Newspaper Page Text
Outdoors
•The following fishing re
port is compiled each
week by the Houston
Times . Journal. Lake,
weather and fishing con
ditions are reported by
telephone from contacts >
listed at the end of each
report. If you would like
additional lakes or rivers
listed, please call the
newspaper at 987-1823. If
you would like a free picture of a catch you are proud
of printed in the paper, we will be happy to shoot and
publish the photo.
Moon times
Hannon’s best hunting and fishing days and hours
5
L : ,
SOLDTIAR/LUNAR TIMES
Perry Georgia Aron
SOLUNAR TIMES LUNAR TIMES
1904 A. M. P. M. Long 11 ude 83.14 Latitude 33.18
-lU4l——_Jjjpgt Minor WiJoj _Sj)Pr 1»« Sunset Moonrlae Moon Up Moon pow
1 Sun 11:41 05:35 08:00 06:47 08:13 1:26a 6:51a 7:17p
2 Mon 13:15 06:27 13:39 06:51 06:47 08:14 2:07a 7:41a 8:05p
3 Tue 01:03 07:13 01:24 07:36 06:46 08:14 2:43a 8:28a 8:50p
4 Red 01:44 07:54 02:05 08:16 06:45 08:15 3:16a 9:11a 9:33p
5 Thu 02:22 08:33 02:43 08:54 06:44 08:16 3:47a 9:54a !0:15p
6 Frl 02:59 09:09 03:20 09:30 06:43 08:17 4:17a 10:36a 10:56p
7 Sat 03:36 09:46 03:57 10:08 06:42 08:17 4:48a 11:18a 11:39p
8 Sun ■ 04:14 10:25 04:36 10:47 06:41 08:18 5:21a 12:01p
9 Mon | 04:55 11:06 05:18 11:29 06:40 08:19 5:56a 12:46p 12:23a
10 Tue - 05:39 11:51 08:03 06:40 08:19 6:34a 1:32p 1:09a
11 Ned ■ 06:27 12:15 06:51 12:39 06:39 08:20 7:15a 2:20p 1:56a
12 Thu | 07:18 01:06 07:43 01:30 06:38 08:21 8:01a 3:09p 2:45a
13 Frl 08:12 01:59 08:36 02:24 06:37 08:22 8:40a 3:59p 3:34a
14 Sat 00:06 02:54 09:31 03:19 06:37 06:22 9:42a 4:48p 4:24a
15 Sun 10:01 03:40 10:26 04:14 06:36 08:23 10:37a 5:38p 5:13a
16 Mon 10:55 04:43 11:20 05:08 06:35 08:24 11:35a 6:27p 6:02a
17 Tue 11:48 05:36 08:00 06:35 08:24 12:34p 7:15p 6:51a
18 Red 12:14 06:26 12:38 06:50 08:34 08:25 1:35p 8:04p 7:40a
19 Thu 01:01 07:14 01:26 07:38 06:33 08:26 2:38p 8:54p 8:29a
20 Frl 01:47 08:00 02:13 08:26 06:33 08:27 3:42p 9:45p 9:19a
21 Sat 02:33 08:47 03:00 09:13 06:32 08:27 4:49p 10:39p 10:12a
22 Sun ■ 03:21 00:35 03:49 10:03 06:32 08:28 5:59p 11:37p 11:08a
23 Mon I 04:12 10:27 04:42 10:57 06:31 08:29 7:00 P 12:06p
24 Tue I 05:08 11:24 05:39 11:55 06:31 08:29 8:19p 12:37a l:08p
25 Ned 0 06:10 12:01 06:41 12:25 06:30 06:30 9:24p 1:30a 2:10p
26 Thu ■ 07:14 12:59 07:45 01:30 06:30 08:30 10:24p 2:41a 3:12p
21 Fri ■ 08:20 02:05 08:40 02:34 06:30 08:31 11:16p 3:42a 4:llp
28 Sat | 09:23 03:09 09:50 03:37 06:29 08:32 4:39a 5:06p
29 Sun 10:22 04:09 10:48 04:35 06:29 08:32 12:01a 5:32a 5:58p
30 Mon 11:16 05:04 11:40 05:28 06:28 08:33 12:41a 6:22a 6:45p
-JJL-1ia.... -MI.M 17:05 oQtie_J96lllLoft:3a_-IHS» 7:08a 7:3Qp
Major-2 hours/Minor=l hour Accurate within 1 minute
O “ Full Moon • - New Moon | “ Peak activity period of week
Titles adjusted for DST
Soliinar Services, Inc. - Rushville, IN 46173
—J
Fishing forecast
Predictions are from the Georgia Department of Natural Re
sources, 1994 Georgia Reservoir Fishing Predictions, which is
available for no charge. Copies may obtained by contacting the
Georgia DNR at Georgia Department of Natural Resources, De
partment of Wildlife Resources Division, 2133 U.S. Highway
278 S.E., Social Circle, Ga. 30279. Other publications available
from the Georgia DNR are Southeast Georgia River Fishing
Predicltons and Small Georgia Lakes Open to Public Fishing.
