Rattlesnake point

Question
Hello Mr Gaither,

On the upcoming weekend of Feb 18th, 19th, and 20th, I will be visiting my mother who lives at Rattlesnake Point on Seminole Shores Drive. I love Lake Seminole. Born in Seminole , County and raised in Metro Atlanta, living now 5 minutes from Lake Lanier. I am a fisherman, not an Angler. I prefer live bait fishing. We have a lot of luck off my mothers dock with Crappie Minnows, Crickets, and Grass Shrimp. Is there a chance that I can get any of these pre spawning Bass to hit some live bait while I am in a boat. or should I be throwing artificial only? On Lake Lanier, in late May or early April, depending on water temps, Spots love to hit Live Spring lizards. Any chance of these critters catching any fish in Lake Seminole? Should I throw live Red Wigglers, would I have a chance to keep up with my buddies who are artificial professors? Maybe we can meet on her dock and you can point out a few holes for us. My mom is an Angler, a true Angler and she has some Shellcracker holes she could share with you... I just have not had any luck Catching Bass with artificial bate. What do I need to do?  Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon. Cant wait to get back down to Seminole!!

Answer
Welcome back to Seminole Mr. P Wesley.  I am an outlander, originally from Illinois, who decided that this was the place to retire and I have never had a moment of thinking otherwise.  Now as to the basic question you ask if you could hope to catch bass in mid February using live bait, the answer is yes but.  Yes but what?  It is my belief that you can catch more and larger bass using artificial lures.  I started out years ago using live bait.  Where I lived the only fish to be caught were bullhead catfish in the creek.  Then one day I caught a crappie on a live minnow in a small pond at the edge of town.  My brother and I then began to get minnows from a creek and took them to the pond to catch crappie.  One day catching crappie I caught a strange green fish.  When I showed them to dad he told me they were bass.  A few days later I ran out of minnows so I caught a yellow butterfly and put it on my hook.  I held it so it just touched the water and a bass came up and grabbed it.  From then on I started tieing flies to catch bass.  Then there was a sale of all fishing tackle at a store and I bought a fly rod and reel.  I was hooked on artificial baits from then on.  I believe that given a good week end in spring or summer I could teach you to catch bass on artificials.   A $20 spinning reel, a $15 spinning rod and three or four lures could get you started. Once you catch a good bass on a lure you will see that this is the way to catch bass.

The biggest problem with live bait is getting it and keeping it fresh and alive plus sitting in one place for a long time waiting for the fish to come to you.  Using an artificial bait combines hunting with fishing since one has to hunt for the fish and then work to catch them.

It would probably be difficult to get live grass shrimp in February and around here really good worms are hard to find.  Minnows are always available at the bait shops but are expensive. I doubt you would be too welcome trying to fish live bait while your buddies fished with artificial baits and would be moving around a lot while they fish.  You would want to sit in one place for at least a few minutes while your buddies would be wanting to move.  I have tried taking my wife fishing for brim while I bass fish.  It couldn't be done.  When I took her fishing we both used worms or crickets.

I could point out some places to fish and would love some good shellcracker holes.  Send me an e-mail a few days before you come and let me know where you will be and then give me a call when you get here.  My phone number is (229) 861-2366.

I hope this has been of some help.  The question is a little hard to answer specifically.  

Jack L. Gaither               (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia