Lake Seminole - by Chris Sapp

Hello from Lake Seminole.  The hot weather is here. That cool, clear water sure feels good on a hot August day.   Time for fishing, skiing, swimming, playing and just plain ole having fun.    With all the rain in June and July, clear water has been hard to find this summer.  Fish in the Flint and Chattahoochee are lucky to still have scales – from the looks of the water they’ve been sandblasted for months now.  The bream and shellcracker fishing has still been good, and so has the bass fishing.  It seems the murky water hasn’t kept the fish from feeding heavily.  Good catches of bass and bream are showing up every day.  The catfish also seem to be biting in the muddy river water.  Several nice cats have come from up the Flint even though it is high and muddy.  The willow flies have also been hatching and flyrodders have been having a blast. The Dog Days of Summer are upon us, and that means fishing during the heat of the day is almost impossible.  Hit the water early in the morning. Pitch crickets, flies, and beetle-spins along the banks and in the rock shoals for big river bream and bluegills.  Throw topwater plugs and buzz baits in the creeks and backwater for those largemouths.  Look for schooling fish down on the main lake. Rattle-Traps along the river channels should work on the schooling fish if they are ganged up on the ledges. At night, throw a buzz bait, a black worm, or a black Jitterbug for those big ole bass.  The flathead catfish will be in the deep holes between Bainbridge and Newton, and will readily hit large bream soaked on the bottom. They bite best at sunrise and sunset.  The upper reaches of Spring Creek will also produce bass, bream, and chain pickerel.  Play bump the stump with a broke-back Rapala and the Jackfish just can’t resist it.  These hot days are rough on fish and fisherman.  Drink plenty of fluids, and look for some shade to protect you from that hot summer sun.  Fish those productive periods close to sun-up and sun-down when the temperatures are bearable and the fish are usually feeding.  Night fishing can be the most productive of all, so get out and give it a try.

Sammy Jenkins of Sammy’s Bait and Tackle has been seeing some good catches of bream and shellcracker. A recent highlight is the 78.8 pound carp brought in to Sammy’s by Tracey Tedrick and Harold Vickers. The fish was caught on 10 pound test line and an ultralight fishing a small rattletrap in the Flint.  Sammy’s is conveniently located at 525 Faceville Hwy in Bainbridge as you head toward the lake. Sammy has all your fishing needs covered. He has a large supply of fishing tackle, live bait, cold drinks, snacks, ice and gas and oil for your truck and boat. He has bream buster and rod/reel combos, as well as ammo for you turkey hunters. He also sells Hunting and Fishing Licenses on the premises. Sammy has a large selection of ZOOM worms and many other baits preferred by tournament fisherman.  Sammy’s hours of operation are set with your convenience in mind.  He is open from 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 6:00 am to 6:00 PM on Sunday.  He opens at 5:00 AM on any day there’s a tournament on Seminole to accommodate these anglers.   Sammy says his customers have been catching bream and shellcrackers in the River and Lake.  He’s also seeing some good bass coming from local ponds.   If you have any questions, or need a fishing report before heading to Seminole, you can call Sammy’s at 229-246-2199.

Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge had a great 4^th of July celebration. They held a cookout in conjunction with the fireworks put on at Seminole State Park by the Lake Seminole Lion’s Club.  Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge had a huge crowd for the event.  There were probably 100 boats rafted up in the park to watch the fireworks. A good time was had by all.  Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge will again be doing Christmas in August where they raise money to send children to Camp Sunshine – a camp for children who have or have survived cancer.  Anyone making a donation to Camp Sunshine/Christmas in August will receive a 10% discount on camping or lodging rates. Please help them support this very worthwhile event.  According to Ms. Diana, the fishing has been really good, with large catches of bream and shellcracker. Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge is now owned by Don and Diana Desjardins. They are located at 7966 Marina Road off Highway 39 South of Donalsonville on Lake Seminole – right across the water from Seminole Sate Park. They have a full service marina with launching ramp, dockside gas, slip rental and boat rental.  They currently offer a 24 ft. pontoon boat for rent that will hold up to 14 people. Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge also rents smaller boats.  Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge has motel units and RV sites.  They offer lodging units that can accommodate large parties up to eleven people with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units.  They have a fully stocked store offering drinks, ice, snacks, live bait, rod/reel combos and other tackle.  They offer discounts for multiple night stays. According to Ms. Diana, they also have a resident fisherman, Sherman Paulk, who can put you on the big ones. Sherman always has a good tip or a good spot to send people. Sherman also provides outboard motor repair services if you are in need of mechanical help.  Give Seminole Sportsman’s Lodge a call at 1-877-258-1080 or 229-861-3862.  They can help make your Seminole experience even more enjoyable.

