Summer Fishing on Jordan Lake
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
It’s hot and getting hotter. No, I’m not talking about the weather this time. I’m referring to the spotted bass fishing on Jordan Lake. Each year, this lake, now near 75 years old, gets better with age.
The Lakes headwaters get all the notoriety for the spotted action found here throughout the summer months. Below Mitchell Lake dam, the spots, as most anglers call them, are right at home in this perfect, spotted bass habitat.
First of all they have current. Spotted bass love current. They also have boulder strewn banks, rocky bluffs and rocky points and even some washed out holes and ledges on the lakes bottom. All “spots” love these attractions.
Baitfish, washed through the dam discharge, keeps em’ coming back for more and many huge spotted bass just spend their lives within a few miles of the dam. Spotted bass, weighing up to 8 pounds (or more) have been taken here, by the angler fortunate enough to land them. Spots, in the 4-5 pound range, are common in these Jordan Lake headwaters and some anglers catch a 5 bass, 20 pound limit, on any summer outing here.
Fooling these bass, that have seen so many lure choices, would seem to be difficult. But you never know, unless you throw. Choosing many types of lures, in a days time, will eventually show them a lure, they have not seen very much or a retrieve that triggers that reflex strike.
The old standby, the worm, has fooled many of the bigger spotted bass species found here. Although these spotted bass have features such as a small mouth, they can be gluttons when it comes to soft plastics. Many anglers choose small 4-6 inch worms. But 7- 8 inch models, seem to target the bigger bass.
This oversized lure choice also goes for crayfish or lizard imitations. The bigger the offering, the bigger thebass. Around these rocks many crayfish are consumed by the bass. Lures such as jigs, with pork or plastic trailers, get the attention of bass feeding on these bottom dwelling crustaceans.
With all the evident baitfish found here in Jordan Lakes headwaters, lures that resemble shad or bream are good choices. Spinnerbaits fool a lot of these bass. Crankbaits, rattletraps and jerkbaits, are all excellent for covering a lot of water fast and getting that reflex strike from lure conscience bass.
Topwaters, such as zara spooks, baby torpedoes, spittin’ image, pop-r’s, double prop baits and buzzbaits, always generate a few anxious bass bites. Prepare for these bass. They are very strong and will test any tackle or anglers patience. Many anglers leave Jordan Lake, with just the tale of the one that got away.
You don’t have to use light line and tackle, unless you want to. Line in the 14-20 pound test category can be safely used, without breaking off any trophy sized bass. Give it a try this summer and discover the incredible spotted bass action on Jordan Lake.
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Summer Fishing on Lake Neely Henry
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
LOWER LAKE
Many anglers have had trouble navigating the lower end of Neely Henry Lake for years. That is, until the water authorities cleared out the standing timber years ago and navigation, became a matter of just following the newly marked channel.
Today, the only hazard to look for when running the lake’s lower end for the first time, are floating logs, and other boaters or jet skies, and you will see plenty of the “livelier” of this threesome, when out this summer. Especially from the mid-to-lower lake.
Starting at the lakes lower end, around Neely Henry dam, it is basically a straight shot right up the lake. Almost. This run, due north, is bordered by small cuts and pockets and many, major feeder creeks, situated along deep, river bends. The first feeder creek is on your left as you navigate up the lake, Bridge Creek. Then a small pocket and next is Shoal Creek, all on your left, heading North, up the Lake.
On your right, traveling the first few miles up the lake from the dam, are only a few small pockets and lots of deep water, bordering rocky, bluff-type banks. The next bend to your right, will lead you due East, right into the mouth of several pockets lined with piers and boat houses, all on the Eastern side of the lower lake.
There are also several marinas in the back of these adjoined pockets, with Hwy. 77. Crossing along a rip-rap lined causeway. *Note: Many bass are released in this area, all throughout the summer months in both day and night tournaments, held out of the marinas found here.
As the old river channel swings again and leaves this area, it makes another sharp bend and borders the mouth of Beaver Creek, loaded with fish-holding cover of all kinds. Weeds, stumps, brush piles, points, lay downs, piers, boat houses and rock bluffs, show the versatile angler many choices this summer in Beaver Creek.
A mile past Beaver Creek, heading up the lake, and the huge pocket on your right (about one mile) is actually named Greens Creek. Although it only goes for a short distance from the main lake, there are lots of piers, a marina, and Hwy. 77 that crosses the back of Greens Creek, with a rip-rap lined causeway.
MID LAKE
As you travel up the lake you will begin to notice how wide it gets in the next bend, in the mouth of Canoe Creek. Many anglers without a map or navigation knowledge, get lost here. Looking to your left is Canoe Creek, the biggest feeder creek on the lake, taking a right, at this creek and main lake junction, will continue you North to the lake’s upper section.
Red and green creek channel markers will safely take you up in Canoe Creek, to a bridge. Then go slow in the creek backwaters. Or you can follow the River channel markers in this area, but navigate with caution, when leaving the main channel. This is where all the standing timber was in year’s past, before they cut it 5 feet below the water line. But still, stumps are all along the flats bordering this area.
