I’m not sure whether it’s luck or skill when a man flangs out a deep diving crank bait, pulls it to the bottom and a 21.5 pound flathead catfish takes holt of it and it’s a 12 pound test line and after 30 minutes he sees it for the first time, 10 more minutes and the combination fishin team of Dallas and Sarah Johnson landed the big catfish. This is the couple that will be leaving soon for Pittsburgh for their grandson “Cody” to fish the 12-year-old Jr. Bassmaster Tournament, Cody will then come home to Tallahassee, Fla. Sarah and Dallas will (in a camper) tour Maine and Nova Scotia. She’s eating lobster for breakfast, lunch and supper. Sure wish I could go.

Jim Merritt and Ralph Powell took 213 nice Crappie on Minnows 14 feet deep Sunday morning.

Steve Culverson had a limit of Red Bellies on Crickets also on Sunday morning.

Saterday, John Chase and Jerry Whitley took 30 Bass on underwater grass in 10 foot of water with Zoom Brush Hawgs in Watermelon Red. That’s a nice little family that likes to fish.

No one was catching anything below the dam. They were fishen for Catfish mostly. One fisherman had a big white bass near the wheels. The islands were covered over and the big rock ledge down river was bout three foot covered with water. Musta rained hard up the country, the water was not muddy, but greenish color.

The Talquin Hookers of Tallahassee fished out of Wingate’s on Saterday with a good crowd of folks. First place went to Shelia Brust, second place went to Barbara Wachter and third place went to Brenda Taylor. Brenda Taylor also got the Big Fish.

If you remember the heat on Sunday, the fact that they fished from safe daylight to 4 p.m., that’s a tough day for any man (or woman) to fish!

The Jack Wingate Thursday Night Big Fish tournament had a very good showin this week with Clint Brown and Terry Stevens took first place with a 6.25-pounder and Kim Brown (Clint’s daddy) and Jim Osgood took second place with a 5.4-pounder. However, all but one boat weighed in fish.

The Bainbridge Bass Club fished the Chattahoochee River on Saterday with Cedric Suber winning with five fish, Joey Farris in second with two fish and Richard Predmore in third with one fish. The river on the Hootch is moving fast, all the gates were closed Saterday but two generators were letting the water go.

Wingate’s Fishing Report

July 12, 2009

Lake Surface Temp: 82Lake Level: Down SomeLake Clarity: Greenish ColorFlint: Slite StainChattahoochee: GreenishSpring Creek: ClearReport provided by: Jack Wingate