HOW THEY’RE BITIN’: Southwest Georgia fishing – February 18, 2017 weekend

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

LAKE SEMINOLE ( * ) – If warmer temperatures hold, look for bass to bite fish-locating crankbaits around grass points and ditches. When fish are found, target them with 6-inch softbaits fished on Texas or Carolina-rigs. Concentrate on areas near spawning flats. Grass is the key. Stay deep on the ledges if cooler weather returns.

Most crappies will likely remain at mid depth for now. Try channel bends on the lower Flint. Hal-fly jigs fished on light lines should produce the best results.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE ( * * ) – Bass have been good and should remain so given a continued warming trend. Deep fish remain in deep timber along ledges and will still bite jigging spoons. Staging fish near flats may be caught on Carolina-rigs and medium-running crankbaits. If water warms enough to drive fish into spawning areas, fish grassy sites with shallow crankbaits and chartreuse/white spinnerbaits.

Crappies are relatively slow. Trolling standing timber on the upper end of the lake may produce a few.

Bream and catfish are slow. (half fish)

FLINT RIVER ( * * ) — Shoal bass and largemouth activity may pick up soon with the warmer temperatures. 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)