The lake straightens out and again begins to head North as you leave Canoe Creek and its make another sharp bend north. Leaving Canoe Creek and going straight across the lake due East, will take you up in a smaller feeder named, Broughton Springs Creek. This small, unnoticed creek, has plenty of piers, boat houses, weed beds, and laydown trees, plus stump flats and plenty of brush-filled side pockets, to explore this summer.
Traveling up the lake, you will see a few small islands, most of which are on your right. This is a stumpy flat along the shallow side of the main lake and good for fishing day or night. Navigation is marked along the left side of the lake with channel markers for about 5 miles. Just before you get to Hwy. 77 bridge that crosses the lake, is Buck’s Island Marina with boat repairs and parts. Also other marinas and gas can be found here in this mid lake region, before continuing to the upper lake.
UPPER LAKE
Leaving Hwy. 77 crossing at midlake, and heading upriver, you will immediately notice the lake will begin to narrow, to more of a river-type appearance. There are several weed and wood cover laden pockets to explore here, and loads of main lake flats, all covered with washed-in trees, laying logs, brush and other wood debris. Navigating the middle of the lake, is suggested.
This midlake region, like the lower lake, will also show lots of company this summer, from the hoards of summertime party goers. About 5-6 miles above Hwy. 77 bridge crossing, the lake will again make another sharp, hard bend heading due north. This is know as Minnesota Bend, the deepest part of this upper lake region, with water depths over 70 feet deep.
Just past this deep, rock bluff Minnesota Bend, heading upriver, on your right about a mile, is Honey Creek. Its easily identified with a small island situated right in the mouth. This is a flat, backwater creek.
Continuing on up the lake, will show a few islands, another river bend, and then a bridge that crosses the lake. This is just after you go past some electrical towers in the mouth of Big Wills Creek. Of which is an excellent creek in this upper lake region, for both day or night fishing this summer.
Big Wills Creek has lots of rip-rap rocks found around two bridges, near the creek mouth. But use caution, after going under the first Big Wills Creek bridge. It is deceiving, looking deep, but with only a few feet of shallow, stump-fillled flats. Idling the boat is suggested here.
Right past Big Wills Creek mouth, heading upriver, is Hwy. 759 bridge crossing. Then on your right is famous, Gadsden City Boat Launch, where many bass tournaments are held weekly, year round. Again, many released bass, can be re-caught, when working this area near the city launch.
Leaving Gadsden City launch and heading upriver (where the lake is crossed by two bridges), the Lake narrows to a more river-type appearance. Neely Henry Lake, then continues North, twisting and turning among the scenic hillsides, for another 30 plus miles of River.
You will see rock bluffs, logjams, laydown trees, small islands, another bridge crossing and many small pockets and creek mouths, to explore this summer in the headwaters of Neely Henry Lake, often far from the summer crowd.
“Be safe, and be courteous to other boaters, this Summer on Neely Henry
Lake.”
*To learn more about Neely Henry Lake, including seasonal fishing tips and lure suggestions, go to: www.fishingalabama.comfor more on fishing and navigating this lake and other Alabama Lakes this summer.
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Fall Fishing on Lake Mitchell
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
If I had to choose an impoundment on the Coosa River Chain of Lakes (Mitchell Lake is the fifth lake of six lakes on the Coosa River System), that is void of many anglers as Fall progresses, Mitchell Lake would have to be my choice. The colder it gets, the less the fishing pressure exists on this small, 14 mile long impoundment situated in mid Alabama. It is a small lake when compared to other Alabama Lakes, but with 147 miles of shoreline, anglers have a variety of fishing situations and loads of aquatic weeds, rocky habitat and all kinds of wood cover to explore this Fall season. So here’s some bass fishing info, lure suggestions and a month by month look at Mitchell Lake’s upcoming conditions for the three months of Fall…before it really gets cold.
September
Around the first week of September, anglers start counting down the days of Fall. Although its still warm with temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s, it sure feels a lot better than the 100 degree days we experienced in August. This slight, cooling trend during the early Fall period, also cools the water temperatures of Mitchell Lake. To the Coosa River breed of spotted bass and the largemouth bass that inhibit this entire 5,850 acre reservoir, this means its time to eat. Although most bass eat daily or at least every couple of days, cooling water means its time to double their intake.
While it was very hot this Summer, most bass had the need to conserve energy, especially when it came to chasing down the days next meal. Spotted bass were actually the least affected by the heat. “Spots” as they are called, are going to be quite comfortable no matter what the conditions. Wherever they find a place to feed and live out their lives, they are going to be comfortable in their surroundings. Below Lay Lake dam (in Mitchell’s upper lake headwaters), cool water and constant current from water generation at the dam, keep them comfortable all summer long. Feeder creeks, main lake drop-offs, rock bluff banks, creek and river channel ledges, around islands, submerged humps and ridges and other deep water habitat found throughout Mitchell Lake, are the spotted bass late summertime hangouts. So it makes sense to start your Fall excursion, fishing these places that hundreds of spotted bass have increasingly bunched up in for the past 3 months.
