Next week

Question
Hi Jack,

I'll be coming down to do some bass fishing on Seminole in the next week or so (it's gonna be hot!!).  Do you have suggestions on where to fish the early morning and late afternoon bite?  Also, what is the flippin bite like during the mid day heat? How is the night fishing bite? Lastly, what is the best way to catch hybrids this time of year?

Thanks for your help!!

Answer
Eric;  Yep Hot!  But I have caught some very good fish even in the hot weather.  However, almost all of them have been caught after the sun reaches treetop level on the west side of the lake.  Also most of the biggest ones have been caught on topwater baits.  I like the Devils Horse and the Zara Spook along with a buzz bait until it is completely dark.  When it is good and dark I often switch to my all black magnum (muskie) Jitterbug.  As I said most of my fishing is late in the afternoon up until midnight if I am getting bites.  Of course you must have mosquito repellent until about an hour after dark.  I like fishing on the dark of the moon rather than on a moonlit night.  I just move around fishing the edges of the hydrilla or the edges of the creek channel.  If you do hang a good bass in a spot be as quiet as possible and cast back to the same area and you may pick up another just about the same size.  I have done that on several occasions.  One night I caught a bass just over 9 lbs. then cast right back to the same spot and got another one just under 9 lbs.  18 lbs on two casts.  Of course on this lake at night if you hear a big splash where your lure is  don't try to lip your catch before shining a light on it there are lots of gators in here and they like noisy topwater lures too.  Also there are some bofins or grindle (mudfish)etc and they will hit a topwater and jump like a bass but they have a mouthful of teeth.

Because I do not like to have a long run back home I seldom leave my home area on Spring creek between Rattlesnake Point and the old Knights Landing.

I fish the stump fields mostly but at times I try to fish the edge of Spring Creek channel.  Sometimes it runs in and out of the stump fields.  One of my favorite spots is along the line of cabins from 30-48-30N and 84-47-21W to 30-48-44N and 84-47-24 W  If you have a GPS  If not go up the boat trail to where it junctions with the channel coming in from the SE from the Flint River. and continue up to the point on the left side of the lake with a big new dock and go through the opening marked by people living there (trolling motor only#. Fish both the docks and the open water inside the stumps and in the stumps on the right.

Actually there are many very good bass areas in this general area.  If you are trailoring a boat the best place to put in is at Reynolds' Landing about 19 miles SW on Spring Creek Road #Ga.253#

As to the flipping during the day I would say casting to the bigger stumps and letting the lure fall on a slack line to the bottom of the stump has resulted in some nice fish.  If you lift your rod or take up slack before the lure gets to the bottom you will be fishing two or three feet away from the bottom of the stump and you will likely not get bit.  Flipping most any of the docks from Sealies Point to Knights Landing.  I strongly urge you to get a map of the lake if you are new to it.  There are well marked boat trails where it is safe to run but do not run outside these trails.  It is safe to use a trolling motor in the stump fields but even then you will likely bump some underwater stumps.  In the stumps anywhere can be good fishing when you find the fish but they are not everywhere in the stumps and they move around. A lipless crank bait is often good in the deeper water during the hot day.  I do not even go out on these hot days I am getting too old to take it..

There are other places on the lake that have good bass fishing but I have not been to all areas.
This is a big lake and it is such a long run to get to many places that I mostly fish here in Spring Creek arm.

Now as to stripers and hybrids most of those fish are out in the main lake.  I have run down the creek to the mouth and fished in that area.  Mostly I used a chrome and black Rattletrap either casting or trolling.  Also down the Flint river from the mouth of Spring Creek to the confluence with the Chattahoochee River and down toward the dam.  Spoons are also good at times either trolled or cast and yo yo ed back.  At times the hybrids come to the surface feeding on needlefish or shad.  When that happens use most anything flashy like Rapala minnow or any minnow shaped lure that can be mistaken for a needle fish or shad.  These don't last long so have one rod rigged for the surface while you use other lures for those not surfacing.  Early morning is the best time before the sun gets too high.  If you can get them small 4 inch shad make good bait also but they are difficult to keep alive.

I hope this will help you find some bass when you come here.  If you want more information give me a call or e-mail.  Thank you for calling on me to answer your question and good fishing.

Jack L. Gaither            #JackfromSeminole#
Lake Seminole, Georgia
229-861-2366    [email protected]