True-Life Creations Taxidermy is owned by Gary Braswell and located at 205 Cinnamon Drive south of Bainbridge.  His motto says a lot about his work -“Bringing Nature Indoors”.  Gary does some of the best taxidermy work I’ve ever seen, by far. Gary is hard at work to finish up this year’s mounts and get ready for next year.  He reports that this was one of the best years ever for large turkeys, and recently he has gotten in several very large bass. This is no sideline for the young outdoorsman.  He is a full-time taxidermist– that’s all he does, except when he sneaks off to try and kill or catch a wall-hanger himself. Gary has extensive experience mounting just about any thing you can think of – turkey, duck, deer, fish, rattlesnake, caribou, mountain goat, geese, elk - If you can shoot or catch it, he has probably mounted it.  If you’d like a quote on something or just some friendly advice, give Gary a call.  You won’t find a better taxidermist or person.  He can be reached at 229-243-110 or (229) 416-5640.  His pager number is (229) 371-7233.

Jim and Kelly Higgins of Bainbridge Sporting Goods are ready to serve all your hunting and fishing needs. They are located at 815 Evans Street in Bainbridge.  Bainbridge Sporting Goods carries a large selection of live bait and fishing tackle including Shimano, Lews and Okuma Reels. BSG also carries many artificial baits currently used by today’s recreational and tournament anglers.  They carry ZOOM, WAVE WORMS, and many, many more.  BSG has a large selection of saltwater tackle.  For the inshore specialist, Bainbridge Sporting Goods carries the Sure Ketch and Saltwater Assassin grubs, jerkbaits and lead heads that you’ll need to chase those trout, reds, and Spanish this month.  They also carry a large selection of mirrolures and rapalas.  For the offshore enthusiasts, BSG carries a large selection of lead and hooks for bottom fishing, an assortment of Mann’s Stretch plugs, and many bucktail jigs and spoons needed to go after those grouper, amberjack, cobia and snapper.  If you’re getting ready for next hunting season, now is the time to get that new shotgun or rifle.  They carry a large selection of firearms, or they can fit your special order needs if necessary.  Bainbridge Sporting Goods also has you covered on spare or replacement parts for your boat and trailer with a selection of spare tires, bulbs, fuses, shear pins, and trolling motor parts. They also now carry a full line of Costa Del Mar polarized sunglasses.   Bainbridge Sporting Goods also carries a full line of wild game seasonings and jerky cures. Jim says that fishing has been steady with good catches of bass, bream, and catfish brought in this week.  Bainbridge Sporting Goods is open from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday.  They are closed on Sunday. Give Jim or Kelly a call at (229) 246-0313 and let them know what you need. They’ll be glad to help you out.

I’d like to say thanks to everyone who made the big Independence Day Weekend celebration at Seminole State Park such as success.  The Park staff, Lake Seminole Lions Club, Spring Creek VFD, and local merchants put on a great show with live music and fireworks.  I know it was enjoyed by the hundreds of people who attended. If you have information regarding happenings on Lake Seminole, give me a call at (229) 246-6423.  Thanks for reading, and until next month, please stay safe while enjoying our Seminole outdoors.