HOW THEY’RE BITIN’: Southwest Georgia fishing – March 13, 2016 weekend

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

LAKE SEMINOLE ( * * ): Bass fishing is fair. The pre-spawn staging is reported to be nearing an end. Best bet is to concentrate on shallow-water spawning fish right now. Sandbar areas on the main lake should be productive. Texas-rigged lizards are recommended. For fish that are “hard” on the beds, switch to lighter tackle and fish patiently. Crappies remain quite active. A lot of limits are reported with individual fish averaging between one and two pounds. Both minnows and jigs are producing well. Shellcrackers have gathered in large concentrations in shallow water in the sandy-bottom bedding and feeding areas. Few other species are producing positive reports at present. (half fish)

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE ( * * ): Bass fishing is fair. The pre-spawn staging is reported to be nearing an end. Best bet is to concentrate on shallow-water spawning fish right now. Sandbar areas on the main lake should be productive. Texas-rigged lizards are recommended. For fish that are “hard” on the beds, switch to lighter tackle and fish patiently. Crappies remain quite active. A lot of limits are reported with individual fish averaging between one and two pounds. Both minnows and jigs are producing well. Shellcrackers have gathered in large concentrations in shallow water in the sandy-bottom bedding and feeding areas. Few other species are producing positive reports at present. (half fish)

FLINT RIVER ( * ): A fair increase in bass activity is reported and a few early staging shellcrackers have produced some reasonably good catches. Crappies have moved up the creeks in fairly good numbers and are being taken primarily with minnows. Catfishing is steadily improving as the channel cats are increasing their activity, though they may be slowed again by the recent frontal passage. Many are concentrating near the dams. It is said to be still a bit early for bluegills and only minimal activity is reported. Stripers have slowed considerably. Shoal bass are showing increased activity, with a few larger individuals reported. ((half fish)

LAKE BLACKSHEAR ( * ): Crappies are biting in the backs of creeks and both minnows and jigs are producing at a reasonably consistent rate. Good white bass activity is reported by night fishermen targeting the lights around the docks. The largemouths are in pre-spawn mode and shallowing up. Bass fishing has been pretty good of late in the shallows, especially around the cypress trees. Bream are showing slow but steady improvement and there has even been some moderate early shellcracker activity. Catfishing, especially for channel cats, is recently reported as good. (half fish)