We here at Lake Seminole have been seeing for the past few months, a slowdown of bass fishen for the past month.

Mostly the lake has been “Turning Over.” This is when the water on top is warmer than that on the bottom and visa versa in the spring. In the spring, we hardly noticed it, with all the flooding, muddy water coming down the Flint.

We also have been wondering why lots of the small- and medium-size bass have concave bellies.

For those of you that are crappie fishermen, I’m sure after this past week that the winter fishen run is on. Many limits have been taken on jigs and minnows all week long.

The first day of the American Bass Anglers tournament began on Saterday with 170 boats. The day’s weights on the Anglers side was Josh Guess of DeLand, Fla., in first place with 18.89 pounds, second place went to Fred Rigdon of Bellview, Fla., with 17.21 pounds and third went to Adam Hemphill of Interlochen, Fla., with 16.79 pounds and he had Big Fish at 7.

On the co-angle side, Jeff Prather of Orlando, Fla., took first place with 9.75 pounds, secpnd place went to Keith Henderson of Fort Payne, Ala., with 9.25 pounds, while Clint Davis of Montevallo, Ala., took third with 7.96 pounds and Big Fish at 5.45 pounds. One-hundred-twenty-two people had fish and the rest none.

The Co-Angler side of the second day went like this, Keith Henderson had 17.86 pounds, Clint Davis had 12.8 pounds and Joe Cooper of Alabama was third with 9.90 pounds. There was nearly every bag of fish held a Shoal Bass, however, those that went upriver for Shoal Bass failed to catch a fish. The Big Fish record of 7 pounds yesterday was beaten Sunday by a 7.06 pounds. He was Larry Damangus of Louisiana and he did not get into the Big Fish pot.

The Angler side of the field was like this, first place went to Randall Allen with 33.74 pounds, John Guess took second with 24.94 pounds and Curtis Staley took third with 24.53 pounds. Mr. Allen is from Brownsboro, Ala., John Guess is from DeLand, Fla., and Curtis Staley is from Huntsville, Ala.

Wingate’s Fishing Report

October 17, 2010

Lake surface temp: 72
Lake level: Foot down
Clarity: Clear
Flint: Clear, greenish
Chattahoochee: Clear
Spring Creek: Clear
Report provided by: Jack Wingate