EATONTON, Ga. – This peaceful and historic Putnam County town is well-known as the home of authors Joel Chandler Harris and Alice Walker.
That’s a special attraction for literary types.
But there’s also a prime reason for fishermen to visit – Lake Oconee, a 19,050-acre reservoir fed by the virtually pollution-free Oconee and Appalachee rivers, along with several creeks.
Guide Tony Couch could write his own book about angling trips on the Oconee. Among his clients have been presidents George and George W. Bush and baseball star Mickey Mantle. Couch has pulled a couple of 10-pound largemouths from the lake.
He has qualified five times for the FLW All-American national championship and has competed four times in the FLW Championship. His 10-pound, 9-ounce bass was the largest caught in the All-American. He has won South Carolina tournaments in both the former Red Man tour and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.