bass fishing spring creek

Question
Mr.Gaither i would like any info you can give me about bass fishing spring creek i will be up there on march 23 thorough 27 i heard the bass are bedding right now i am not much of a bed fisherman i mostly cast fish . any info you could give on bed fishing or casting for this time of year on spring creek would be great. any specific lures and colors .

Answer
Kyle, To begin with I never fish bass beds. Not so much that it may damage the bass population, which I doubt unless there is some other factor involved.  I just do not care for working and working to get a bass to bite.
On this lake like most lakes bass don't all bed at the same time so I try to find bass bunched up before going on the beds or some that have already been on the bed.

I have no idea how much you know about Spring Creek basin.  Basically it was once a creek twisting and turning through the woods consisting of several types of trees.  There were what must have been agricultural or pasture lands.  When the lake was filled the creek overflowed and filled the timber with 12-18 feet of water.  The farm lands or pastures were also flooded but to much shallower depth.  The creek channel is from two to 12 feet deeper than the surrounding area.  The creek has timber almost entirely along its length.  Over the next 54 years almost almost all the trees have broken off near the water surface.  Presently the areas outside the timbered regions are filled with heavy growth of hydrilla.  There is scattered hydrilla in the timbered area as well.  If you like fishing hydrilla you will find plenty. If you like fishing timber you will find plenty of that too.  There are a few places that have neither timber nor hydrilla but this is rare.

I prefer fishing the timber by moving along the creek channel and fishing both sides. I haven't done well in the channel itself but more in the timber.  I like to fish a soft plastic bait in the trees by casting the lure so that it hits the stump just at water line.  Then let the lure sink on a slack line.  Do not take up slack until you see the line move or the bait hits bottom.  If you take up the slack the lure will pendulum  away from the stump.  The fish is likely holding right up against the stump at some depth.  If your lure falls straight down it will likely come close to the fish.  If it hits bottom without a bite let it lie quietly for a few seconds then just barely shake it with the rod tip.  If you do not get bit in two or three shakes try working it along the bottom back to the boat just as you usually work a worm.  Try to bring it as close as possible to other stumps.
Another tactic in the timber is to work a spinnerbait either slow rolled near bottom or higher in the water column.  A crankbait also works at times try to hit stumps and have it pop off.

If you are used to fishing the heavy mats of hydrilla a heavy jig casting it into the mat and getting it down through to the open water beneath where the fish should be.  A jerk bait worked along the edge of the mat will often bring strikes.

I also love fishing topwater lures especially early and late or on low light calm days.

There are also times when the soft swim baits up to 8 inches will bring strikes when fished in the stumps.  I particularly like the zara spook walked from stump to stump or between clumps of hydrilla. Or most any kind of popper worked around the edges of weeds or in lily pads.(not many in Spring Creek though).  After dark I love to throw the big muskie or magnum black jitterbug most anywhere there is open water enough for it to walk.

I consider Spring Creek basin as being from just above Sealies point to where the lake narrows to the creek alone.

Some of the best places I have found are around Rattlesnake Point, In the stumps between the boat trail going around the north end of Sealies Island and the one coming out from Reynolds landing.  Also the area out in front of the line of homes including the concrete monstrosity on the north shore.  Next the area where the boat trail comes across from the cut between the islands leading to the Flint river.  Go to the place where there is only one red topped piling to the next set of pilings to the north.  This is a sort of W shaped loop in the creek marked on the map.  From here on up the creek channel to where it leaves the trees or better straight out from the last cabin along the shoreline.  All this area to the left of the boat road running north is good for some nice fish.  I have caught many 5-8 pound fish in this area.  

I hope this is of some help.  I do not know if you have fished this lake before.  If not take the following to heart. RUN AT SPEED ONLY IN THE MARKED CHANNELS AS THE LAKE HAS THOUSANDS OF STUMPS JUST UNDER THE WATER JUST WAITING TO TAKE OFF A LOWER UNIT OR HOLE A BOAT.  It is well worth the cost of a map of the lake.

I hope this has given you some help.   When you get here if you would like some more specific info give me a shout at 229-861-2366. I am retired and have plenty of time on my hands so don't hesitate to call.

Jack L. Gaither                 (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia.