Need help finding the Fish

Question
Mr.Jack
I have been going to Lake Seminole for the last five years;and I keep getting skunked. My wife keeps asking why we keep going and never catch anything to mention. My answer is the fish are there just need to find them!! We always stay at the park on the Georgia side. We like pan fishing and catfish and bass fishing. In other words we fish for what ever is bitting. Any tips for a good fishing trip would be appreciated. We will be there 9/30/07 to 10/02/07.
Thank you for your time.
                                        Tony and Penny

Answer
Tony and Penny; You are right about the fish being here but sometimes they are hard to find.  Maybe I can give you some suggestions that will help.  Going from the State park head down the Fishpond drain until it begins to widen.
While I have not been there for a while I know there are good fish there.  Try for brim along the weed edges and if you can find an inside edge, that is an area where the hydrilla is out a way from shore and an opening is between them and shore is usually good for brim and shellcrackers.
The bass are also in or near the weeds and the trees.  If that doesn't work go out to the end of the boat trail marked by the pilings then turn right.  Pass by the pilings that mark the Indian mounds and go to the channel of the Chatahoochee.  Look for boats to see if the crappie are biting in the channel.  Jigs or minnows work here in 30 feet of water at times.  If no boats head on up until you can see piling on East side leading into the swamp.  Go in there (better in early morning or evening).  Fish the pads using top water or Johnson Silver Minnow with pork (not plastic) frog or 5-7inch worm or bush hog on semi Carolina rig.  I don't like Carolina rig but use a weight about 1/4oz about 18" above hook with Texas rigged worm or bush hog.

Brim and shellcrackers are found in the shallows along the river, you just have to keep trying until you find them. They may still be bedding if is stays warm. A cold front between now and your time here will probably end that.

Try around the island in the river going into the old channel looking for bass or brim in the deadfalls and around the weed edges in relatively shallow water.

A true Carolina rig in the deeper holes and along the drops in the river channel should be a place for bass if it still is hot after early fishing.

I live on the Spring Creek arm and have done well up here.  It is too far to run by boat but if you have a trailer there is a fine landing at The end of Reynold's Landing road.  Reynold's landing road is about 5 miles East of the state park on highway 253.  It is a paved road to the right as you come from the park.  It is a state landing with plenty of parking.  The resort there no longer has bait so you should stop at one of the stores along the road before you get there.  I usually go to the one where Ga. 374 intersects with Ga. 253 called Parkside.
They have several different kinds of minnows along with crickets and worms.  The one at the end of Ga.39 may also be good but I seldom have gone there.  Mike at parkside has always done me right.

From the landing  go out the channel to just before the beginning of the stumps and start working carefully along the edge of the stumps using a jerk bait like an original Rapala or like.  Be careful as the water to the left is very shallow and probably choked with hydrilla.  When you come to a break in the stumps on the right work that area between the hydrilla and along the creek channel well.  I have caught many 6lb bass there. A crank bait in the channel along with a chrome/blue or chrome/black rattletrap in the open water between hydrilla beds.

The point on the left homes and docks  has some good water between the hydrilla beds where I have caught both brim and bass depending on bait.  Crickets or worms for the brim.  I have caught some nice crappie in the deep water of the channel but usually after cold weather sets in.  If the lake remains low the creek channel can be seen between the stump fields but if it comes up that channel is difficult to see.  You can follow the channel (if the water stays low) out from just off the point over to the boat trail marked by pilings.  Where it bends to the right just past the point has produced both bass and crappie along the channel.  If you try to follow the channel to the boat trail be careful.  Use your depth sounder as the channel is usually about 7-8 feet deeper than off channel and there are some sharp bends with stumps in places you might not think they are.  Use trolling motor or idle your gas motor only if you treasure your lower unit.  (Caution; any place in this lake that you do not know well stay in the marked channels when running with gas motor faster than idle speed. There may be stumps underwater most anyplace).

If you want to continue beyond the above mentioned area (and you might not want to contend with the hydrilla along that route) go on out the marked channel to the junction with the other boat channel crossing.  Here you can go either right or left.  Right takes you toward Rattlesnake Point where both bass and crappie are often caught and just past the point there is a channel off to the left not marked by pilings.  This channel is safe only if you know it but there is some good brim fishing to the right in deeper water.  Ease up into the trees and try here and there with crickets, worms or better yet if you can get them grass shrimp.  My wife and I have done well in there in 15-25' of water.  Fun pulling hand size brim up from deep water.  She wants the 3 inch ones too.  Cut of the head scale, dip in egg wash and meal and flour and deep fry and eat it all bones and all.

On the right just before reaching Rattlesnake point ease back in toward the lone house and dock.  I fish the stump edges and the weed edges for bass and occasionally some hybrid bass  come in here.

If you turn left at the intersection from the landing you are headed up toward my area.  At first you will be passing  large area of hydrilla that looks like you could walk on it but a ways up on the right near the pilings and where the stumps start go right in the channel and work along it's edge for bass, crappie (if cool or late evening) then the channel twists left and heads for the marked boat channel going off to the right and between the islands through to the Fling part of the lake.  The area just before the boat road is good area.  I caught two bass in there one nine pounds and one just under nine.  I was fishing after dark using my favorite night bait a Magnum Jitterbug.
Across the boat channel the creek channel goes nearly directly north for half a mile.  Just about 100 yards before it bends left (and crosses the boat road heading up Spring Creek marked by pilings) are a few lonely stickups on the left side.  One of the stickups is pointing across the channel.  Follow the pointer (gingerly-stumps on right and left) is a slough going back into the stumps.  I have caught many bass and some nice crappie and some brim in there.

If you continue up to the bend in the creek channel fish the right side heavily into the stumps with an occasional cast to the left.  About half way before the creek bends to the right there is a sunken tree on the left.  Work it good.  If the water is low you may see it but if not look for a couple of single stick ups on the left and it is in between them.

Where the creek turns right close to the left shoreline is a great place for bass and crappie.  Back in along the docks is good for bass and brim.  I have caught many good bass in this general area, generally in the evening.  I fish surface baits mostly until it is quite dark then put on my big jitterbug.

I could go on but I think this will help you to find some fish.  If you still don't find them in a day or two give me a call at 229-861-2366 and I will be glad to try further to help.  I don't want anyone to give up on this lake.  It has good fish.  I know because I have caught many of them and turned them back to grow more.

I hope this has been of some help.  I love my lake even if it is somewhat difficult to fish I still love to fish it and want others to have success too.  It isn't the lake it once was but it is still one of the best largemouth lakes in the country.

If I can be of further help give me a call or contact me at [email protected].  Thank you for calling on me to answer your  question.

I am

Jack L. Gaither (JackfromSeminole)