Lake Seminole Fishing Report – January 2023

Seminole: Level: 0.5 feet below 77.5 Clarity: Water color is slightly stained, but this rain will make it a little more stained. Temperature will start dropping. Old man winter is here.

Bass: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “The first good winter storm is rolling in as I write this. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Bass are on drop shots, deep crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Once it turns cold after this front, I’ll put the pedal to the heavy metal. I love finding schools of bass with a Little George, Silver Buddy, Gay Blade, Heddon Sonar or Hopkins jigging spoons I yo-yo metal baits down in the grass. You also can fish vertical with these baits. A drop shot catches numbers, and a Carolina rig catches quality fish. Colors are junebug, green pumpkin, watermelon red flake and moss green. A Carolina rig is the best worm for a beginner or novice to start with. A good Carolina-rig setup for wintertime is a 7-2 to 7-4 rod, Ambassador reel and Keitech swimbait. I usually stick with a white crystal belly. Yes I know they aren’t cheap, but they seem to have the best action for me.”

Multiple Species: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “Panfish are in 10 to 15 feet of water on worms. There are smaller catfish with them. These smaller catfish are good eating. Big cats are in 20 feet of water. Bump the bottom with cutbaits, such as skip jack or pieces of mudfish. Yes I wrote mudfish. A lot of the 40- to 60-lb. cats are caught bottom bumping. Crappie may be suspended in 10 feet of water one day and on structure in 25 feet of water the next. Prepare to fish minnows and jigs. They follow the baitfish.” 

Lake Seminole Page: Archived Articles & Fishing Reports

Hunting Report: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “The duck hunting is a little slow. This front before Christmas will bring new birds. There are canvasbacks, redheads, bluebills, wigeon, ringnecks, wood ducks, blue and green wing teal, Florida mottled ducks, shovelers, as well as pintail. Ducks land into the wind and open up their wings to apply the breaks so that they don’t hurt themselves when they land. You must scout before the hunt. Move quiet into areas and use a good pair of waterfowl binoculars to look at the area. Be able to identify the species and note where they are in relationship to where you will set up. You can pull a duck about 150 yards at best with decoys and a good call.”