Lake Seminole Bass Fishing Reports

tgraham · October 10, 2005, 05:52:35 AM

Way to go Swede

. Go up there and show them Florida boys know how to fish!!!

jhlovesfishin · October 10, 2005, 11:01:52 AM

Swede,

I was at Seminole on Staurady and it was a great day to fish cloudy, cool, and windy..Brother they love the ole spinnerbait when the wind blows at Seminole..

I caught a quick limit fishing in the main lake around the grass and up the flint about two miles west of wingates...No big fish but 5 that went almost 10 lbs..I kept telling my partner that any minute we would probably hang a monster..They were chasing it that well...We had a small tourney just show up and pay 40$ per boat and we had a couple of guys lose some big fish (that's the way it always goes huh)
Some of the guys had never fished Seminole before and they were impressed by some of the fish they lost..

I probably saw you on the water..What kind of boat do you have?
We were in a red/white 18'triton 175 HPDI

Once the wind died down the spinnerbait bite went south!

What was it like on Sunday?
JH

Swede · October 10, 2005, 07:38:38 PM

I saw you guys launch out of the public access next to Seminole Lodge. We launched out of Seminole Lodge Saturday. Have a red Nitro 911 w/225 Optimax. Sunday the bite was definitely a lot tougher. Tried Fairchilds (two fish), a place over on the Florida side that my partner had caught good fish last weekend (zippo), main lake by coast guard station (zippo), out in front of Seminole Lodge (zippo), mid-Spring Creek on grass lines (one fish). Fluke in Fairchilds, and worm in Spring Creek. Will hit them good on tournament day eventually.

jhlovesfishin · October 11, 2005, 04:13:23 PM

Yeah I remember seeing you guys now...we almost put in over there because the ramps at the state park aren't the best in the state! Seminole can be tough esp. in that clear water. All i could catch them on was the spinnerbait...but my partner caught his on a kudzu lizard..Nothing big though..

Tell me: Our club is not a affliated with BASS.. Can anybody fish these tourneys and how you do you qualify to fish for like for the "State team" Florida Federation

JH

Swede · October 11, 2005, 05:03:44 PM

You have to be a member of BASS (ie you get the Bassmaster Magazine) and be a member of a BASS affiliated club. Every state runs it a bit differently, but the Florida BASS Federation has 4 individual qualifiers and a team qualifier. You must fish at least one of these and finish high enough to qualify for the state championship. Every year the state championship is held in one of 4 regions of the state. Two years ago at Seminole, last year at Toho. They rotate amongst the 4 regions from year to year. You must finish in the top 10 of state championship to make the team which competes against the other state teams in the SE at the Southern Divisional which is rotated amongst the SE states from year to year. Last year KY hosted out of Paducah, this year FL hosted at Okeechobee. If you are the top finisher for your state - you go to the national federation tourney. If you win divisional tourney, you go to BMC. If you win nationals you go to BMC. As you can see - this is the toughest way to get to the big show, but it is one fun ride. You can also make FL team by accumulating the most points and being named boater and nonboater angler of the year (boater gets one spot and nonboater gets a spot - 12 team member positions total per state).

jhlovesfishin · October 12, 2005, 03:53:01 PM

Good Deal

I guess i need to get into a club that is affliated with BASS and the florida fed.

thanks for the info...

Did you start out as boater or non boater?

I'm not crazy about fishing from the back of the boat w/ someone I don't know..

Had a bad exp. once with a guy from TWin Cities..JH

Swede · October 12, 2005, 04:41:53 PM

I fished from the back of the boat during the first tournament even though I had a boat, but have been boater ever since. Joined MSBC in 1999.

Swede · November 11, 2005, 11:53:48 AM

A few good bass starting to come in off Seminole - the temps are dropping and stabilizing somewhat. According to Jack Wingate, the Chatahoochee River is hotter than other areas of Seminole right now. Recent tourney won with 26.25 lbs. That's one good sack of fish that included a 7.57 lber. Catch all the Lake Seminole news including Banebridge's Pam Martin-Well's win of the Bassmaster's preview event in Lewisville, TX for the women.

http://www.wingateslodge.com/2005ramlins.htm#fishingreport

Swede · December 27, 2005, 06:46:42 AM

My brother spent the Christmas break fishing Semionole. He said the fishing was slow, but he did get a few. Crankbait worked best in deeper water in Chattahoochee and Flint over deeper laydowns. He was using a Mann's 15+ when he caught the fish he did and was throwing parallel to the bank.

Lipripper · December 28, 2005, 08:02:03 AM

Thanks for the update Swede

Swede · January 15, 2006, 09:51:42 PM

Fished Miracle Strip's first tournament of the year out of Seminole Lodge today on beautiful Lake Seminole. Monte and Becky were great as always catering to your every need. We launched at safe light - 6:20am. My partner and I fished 30 minutes on main lake shoreline before locking through to the river. One other boat went with us - the remainder stayed in the lake and connecting rivers. It can be described as a Crankbait day - fished many different brands and colors - but the Bandit Brown Craw produced best. Finished the day with a limit weighing 10.77lbs and second place. My partner also had a limit weighing 10.64lbs. The fisherman of the day was Stan Chandler - weighing in a real nice sack at 15.03lbs taking home the coveted first place title. He was fishing a black/blue worm in the Chatahoochee. Big fish of the day was a 5.27lber taken by Mr Joe Brooks. Water temp is about 55-56 degrees in the lake.

Swede · January 16, 2006, 11:24:12 AM

Pics of Stan and a couple of his winning fish from the previous post.

