Lake Seminole in early October

Question
I've never been on Lake Seminole, but will be up there in late August. I'll be fishing a tournament up there in early October. What can you tell me about baits, line type/size, areas to look for, etc.?

Answer
Here we go again.  This is the second time I have tried to answer your question and the computer beat me up.  

Lake Seminole is a 37,500 acre relatively shallow lake.  Most of the lake is lowland timber flooded when the dam was put in in 1957.  Three main water sources feed the lake with a couple of smaller ones.
The largest is the Chatahoochee River which divides Georgia and Alabama below Columbus.  The second is the Flint river coming  from the northeast above Albany to Bainbridge where the lake begins.  These two rivers join about a mile above the location of Jim Woodruff Dam on the Georgia-Florida border.  Most of the lake is in Georgia.  The third source is Spring creek rising about 40 or so miles to the north and mostly spring fed.  It is about 22 miles from the Dam to Bainbridge and about the same distance up the "Hooch to the bridge where Florida hwy.2 becomes Georgia hwy 91  Spring Creek forms an arm  which is virtually a lake unto itself and quite different from most of the rest of the lake.  The two river channels have places that are around 30 feet deep in the channel.  Spring creek lower four miles averages about 20' deep and winds its way through what was once a hardwood forest with some areas of what was farm land and pasture land.  The overall average depth of the lake is around 12'.  Between Spring creek and the "Hooch" lies Fish pond drain which is just what the name says.  It was a series of ponds connected by a small stream.

The Flint arm and the Chatahoochee arm are both greatly affected by the rivers.  The water is seldom clear and at times gets quite muddy.
Spring Creek arm and Fish pond drain are both mostly clear to slightly stained except in case of heavy rains in the counties to the north when they can mud up some.

Being a lake of this size there are areas that I have never seen even though I have fished the lake for over 20 years.  I see less of it now with gas at nearly $4 per gallon.  The fact is that most of my fishing has been in Spring creek arm.   This arm is about 2500-3000 acres being almost a lake unto itself.

I don't know where you will be putting into the lake.  There are about 20 access points.  I live about one mile upstream from Reynolds' landing between Bainbridge and trail's end off SR253.  This is on the North (GA) side of the lake.

When the lake was built most of the timber was left standing.  Over the years most of this has broken off near the waterline.  When the lake was filled the Corps of engineers cut channels around the lake and marked them with pairs of pilings.  Anyone who does not know the lake well should always run in these marked channels when running with the gas motor at speed.  It is possible to maneuver among the tree stumps with a trolling motor but I strongly suggest not using the gas motor as many stumps are underwater and out of sight.  A SS prop will bounce off but it will be hard on gears in the lower unit even at idle.

Now that I have given you a quick run down on the lake how about places to fish.  Bass are caught all over the lake but I have had my best luck in Spring Creek and down near the mouth of the creek.  There is available a fairly decent map at most marinas and tackle shops in the area.  I would not venture out on the lake without one.
The depth contours are not the best as maps go but they will show you the safe areas.

Most of my bass over the past 20 years have been caught near but not in the creek channel.  I fished the drop offs in the channels at first but found more fish about 50-150 feet off the channels.  

Probably more fish are caught on soft plastics but other baits work well especially when the hydrilla has been knocked down by cold fronts and in spring before they grow back.  Spinnerbaits are effective retrieved just over the hydrilla.  Lipless crankbaits are also good in this situation.  Late October may or may not have seen cooling but certainly August will not.  If it stays hot or even quite warm fishing plastic worms in the edges of the hydrilla or along the islands on the North shore of the Flint a mile or so above the mouth of Spring Creek on up to above the cut from the flint to Spring Creek. (here is where the map is  helpful)   Another place I have had success is to cast a big 10" worm to the bigger stumps in the stump fields.  Try to hit the stump and let your worm fall on a completely slack line.  (I know this is against much traditional worm fishing but there is a reason for it) If there is any tension on the line the worm will swing away from the tree trunk and that is where the fish is most likely to be.  Crankbaits worked down around these drowned trees work as does a colorado spinner bait.  At times minnow lures such as the original Rapala floating minnow, Long A; and similar lures are good in the shallows.  Jig n pig will also work around the dead tree root areas.  Some areas have strings of docks but most of the lake is wilderness.  Some docks are productive but except for a couple near home I am not too familiar with which are the best.

If you start at first light I suggest not running too far.  Find a weed bed either hydrilla or pads and fish big topwater lures like the Zara Spook or the Magnum Jitterbug, the Devils'Horse  or similar lures often produce good fish early.  I used to fish at first light but as I grew  older the bed felt too good so I do much of my fishing from a couple hours before sunset to  a couple hours after.

I mentioned big ten inch worms but at times tiny 4" or 5" inch work better.  Recently the senko has been productive.

That is about all I can pass on right now, my leg hurts so I need to soak it.  You might go through some of my earlier answers about Seminole where I became more specific.  Another alternative is for when you get here in August give me a call and I will meet you and show you some places in person.  I am retired so if I am not going to a doctor I am usually free.  My phone number is below.

Thanks for calling on me for your question.  I hope this has been of some help.  If I can be of further help give me a call.

I am
Jack L. Gaither    (JackfromSeminole)
229-861-2366
8043 Spring Creek Drive
Donalsonville, Ga. 39845