Seminole Lake: Since its impoundment in 1957, this 37,500 acre
COE impoundment has been a popular fishing area. Information
and maps of the lake can be attained by calling the COE Resource
Management Office at (912) 662-2201.
An infestation of the exotic plant, hydrilla, continues to restrict
boating and fishing access in approximately 25,000 acres of the
lake, especially in the late summer and fall when the hydrilla is
topped-out. The most accessible areas of the lake should be along
the river channels.
Approximately 40 percent of the largemouth bass are of har
vestable size. The B.A.S.S. chapters in Georgia annually report
their tournament results and shows Seminole ranking high in the
average weight of all fish being caught and average size of the
largest bass caught in each tournament.
We feel that during 1994, your chances of catching numerous
bass, or a trophy, will be excellent if you will learn how to fish the
hydrilla beds. Your best bet will be to throw a plastic worm,
crankbait or jig along the edges of the weedbeds, especially during
March. Fish the weed beds as if they were a bottom structure.
A high percentage of the bluegill and shellcrackers (redear) will
be handsized or better during 1994. Use black wigglers during the
spring, in shallow water, when bream are on spawning beds.
Fishing for white, hybrid and striped bass will probably be poor,
with white bass averaging about one-half pound, and hybrids and
stripers averaging one pound.
These fish prefer open water and the weeds are severely reduc
ing their preferred habitat and the habitat of their preferred prey.
Gizzard and threadfin shad serve as an important food base for
most of the game fish in the lake. Because of this, DNR will be con
ducting a two year study to determine how shad are being effected
by the hydrilla infestation.
Due to ongoing efforts to rebuild the striped bass population,
fishing for all species will once again be closed in five springs in
Lake Seminole from May through October. For more information on
these restrictions, please see Georgia's 1994-95 Freshwater and
Saltwater Sport Fishing Regulations.
The channel catfish population appears to be depressed. This
species may also be impeded by the hydrilla. Some large white cat
fish can be caught.
Crappie fishing should be excellent this year with many fish of
one pound or more. Use minnows and jugs in the open areas near
the Booster's Club and Fish Pond Drain.
Blackshear Lake: Located in South Central Georgia, just west of
Cordele, this 8,515 acre impoundment on the Flint River is operated
by the Crisp County Power Commission.
Since its impoundment in 1930, this lake has been developed
with summer cottages and permanent homes along most of its
shoreline. This development provides a lot of structure which attract
and hold fish.
The lake is easily accessible with 14 paved public boat ramps,
several dirt landings and many private launch facilities.
Lyngbya, a blue-green alga that forms thick mats which can sur
round docks and piers, has been and continues to be a problem in
the lake. However, DNR continues to monitor the situation, and
successfully treated many problem areas with herbicides in 1993.
Largemouth bass fishing should be excellent during 1994. There
are plenty of bass with over 65 percent being of harvestable size,
and approximately five percent over 20 inches. However, bass are
difficult to catch, possibly due to heavy fishing pressure and recre
ational boat traffic.
Bass are found in shallow water year-around, and a variety of
baits including worms and spinnerbaits should be effective.
Although a little down from last year, white bass fishing should
also be good, with fish schooling year around all over the lake.
