Lake Seminole, named for the Native American people of Florida, crosses into the three states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida with three water courses of the Flint, Chattahoochee and Spring Creek rivers joining together. In 1958, when the Army Corps of Engineers filled in this area, the lake we know today was formed. The mighty Jim Woodruff Dam to the south keeps this huge body of water in check as part of a hydroelectric plant. Though there are over 37,000 acres of water, on average it is only 9 feet deep.

But the lake is also responsible for helping create B.A.S.S. itself back in 1968. Legends of the sport Ray Scott, Jack Wingate and Marvin Griffin formed the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society together after Ray's first event at Beaver Lake, Arkansas and though the later tournament held at Lake Seminole was the third such event he had organized, it was the first to host the new B.A.S.S. logo with over 150 anglers from 15 US states taking part.

Jack Wingate himself grew up in the area that was flooded to create Lake Seminole and fished regularly from his Lunker Lodge, where the three men formed the society. The location is well remembered for its place in growing the sport we love today and bass tournaments are still held from nearby Booster Club Landing, where the first event began back in '68. Sadly, after years living and breathing Lake Seminole, Jack passed on in 2011 but not before helping to teach outdoor skills to thousands of young Americans at his camp, meeting President Ronald Reagan and having part of a local interstate named in his honor. Soon after passing, the 'Sage of Seminole' was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

More recently the lake hosted the 2014 Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster® Elite where Brett Hite took victory at what was his debut Elite Series event. Brett made use of grassy banks to secure his win, keeping his boat within water between 6 and 8 feet deep. 13 years of event experience was evident despite that year being his first Elite Series entry. Shaw Grigsby is another name to have risen to the top of Lake Seminole’s Bassmaster events, winning in both 1993 and in 2000.

Cast in the wake of legends whilst remembering Jack and the pioneers of B.A.S.S.® when you hit the lake during this month’s Online Open Series event.

Take a first-look tour of Lake Seminole with WobblyCaptain: