Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 17; Flight Crew Total 1576; Flight Crew Type 1000
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors
I had called 10; 5; and 3 miles out to the west from GIF and announced I would enter a 45-to-left-downwind for Rwy 5.  I announced 45-to-left-downwind; then announced I was turning to left downwind.  While making my right turn to downwind I passed approx. 200 ft directly in front of a left-turning Lake.  I steepened my turn and evaded; then called the Lake on unicom 123.05.  He did not respond; and I assume he was not on the frequency.  I did not see where he went after I established on downwind; and he never made any radio calls.
General aviation pilot reported an NMAC while flying in the pattern at GIF.