Many anglers use a popper-weighted cork and a floating jib to lay
Piaasa see Prediction n, page 10A
l
r'j
* ■
Time to fish for shellcrackers
During this full moon phase, the
shell cracker should be bolding and
ready to hit just about anything you
put in front of them.
I have already talked to several
people who have been down to
Lake Seminole during the last full
moon and they had made some fan
tastic catches.
This past weekend, I was down
in Palatika, FI., fishing the St.
Johns River, hoping to better my
tournament record. While there, I
struck a conversation with a small
group from Thompson, Ga.,
The group had been in the area
about three days, having already
caught over 350 big shell crackers.
Most of the fish they offered to
show me were fillets. Now, when
you can fillet a shell cracker, you
know right away that he's a big
one.
They had fished in Big Lake Ge-
Tournaments provide good fishing
To those who treasure the relax
ation and contemplative benefits of
fishing, tournaments probably seem
out of place. But human nature be
ing what it is. competitive fishing
was just bound to happen.
Of course, there's a big differ
ence between “a dollar for the first
fish” to the big pots being offered
now by some tournament organiza
tions.
But for every tournament with
an expensive entry fee and a big
cash payout, there’s probably an
other with a modest entry fee.
One-day club tournaments, and
many others fall into this category.
Whatever the cash payout, all
the excitement and fun of competi
tion is there.
Every year thousands of anglers
men and women who didn't think
they could fish a tournament much
less enjoy it have signed up to
fish one. Don't worry if you don't
have a boat. Non-boaters are wel
come at most tournaments and you
can help share the cost of gas and
launch fees.
Bass tournaments get most of
the attention but there are tourna
ments now for walleye, crappie,
trout, muskie, inland striped bass,
shark, king mackerel, bill fish, tuna,
blues, sailfish, marlin. You name it,
even carp tournaments.
You don't have to be the most
accomplished angler in the world to
fish a tournament either. Many do it
for ‘ just the fun of it." the camara
derie. the possibility of getting a big
fish award, the thrill of competition,
the opportunity to learn more.
One of the things you’ll learn,
for instance, is that most of the com
petitors have invested in first quality
fishing tackle. In a bass tourna
ment. you'll feel like a country
cousin if you don't have five rods
and reels.
“I never thought I would enjoy
fishing a tournament but when I saw
how much fun my husband was hav
ing. I just had to try it." said one
woman angler.
Why not try a tournament this
year? You'll find it's a new way to
fish and a great way to improve your
fishing skills.
Danny White wins stormy tournament
No doubt, this tornado season
will go down as one of the most
memorable of all times as the
weather again played havoc with
Georgia's only "Amateurs Only"
team bass tournament trail, the
"Field of Dreams". "Tornado
watches" were issued Friday night
for Eatonton, less than twenty
miles from the tournament sight,
which kept turnout down to only
58 teams and turned the small creels
up for the fourth bass tournament at
Lake Sinclair.
Danny White, owner of "Bass
Angler Custom Rods" and partner
Buck Eubanks, both of
Milledgeville, used chartruse and
white Georgia Blade spinncrbaits
thrown around wood, grass and
blowdowns, down the lake to win
Ist place of $1,670 with 19.75#.
Plus a SI,OOO certificate from
Mercury Marine. In second place,
bringing 15.45# of bass to the
Equalizer Scales, was Andy Yates
of Tcnnillc and Mike Smith of
Sandersville, who won $770.
Douglas, of Lithia Springs and
brother, Edwin Hunt of Duluth,
took third place and $370 with
14.97#. In fourth place was Danny
Houston Jlmes-Journo!
Gone L
I
I 'yW Susanne Andel
orge during this time, and reported
that the bed was large enough for
six or seven boats fishing without
interfering with one another.
I don’t know if this was a fish
tale or not; but, I did see some very
nice shell crackers in their coolers. I
only wish my tournament had gone
that well.
Many years ago, an old friend of
mine and I use to travel to Astor,
FI., which is about half-way be
tween Little Lake George and Big
Lake George. There, I was intro
duced to some of the best shell
■■k **** •> ■DP 225225 , JLvtsma \
Fishing tournaments give anglers good opportunities to catch fish. For every tour
nament with a stiff entry fee, there are two with reasonable entry fees.
