Lake Seminole Fishing Report – January 2022

Seminole: Level: 0.4 feet below 77.5. Temp: Low 60s. Clarity: Clear but looking to stain up after the rains.

Bass: Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “The bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been very good through December, and as we move into January, the bite should get even better. January and February are great months for catching numbers of big bass on Lake Seminole as they start to move into their prespawn staging areas. If coming to Lake Seminole in January, make sure to have some jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. These are excellent baits for covering water and finding schools of bass.”

Guide Aaron Crews reports, “During unusually warm conditions, a jerkbait can produce bass. Fish shallow and mid-depth on sunny, warm days with good to excellent barometric pressure. On fronts, I used suspending or a spoon-billed jerkbait like a Rapala Husky Jerk, a Rebel Spoonbilled Minnow or a Deep Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. I use these in the ditches in the grass leading to bedding areas or ditches next to deep water.”

Crappie: Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “Crappie fishing on Lake Seminole is good all year long, but the winter months and early spring are exceptional! Crappie, some of the best eating fish in freshwater, can be caught on minnows and jigs. My favorite lures for catching crappie are the Panfish Assassin lures by Bass Assassin out of Mayo, Fla. They have an extensive line of panfish lures, but my favorites are the Curly Shad 2-inch and the Pro Tiny Shad 2-inch. These baits are offered in a variety of colors, but a couple of my favorite colors are alewife and chartreuse/white. I rig these on a 1/32- to 1/8-oz. jig head, depending on depth and wind conditions. I combine these with a size 10 open-face spinning reel and 4- to 6-lb. monofilament line. When fishing a light bait, the rod, reel and line are important to have the best results. I prefer a Temple Fork Outfitters 6- to 7-foot light-action rod from their Trout-Panfish line. These rods are so sensitive, I believe I can feel the bite when the crappie thinks about hitting it! In the last six weeks, the crappie bite has begun in earnest. We have had multiple trips with customers catching their personal-best crappie, some as big as 3 pounds! I even had one customer land his personal best 10-lb. plus largemouth bass while fishing for crappie!”

Various Fish Species: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “Duck hunting is poor at best until we get some winter weather on the Mississippi flyway. Pan fishermen seem to be catching bluegill, shellcracker and redbreasts in 8 to 12 feet of water on worms and crickets. Catfishermen are catching cats on cutbait like mullet in 10 to 20 feet of water. Crappie fishermen are catching crappie on Hal Flys and minnows in 8 to 20 feet of water. As for deer hunting on Lake Seminole, it’s hot weather. The hunters are facing a jungle gym of fallen trees and debris from Hurricane Michael. This is good cover for deer, turkey and quail, but lots of work for the hunters.”