgee PFA Map 3 Rock/Root Pile (RP) Crate Attractor (CA) Gravel Bed (GB) Woody Debris (WD) Creek Bed Index Contour A Feature Waypoint 2.3 Spot Depth (feet) Building Information Kiosk Restrooms Fishing Pier Parking Boat Ramp Map not for navigational purposes - display only! 8328'56"W 8328'54"W 8328'52"W 8328'50"W 8328'48"W 3222'58"N 3222'58"N 3222'56"N 3222'56"N Ocmulgee PFA Fish Attractor Waypoints Waypoints for woody debris Feature Point Longitude WD1 A -83.49383 WD1 B -83.49364 WD1 C -83.49343 WD1 D -83.49322 WD1 E -83.49304 WD1 F -83.49292 WD1 G -83.49287 WD1 H -83.49288 WD1 I -83.49298 Latitude 32.38679 32.38701 32.38717 32.38721 32.38716 32.38703 32.38689 32.38671 32.38650 Feature WD2 WD2 WD3 WD3 WD4 WD4 WD5 WD5 Point A B A B A B A B Longitude -83.48853 -83.48816 -83.48789 -83.48780 -83.48739 -83.48724 -83.48695 -83.48663 Latitude 32.38567 32.38574 32.38582 32.38596 32.38535 32.38561 32.38558 32.38565 Waypoints for ledge features Feature Point Longitude L1 A -83.49431 L1 B -83.49408 L1 C -83.49391 L1 D -83.49401 L1 E -83.49401 L1 F -83.49379 L1 G -83.49359 L1 H -83.49340 L1 I -83.49352 L1 J -83.49382 L2 A -83.49385 L2 B -83.49378 L2 C -83.49356 Latitude 32.38467 32.38482 32.38507 32.38533 32.38567 32.38596 32.38617 32.38632 32.38653 32.38670 32.38342 32.38360 32.38378 Feature L2 L2 L3 L3 L4 L4 L4 L5 L5 L6 L6 L6 L6 Point D E A B A B C A B A B C D Longitude -83.49334 -83.49338 -83.49145 -83.49126 -83.49075 -83.49044 -83.49043 -83.49056 -83.49039 -83.48668 -83.48644 -83.48633 -83.48618 Latitude 32.38382 32.38361 32.38376 32.38382 32.38414 32.38435 32.38451 32.38516 32.38523 32.38525 32.38532 32.38547 32.38559 Waypoints for crate attractors Feature Point Longitude Latitude Feature Point Longitude Latitude CA1 A -83.49544 32.38439 CA3 G -83.49378 32.38290 CA1 B -83.49534 32.38436 CA4 A -83.49339 32.38311 CA1 C -83.49514 32.38451 CA4 B -83.49343 32.38317 CA1 D -83.49504 32.38455 CA4 C -83.49338 32.38323 CA2 A -83.49470 32.38453 CA4 D -83.49338 32.38328 CA2 C -83.49461 32.38457 CA4 E -83.49328 32.38337 CA2 B -83.49469 32.38474 CA4 F -83.49321 32.38343 CA2 D -83.49459 32.38472 CA4 G -83.49313 32.38341 CA2 E -83.49449 32.38468 CA5 A -83.48603 32.38608 CA2 F -83.49448 32.38478 CA5 B -83.48599 32.38613 CA2 G -83.49429 32.38483 CA5 D -83.48587 32.38611 CA3 A -83.49410 32.38261 CA5 C -83.48591 32.38608 CA3 B -83.49409 32.38266 CA6 A -83.48418 32.38412 CA3 C -83.49405 32.38273 CA7 C -83.48438 32.38464 CA3 D -83.49392 32.38274 CA7 B -83.48446 32.38468 CA3 E -83.49389 32.38280 CA7 A -83.48469 32.38483 CA3 F -83.49385 32.38284 *Note:All crate points are clustered (e.g. CA1) with individual points labeled from west to east (left to right) within a cluster. See crate attractor inset maps for examples. Waypoints for rock/root piles and gravel bed Feature Longitude Latitude RP1 -83.49054 32.38414 RP2 -83.49027 32.38418 RP3 -83.48975 32.38453 RP4 -83.48886 32.38454 Feature RP5 RP6 RP7 GB1 Longitude -83.48849 -83.48821 -83.48613 -83.49429 Latitude 32.38500 32.38441 32.38514 32.38307 All waypoints are in geographic coordinates (decimal degree) and cast on the North American Datum of 1983.