Lake Seminole Fishing Report – January 2020

Seminole: Level: 0.3 feet below full. Temp: Upper 50s. Clarity: Lightly stained up the Chattahoochee and Flint; Spring Creek is clear.

Bass: Guide Paul Tyre reports, “The bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been fantastic this November and December. Shad is the key to finding and catching bass. They have been gorging on shad, and the bass are very fat and healthy. Shad-imitating lures have worked best, like a spinnerbait, crankbait and jerkbait. When choosing a spinnerbait, a tandem double willowleaf is a good choice when the bass are keying on shad. One of my favorites is a Strike King Pro Model 1/2-oz. in chartreuse and white with silver and gold blades. This color and blade combination has been very productive fished around the grasslines on the main lake. A jerkbait and crankbait have also been working well in the Spring Creek arm of Lake Seminole. Spring Creek has remained very clear this fall. Shad-colored jerkbaits like a Spro McStick in ayu shad worked at a fast, erratic pace has worked well over the deep grass flats in 10 to 15 feet of water. As we move into January, lipless crankbaits will become very productive fished over and around the grasslines on the main lake.”

Linesides: “Stripers and hybrids are being caught on the main lake and in Spring Creek,” Capt. Paul Tyre said. “Umbrella rigs and spoons have worked well, with some stripers as big as 30 pounds caught.”

Crappie: “The crappie are schooling up on structure in 10 to 12 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are working, with some crappie as big as 3 pounds,” Capt. Paul Tyre said.

Various Species: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “Crappie are hitting in 18 to 22 feet of water on minnows. Catfish are on the bottom depths using worms  and cut bait. Stripers and hybrids are on crankbaits around schools of shad. Bass are feeding on shad and can be found around these schools of shad on Texas- and Carolina-rigged worms and drop shots. Some panfish are being caught on wigglers in 10 to 12 feet of water. If the weather turns cold, you should try metal baits, such as a Hopkins spoon, Little George, Silver Buddy or Heddon Sonar. You can also fish with a drop shot, lizard, Zoom Brush Hog, and jig. Orange/black and black/blue are good colors. There will always be a flipping bite on the lake, and the flipping fish will hold tight to cover during fronts. On warm, sunny days, the fish will move into deep water next to shallow areas. These fish can be taken with spoons and billed minnow baits, like a Rattlin’ Rogue or a sinking jerkbait. The grass has recovered better from Hurricane Michael than most figured.”