Lake Seminole
Jackson and Gadsden counties
Lake Seminole is a 37,500-acre reservoir located at the juncture of the Florida, Georgia, and Alabama state lines. It was formed by closure of Jim Woodruff Dam at the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers near the town of Chattahoochee, FL. The lake and its facilities are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is used for navigation, hydroelectric production, and recreation. Much of the reservoir is flooded timber, and since the early 1990's hydrilla has expanded to nearly 70% coverage of the lake area. Approximately 80% of Lake Seminole is located in Georgia, although by agreement licensed Florida anglers can fish south and west of an imaginary line from Chattahoochee Park, on the east bank, through Navigation Mile Marker 3.0 on the Flint River, south of Lake Seminole WMA, to Navigation Mile Marker 6.4 on the Chattahoochee River. East of Hwy. 271 (River Road). Lake Seminole is annually stocked with Striped Bass and Sunshine Bass (striped bass x white bass hybrids) by Florida, Georgia, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A Lake Seminole brochure with more information is available.
Attention Florida Anglers: Jim Woodruff Reservoir, Lake Seminole: Length and bag limits for black bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass (sunshine bass), white bass, crappie and panfish in Lake Seminole follow those established by Georgia DNR: 10 black bass, each must be at least 12 inches or greater in total length; 15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which no more than two may be 22 inches or longer in total length; 30 crappie (speckled perch), in total; 50 panfish (does not include crappie); 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin). Possession limit is 50 fish total, regardless of species.
For more information contact Seminole Lodge (850-593-6886) or Wingate’s Lunker Lodge (229-246-0658), or log on to Georgia DNR or Georgia Outdoor News.
As water temperatures continue to climb during the summer, good fishing opportunities will begin to decline. Larger Striped Bass and Sunshine Bass will seek refuge in springs (which are closed to fishing May 1 to November 1) and cool water creeks to survive the hot summer. Smaller Striped Bass and hybrids will school along the lower lake, especially near the dam where there is water flow. If you are on the water early or late in the day, fish the flats for Largemouth Bass. The Cornfield and the Man-Made-Island may be good areas to try on the Chattahoochee side or try the flats near Fishpond Drain and Spring Creek on the Flint side. Many Largemouth Bass will be moving to deeper water during the summer, so fish vertically along the channels with spoons, jigs, or worms. Bream and shellcracker will continue to bed sporadically through the summer, particularly around the full moon each month. However, these fish also move toward deeper water as the summer progresses. Beat the summertime heat by fly fishing for bream along deep banks after dark using glow bugs. The best action will be around the new moon or on overcast nights.
Popular Species
Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.
More species information is available for:
Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Black crappie, Sunshine bass, Striped bass
TrophyCatch Tracker
TrophyCatch is FWC's citizen-science program that rewards anglers for documenting and releasing trophy bass 8 pounds or larger. The following TrophyCatch bass have been submitted from Lake Seminole:
Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 4