HOW THEY’RE BITIN’: Southwest Georgia fishing — June 24, 2917 weekend

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

LAKE SEMINOLE ( * * ) – Bass fishing is slow in the extreme heat. Fish are shallow. Best bets are grass beds near river mouths and frog-type baits are recommended. Also try hydrilla points on the main lake with shallow-running crankbaits. Lily pad patches may also yield a few fish on the same baits. Bream fishing has been good. Bluegills are biting crickets and shellcrackers will take large wigglers. Catfish are good. Stinkbaits are good offerings. Anglers may find a few hybrids schooling over humps and sandbars late in the afternoon.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE ( * * ) – Bass are slow and water temperatures continue to increase. Early on, use topwater baits for the best results. Jig fishing around grass and hard structure may pay off as will Carolina-rigs fished around deep brush piles. Also fish Carolina-rigs and deep-running crankbaits around submerged stumps and trees. Crappies are locked into their summertime pattern. Fish for them on moderately deep flats just off the river channel. Use jigging spoons. Bream are active and will take crickets, especially near creek drop-offs. Catfish will bite late in the day on flats.

FLINT RIVER ( * * ) — Shoal bass are doing well on some stretches of the river. The early morning bite is said to be the best. Use topwater baits, spinnerbaits, and shallow-running crankbaits in the current. Largemouths are a bit lethargic, but may be taken near the banks on Texas-rig worms early in the day. Bream are biting well for some drift-fishermen, but are reported as slow by others. They seem to be concentrated in specific spots and are most active early and late. Flatheads and channel cats are fair.

LAKE BLACKSHEAR ( * ) — Bass may bite along creek ledges between 5 and 10 feet deep late in the afternoon. Use crankbaits. Early in the morning, topwater action may be found around trees and retaining walls. Fish the docks and cypress trees during the late morning hours with lightly-rigged lizards. The northern half of the lake is said to be the best destination right now. Crappies are slow. Bream are active in spots early and late in the day, but individual fish are small. Catfish are slow.