Lake Seminole Fishing Report – May 2020

Seminole: Level: 1.6 feet above full pool. Temp: Low 70s. Clarity: Slight stain.

Bass: Guide Paul Tyre, of Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure, reports, “As we enter into the month of May, the bass will be moving into their postspawn areas and feeding up for the summer. The shad spawn will be heating up in May and is a great way to catch bass. Spinnerbaits and swim jigs are excellent choices to catch bass when fishing a shad spawn. One of my favorite spinnerbaits is a 3/8-oz. Booyah Covert Series with double willowleaf blades and a chartreuse-and-white skirt fished along the grasslines on the main lake. Remember to cover water quickly to find the shad. If you can find the bait, you will find the bass, and a spinnerbait is an effective way to cover water. A swim jig is very effective as a follow-up bait to the spinnerbait after the bass slow to the spinnerbait. That’s when I pick up the swim jig. My preference is a white, 1/2-oz. Untamed Tackle Punisher swim jig. The reason I prefer this jig is it comes with a 5/0 Owner Jungle flipping hook and has a quad keeper that holds the trailer so well no super glue is required. And it can be fished on either heavy braided or fluorocarbon line.”

Guide Aaron Crews reports, “For bass fishing on the surface on mayfly hatches, I usually use a black with gold stripe Bang-O-Lure, a Jackall Pompadour, a black Jitterbug and a silver black back A.C. Shiner. This time of year, I bass fish around panfish beds with a Texas-rigged speed worm and a Carolina-rigged lizard. I use silver blue back Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits as search baits. A flipping pattern should develop in late May.”

Bream, Etc.: Guide Aaron Crews reports, “The panfish are starting to bed. The mayflies will be hatching on the full and new moons. The full moon is on May 7, and the new moon is on the May 22. I use red wigglers, worms and crickets on panfish beds. Crappie are in 7 to 12 feet of water on minnows or jigs. Catch jackfish on small white spinnerbaits and Little Cleos. If you find hybrids or stripers schooling, fish a silver blue back Rat-L-Trap. As for catfish, try worms, stink bait or minnows fished in 12 to 15 feet of water.”