Lake Seminole Fishing Report – April 2009

Seminole: Level: 0.2 feet below full pool. Temp: High 60s to low 70s in Spring Creek and the Flint. Low 60s on the Chattahoochee side. Clarity: Stained in the Chattahoochee and Flint; clear in Spring Creek.

Bass: Excellent. Mike said fish are either spawning or getting ready to, and he’s been slaying them, with the average fish weighing about 3 pounds. The best bite is for bedded fish on the sandbars in about 4 feet of water. The bite is better on the Flint and Spring Creek side because of warmer water temperatures, but the ’Hooch should be coming around very soon. Mike said to fish a worm on a 1/2-oz. Carolina rig and to just drag it very slowly across the sandbar. “It doesn’t matter what you fish, as long as it’s watermelon,” said Mike. “Brush Hawg, Trick Worm, U-tail — I tried everything and caught fish on everything.” Mike’s favorite bait has been a soft-plastic stick bait, like a Senko. There have also been reports of people sight fishing for hawgs on the beds in the deadwater sloughs. Mike said it’s very important to make long casts when you’re sight fishing in Spring Creek because the water is so clear. There has also been a pretty good bite beating the banks with spinnerbaits and crankbaits, but the quality of fish has not been as good.

Crappie: Good. Mike said the speckled perch are trying to spawn, and they have been moving in and out with each front. When you find them up shallow along the grass lines, it’s worth it, though. Mike said he’s seen more 2- to 2 1/2-lb. crappie this year than ever. Fish minnows or cast jigs to grasslines in 4 to 8 feet of water. The best jigs have been black/chartreuse.

Catfish: Good. Folks are doing pretty well jugging the flats in 8 to 10 feet of water. Some big flatheads caught on live shad are being brought into the docks.

Shellcracker: Fair. Shellcracker beds should begin appearing in April. Look for beds in about 2 feet of water on the sandbars and in pockets. Mike suggested areas like Four Foot Ditch, the lower end of Spring Creek and in the Silver Lake Area as good spots to start looking.