Blount of Sandersville and Greg
Kilgore with 14.39#. In fifth was
Ed and Alan Brown, both of
Morrow with 14.16#. In addition,
the Brown's also scored "big Fish
of the tournament with a beautiful
5.69# largemouth which earned the
team another SSBO.
Rounding out the top places:
Sixth-Frank and son Brad Worthy
13.05#, seventh-Larry Barnett and
David Hamacher with 13.03#,
eighth, Bill Williams and Erwin
Schulz with 11.30#, ninth-series
leaders Wayne and son, Brian
Garner with 11.22#, tenth-Jim and
Jerry Buckner with 10.29#. A total
of 11 places were paid as it took
9.92# to "get into the money".
The Field of Dreams is
sponsored by: Abu-Garcia, Treo
Sports Lotion, Brown's Bridge
Marine, Chums Limited, Original
Fish Formula, Georgia Blade,
Georgia Wildlife Federation,
Grabber International, Igloo
Products, Johnson Fishing-
Minnkota, Lawson Chevrolet,
Lowrance Electronics, Mercury
Marine, Tracker Marine,
Professional Sporting Goods, Rio
Bravo, Roland Martin's Marina.
page 8A
- Saturday, April 30,1994 " Houston Times-Joumal
cracker and bluegill fishing in the
world.
If the fish didn't weigh at least
three-quarters pound, we would
throw it back or use it for bass bait.
We would fish in the mornings and
catch our limit of bream. Late in
the afternoon, we would try our
luck catching a huge large mouth.
Once in awhile, we would get lucky
and hang a good bass.
If you ever have a desire to do
something like this, then head on
down to Palatika.
It's not hard to find these beds. If
you fell that you really don't know
what to do, just look for a group of
boats in a circle. This can mean
only one thing—there's a shell
cracker or bluegill bed in the mid
dle.
After a little while, you will be
able to find your own spots to fish.
There is one word of advice
Soft Pak USA, Tortue Fishing
Line, VMC Hooks, Wells Marine
Technology, Zoom Baits.
The Field of Dreams has the
only live release boat in Georgia!
Courtesy of Tracker
Marine/Brown's Bridge Marine in
Gainesville, Ga. If you’re planning
a tournament and would like to
have it there, call 404-683-8680 for
booking information. If your club
or organization would like a speaker
Panthers run at Valdosta
The Perry High School men’s
track team traveled to Valdosta to
take part in the 22 team Valdosta
Relays Saturday.
However, the Panther thinclads
received very few rewards for their
long trip, recording only two point
producing finishes. Boris King was
sixth in the discus with a toss of
145 feet. Tarvis Felton was third in
the high jump with a jump of six
feet, five inches.
"We are not running well," said
Panther track coach Max Vickers.
However, he said that Panthers had
ran better in the early part of the
though. Travel with a partner, or
better yet, several. It makes fishing
a lot more fun and safer, especially
if you are new to the area and have
any ideas of traveling into Big Lake
George. Believe me, a little wind
can turn a fun time into disaster.
There are several motels and
camping areas in the Palatika area
to stay at If you decide to stay in a
motel, it would be a good idea to
make a reservation ahead of time
since the motels stay pretty well
booked up all the time.
Palatika may be about the size
of Perry, but there are only two dr
three motels in town. There are
some hotels over the bridge on
Highway 100 South; but, I don’t
know anything about the quality.
The Holiday Inn I stayed in is very
nice and well secured.
Until next time . . . we've gone
fishing.
to conduct a seminar on Catch-and-
Release techniques, call the same
number. "Boomer” will be
. speaking to the Georgia Outdoor
Writers Association April 29th at
Holiday Inn in Milledgeville, before
conducting the "Gil Hutson
Memorial" benefit bass tournament
on May Ist at Lake Sinclair to raise
monies in the fight against teenage
suicides.
season, recording second place team
finishes in meets at Houston
County High School and Northside
High School.
"Hopefully, we will do pretty
good in the region track meet," said
Vickers. Felton, in the high jump,
appears to be the only sure bet to
qualify for the state meet for the
Panthers. However, five or six
others have shots at making the
state meet.
The women's region meet will
be Monday, with the men’s region
meet on Wednesday. Both meets
will be held at Perry High School.