HOW THEY’RE BITIN’: Southwest Georgia fishing – March 7, 2015 weekend

THE FISHING LINE: ( * ) – poor; ( * * ) – fair; ( * * * ) – good; ( * * * * ) – excellent.

(The recent cold snap may or may not adversely affect area fishing. Resulting effects will greatly depend upon cold-weather longevity.)

LAKE SEMINOLE ( * * ): Bass fishing is fair. Lip-less crankbaits are paying off for some in surprisingly shallow water. Lipped shallow-running crankbaits are also recommended. Flipping grass beds and hyacinth patches has also been working fairly well. With the latter technique, use a very slow presentation. Warmer weather will cause the crappies to shallow up and move toward shoreline structure. A number of good catches have already been reported. Use live minnows. Bream are slow, but the catfish are beginning to show some activity. (half fish)

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE ( * * ): Bass are reported as good and for the most part are holding in shallow water. In the creeks, fish dark-colored Texas-rig worms along the banks. Target bankside cover for the most strikes. Off points and on the ledges, Carolina-rigs are working well. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are also producing some pretty good fish up the river. Crappies have improved a bit. Night fishing is fair under some of the bridges. Individual fish sizes are good. Use live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on lake flats and in deeper creek areas. Bream fishing remains very slow. (half fish)

FLINT RIVER ( * ): Shoal bass and largemouth activity may pick up soon if temperatures warm. Given a continued warm-up, fish shallow crankbaits and grubs in the swift water for shoalies and try Texas-rigs near the banks for largemouths. Catfish remain slow and crappies are still deep, but should come up and get active soon. Crappie size remains good. Bream are still slow and should remain so until the onset of consistently warm weather. Overall water conditions are relatively stable at present. (half fish)

LAKE BLACKSHEAR ( * ): Bass fishing for now is fair to good. Carolina-rigs and drop-shot rigs may still produce in deeper water. Once again, anglers must wait for a consistent warm-up and anticipate the largemouths shallowing up and becoming active around docks and trees. Crappies remain deep on channel ledges and some are still suspended near the creek mouths. Fish them slowly and with great finesse with jigs. Continue to look for large spawning and prespawn concentrations of crappies. Catfish, bream, and striped bass schools continue to await a consistent warming period before becoming active. (half fish)