BillS · January 16, 2006, 08:24:59 PM

thanks for the update Sweede, we have a tourn. there this coming weekend, only fished there twice, never had any luck. Got any tips?? Hows the motor coming on your boat? put a new prop on mine this weekend, still got some tuning to do on it, but right now sitting at 70mph, haven't seen you at bps lately, what's up with that. later

bill

jhlovesfishin · January 17, 2006, 04:47:35 PM

Bill,

That's because the Bass Pro never has anything to buy! They are always out of the tackle that you need. Stick to the web-order Swede

Bill I haven't seen you down there lately either

Jace

Swede · January 17, 2006, 10:12:21 PM

I've been down there - Bill ain't been workin - where he be???

BillS · January 18, 2006, 10:50:42 PM

been swaping around shifts in the military, but i'm back to nights at bps, tues, wed, thur. jace, your rigtht about not having anything, they still haven't learned that there are just as many if not more freshwater fisherman in the area than saltwater. but it they don't have it, i sure as hell can try and get it.

bill

jhlovesfishin · January 19, 2006, 11:46:14 AM

Yeah I was just kiddin..

I just thought I would "butt" in and say hello..Haven't seen you there in a while

Now I have to deal with Gerrod

Hey we had a tourney last weekend at Appla. River @ Woodwards Below the dam at Seminole...COLD>>>AND WINDY
The waves were lapping over the gates coming from Seminole! Blaine and I ran 50 miles south and caught two limits and still got beat..We got two lucky guys who always catch them it seems..They had six fish that went over 19lbs....Not bad for Jan.

Three five fish limits Big Fish 7lbs..

Jace

Swede · February 12, 2006, 08:45:52 AM

Fished the American Bass Anglers Tournament held at Seminole Lodge yesterday. Actually took Friday off from work to prefish - I knew just as much after Fridays day on the water that I knew before starting. One bite all day. Rain then wind and 53-54 degree water greeted all participants Saturday. Started out in the lake up by the state park - caught one in short order in 10-11 feet of water that weighed 2lbs. Ahhh - the pressure is off. Only got one more alll day. 2.5 lbs in the lake as well. Weighed in 4.47lbs - both fish coming on the V&M 5 inch Chopstik in black and black/blue flake. Must have been rough for all because I placed 3rd of 24 with that little sack. Winner had 13+ that included a beautiful 9.93 pound monster. That is the largest bass I have personally seen weighed in at a tournament. 2nd had 2 fish going 7+ pounds. Some decided not to fish as it was a miserable day out there. Alll glad to be warm again - if you are fishing Seminole anytime soon - good luck and bring your dynamite.

Pferox · February 12, 2006, 11:14:24 AM

After readin and seein for my self yesterday, you had a good trip, Swede. Times will get better as soon as the weather settles in....about April.

jhlovesfishin · February 13, 2006, 12:00:10 PM

Swede,

I was there this weekend we were going to fish the Lake Seminole team trail but only two boats showed up..So we were going to fish the ABA but it was a draw tourney so I didn't want Blaine to have to fish with some stranger!..We went fishing anyways and I caught two nice fish on a Lucky Craft crankbait 3.7 and 2.6 then the waves started coming over the front of my boat so we decided to move into the pocket past the 271 HWY..Then I hung my partner, who had slipped up behind me to put on his sweatshirt, in the forehead with that Lucky Craft...I have seen the mono trick before But I haven't learned so I usually just push the hook out the other way..THANK THE LORD that Tommy Smith was at the landing at 12:00 because the waves were so bad and he popped that hook right out of his head....NEATEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN! Then strangely the wind died down so we went back to the dam and my partner caught a 2.8 and lost two more fish

Tough day on the water and all we could make them bite on was the crankbait

They wanted it though the two I caught had the bait down their throat not on the side of their face

But Tommy Smith was the hero of the day GREAT GUY and he is from Crestview which is where we live..

I talked with one guy who had four in the well and he was throwing a crankbait as well.

Very intense day on Seminole I saw boats come out of the water I came out one time and had to slow it down...JH
JH

Swede · February 14, 2006, 06:41:15 AM

Sounds like a successful day - Congrats!! Tried cranks buit plastic was all that worked for me. SLOWWWW was a good descriptive word for the way I was working the baits.

jhlovesfishin · February 22, 2006, 03:13:58 PM

Fished the Redneck tourney at Seminole this past weekend..We finished 4th with 15+ lbs Blaine had big fish at 7lbs. Some 30 boats or so turned out..Some nice fish brought in

1st place 17lbs The fish are in the shallows!
JH

Swede · March 13, 2006, 07:39:15 AM

Fished the ABA tourney this weekend. Didn't fair too well. Only weighed one fish, but had the opportunity for more - just didn't get it done. Had one real nice sow on - she wrapped me around a stump - I got her out of that mess, but on the way to the boat she broke me off and came out of the water once, twice, three times to thumb her nose at me. She went 6-8 pounds. Others did the same - was getting the bites including a couple nice slab crappie and numerous jacks. A majority of the bass aren't on bed yet, but real close to going there. I caught my loan keeper (1.72lbs) on a V&M Bayou Bullfrog. The others hit the V&M 4 inch black grape ringer. Water 60-62 degrees. Heading to MIllers Ferry Reservoir in Alabama next weekend for a club two-day tourney. Should be exciting and that V&M 4inch ringer above will be getting a workout. Spotted bass just eat that thing up.

Swede · March 13, 2006, 07:40:19 AM

Forgot to mention - 14 plus pounds won, and 12+ needed for 5th.

BillS · March 13, 2006, 11:03:01 AM

Sorry to hear you didn't do so well Swede, we will be there the 25th for our club tourney again. Hopefully things should be full blast by then.