Elite

A look at Lake Seminole

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Captions by
Mike Suchan
It’s a quick turnaround for the 104-man field as the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole comes directly on the heels of the first stop, the SiteOne Elite at Lake Okeechobee. The pros had to hightail it six hours north to Bainbridge, Ga., a feat for those fishing Championship Sunday who hoped to practice early Monday.
Lake Seminole is a 37,500-acre lake in the southwest corner of Georgia along the Florida and Alabama borders. It holds great history in the development of B.A.S.S., and it’s well-known for excellent largemouth fishing and waterfowl hunting.
The Chattahoochee and Flint rivers were impounded by the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam in 1952, and the lake opened five years later sporting 376 miles of shoreline. In the latest Bassmaster rankings, Seminole is 12th in the southeastern region.
The Earle May Boat Basin Park, 100 Boat Basin Circle in Bainbridge, is tournament central. The daily takeoffs are set for 7:30 a.m. ET Thursday through Sunday, with weigh-ins scheduled there at 3:30 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE begins with on-the-water action at 8 a.m. ET Thursday.
Long considered a top largemouth destination, Seminole can be broken down into three areas. To the west is the Chattahoochee, which is more riverine with discernible current. The Flint River, which reaches eastward past Bainbridge, is more lake-like. Between the two is spring-fed Spring Creek, which stays relatively clear.
Elite pro Drew Cook, a winner last year at Santee Cooper Lake where he broke 100 pounds, grew up fishing Seminole. He said to expect some big weights, possibly in the 90s. “I don’t think we’re going to get to 100 pounds,” he said, “but I think the 50 cut will be close to 16 pounds a day. That is strong, but there are so many 3-pounders that it wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
During practice, Cook reported the water temps were in the low 60s and fish were moving.  “Oh son, they’re swimming as hard as they can to the bank,” Cook said. “It was 30-something degrees three days ago here. It got to 76 today and it’s going to be in the 80s the next three days, and we’ve got a new moon tonight.”
Cook said there will be some sight fishing this week in a few areas while some anglers will be punching. “And you’ll see people flipping a big heavy jig …  in some of the milfoil and hydrilla that’s still barley topped out. And then obviously you’re going to see the same old same old lightweight Texas rig flipped around lily pads and reeds for spawning fish.” Seminole is still muddy and rebounding from some down years after heavy pressure.
Cook is excited to compete on his home waters. He greatly recalls his first tournament with B.A.S.S., the 2015 Open where he finished 23rd. “I’ll never forget this, ever,” he said. “The first day I ran down to the lake and I’m flipping a grass line and Gerald Swindle was maybe 50 yards from me … I was fishing behind Swindle and I caught an 8-something punching and that kind of sealed the deal. Like this is what I want to do. I can catch one behind Swindle? Bring it on.”
Jack Wingate, proprietor of Wingate’s Lunker Lodge on Lake Seminole, holds a special place in Bassmaster lore. Wingate ran his legendary “fish camp,” promoting the fishery and sport to countless visitors. When Ray Scott was seeking competitors for his first tournament, he called Wingate and received contact information for many in his 1967 All-American. Wingate, a Bass Fishing Hall of Famer, is revered as the “Sage of Seminole.”
For his help, Ray Scott rewarded Wingate by holding one of his first events out of the lodge. Carl Dyess was the winner of that first Seminole Lunker, but pictured above is Joe Verbeck and some of his 62 pounds, 9 ounces he caught over three days to win the next event there. This week’s Elite will be the Bassmaster’s 16th pro event on Seminole.
The anglers welcomed the recent warm-up, which should heat up the fishing. The forecast calls for stable weather during competition days.
Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet won last week on Okeechobee, finding an off-the-wall tactic in the Kissimmee River to win the $100,000 and take 100 points toward the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. The 104 pros take off Thursday morning, many looking to keep the momentum going and others trying to find it. Who’s it going to be?

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