Lake Sinclair is located in Middle Georgia and is a "constant level lake". That basically means that when droughts lowered most other Georgia lakes by up to 20 feet, Lake Sinclair was largely unaffected! There are several reasons for this and I will be happy to explain. 

Lake Sinclair was created in 1953 when the Georgia Power Company completed Sinclair Dam  impounding the Oconee River.  The Dam, begun in 1929, is located at Furman's Schoals on the fall line in the Oconee River.  The Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II interrupted work on the dam until 1949.

The lake is set in the rolling hills and forest of the Georgia Piedmont.  There are 15,330 acres of water and 417 miles of shoreline.  It is fed by the waters of the Oconee River, Little River, and many large creeks.  The water is recirculated through Wallace Dam on the North to our up-river sister, Lake Oconee.  During times of low electrical demand, water is pumped "uphill" into Lake Oconee.  During times of heavy electrical demand, water is once again run through the turbine generators at Wallace Dam.

The most visible effect of the back-and-forth storing & pumping system is a fluctuation of the water level.  This recirculation results in a "tide" usually between one foot and two feet.  Lake Sinclair water level can drop as much as a foot in just a few hours  --  and rise again just as quickly.  Another noticeable effect of moving large amounts of water between the sister lakes is a perceptible current that is most noticeable on the main channel of the lake.

The lakes stain from heavy rains carrying Georgia's red clay into the water, however, water quality remains very good, is without chemical pollution, and is relied on by the surrounding communities for their drinking water.

Fishing is close to spectacular. A weekend without some sort of fishing tournament is rare. You will catch Big Mouth, Striped, and Hybrid Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Red-Eared Shellcrackers, and an occasional Gar. AND -- there are NO LIMITATIONS on how many servings of these fish you can eat! Also, you will NOT find any alligators in Lake Sinclair.

This is NOT an Army Corps of Engineers lake. The lake is owned and operated by Georgia Power for the purpose of generating power. Sewalls, Docks, and Boat Houses are all allowed, but require approval from Georgia Power.

Lake Sinclair is a moderate-sized lake. The Oconee Riverbed - the main channel - measures 18 miles between the upper- and lower dams. Boat traffic is light in the southern section to practically non-existant in the upper half. You can actually enjoy boating, skiing, tubing, and fishing here.