Largemouth bass on Mitchell Lake were the ones that had to adjust this summer. They are known to dwell in and around shallow cover like the many types of aquatic weeds found lake wide on Mitchell Lake. Some shallow backwaters got close to 90 degree water temps and many largemouth bass had to relocate to more comfortable surroundings. So like the spotted bass, the largemouth bass either went towards deep water for comfort, or they headed for the cooler water found in the mid to far back ends of major feeder creeks. Some decent sized largemouth bass were even caught around Lay Lake dam discharge area this past summer season. So during the month of September look for both of these breeds of bass right where you found them this past summer season.
Many of these bass are just following baitfish schools around the lake, picking off the easy meals or just feeding when the urge hits them. So lures like shallow to deep diving crankbaits, rattling lipless lures like Rattletraps or Cordell Rattling spots, both suspending and floating jerkbaits and even jigging spoons for bass close to bottom, are all excellent lure choices during this early Fall season. These bass also feed on crayfish so crayfish look a like lures such as tube baits, plastic crayfish or jig combos should be tried as well. There are so many choices when it comes to bottom fished lures, suggestions are limited. But keep in mind these are bass now accustomed to feeding on prey that show an end of the year growth. So bigger means better at times.
Snakes, worms, freshwater eels, leeches, lizards, waterdogs, minnows, baitfish, frogs and small rodents are much bigger than during early Summer. So choosing lures that simulate a variety of overgrown prey can show a certain preference on various types of cover, throughout Mitchell Lake in September. In addition to selecting all sizes of worms, lizards and crayfish imitations, consider creature type lures, grubs, twin tail plastics, tube baits, plastic shad imitations and small finesse plastics. These are just a few lure types anglers should experiment with when fishing in or near deep water or on the lakes bottom during the entire month of September.
October
As waters cool on Mitchell Lake the bass continue to feed and fatten up for the upcoming winter. Cooler water temperatures show spotted bass feeding shallower every day. Largemouth bass either return to places you could not even get a bite in this past summer (like some weeds) or they continue to follow the baitfish schools around the lake, feeding right alongside spotted bass and striped bass, that all stay on the move in October. Aquatic weeds held some largemouth bass all summer long, but the weeds were scarce of any really good concentration of some decent sized bass. This all changes as waters cool and October shows baitfish return to the security of these aquatic weeds.
Finding the greenest weeds and the most baitfish infested waters on Mitchell Lake, is now an anglers number one priority for largemouth bass in October. Not only does this increase your chances for hooking into a number of trophy sized bass all found in one location, but this tactic will show numbers of keeper sized bass as well. Weedless lures are a must, when fishing right up in the weeds. This avoids a lot of frustration when trying to retrieve hung lures. It also means not getting the boat in to close to where you are fishing, spooking the bass as well. Besides, lost lures cost money and losing a few expensive lures in a days time…can be costly.
There are a number of lures that are very weedless. Frog and mice (rats) imitations will continue to show anglers that “big bass bite” as October gets underway. Always fish these lures on stought rods with good reels and make long casts far back in the scummiest weeds the lake has to offer. Places that many anglers avoid. Buzzbaits are weedless as well, even when sporting a trailer hook needed for those short striking bass. Weedless spoons are lures of the past that many anglers fail to even fish anymore, but choosing a weedless spoon can show the bass a lure in the weeds they rarely ever see. Adding grubs, small worms or lizards, pork or plastic chunks and other plastics to these weedless spoons for that extra enticement, may get bites from skittish bass that avoid other conventional lures.
Rigging several rods with each of these lures can show the bass a variety of tempting offerings for them to choose from. There are days when a certain lure, lure action or certain lure color will increase your odds of getting a bite. Other tempting meals for Fall? To many to list for now, but some suggestions are found ahead when November shows bass cruising throughout the entire water column. So bring along plenty of lure choices when fishing Mitchell Lake this Fall season in October.
November
This is the month you can get really lonely fishing Mitchell Lake. Although there are still some bass tournaments and those die hard anglers still out on the lake, most would be anglers have either hung up their rods in exchange for guns during hunting season or they are home watching football with the boat now covered up until next spring. So bring along a friend or be prepared to see very little company when November arrives.
Its too bad, for many anglers really never experience the best part of the Fall fishing season. When cooler nights come in and cooler days only call for a light jacket, it can show some of the years best bass fishing on Mitchell Lake. Cooler water does not limit your lure choice either. Most lures these spotted bass and largemouth bass hit in early Fall will work in November as well. Before water temps reach the 50 degree mark even topwater lures will continue to entice those big bass that are always looking up for an easy meal.
Fishing feeder creeks with lures like spinnerbaits can be a one lure only day. There are times in November when stained water conditions and current (from heavy Fall rains) can show lures like spinnerbaits (that show a lot of flash and vibration in stained water conditions) can be an excellent big bass lure choice! If confronted with lightly stained water conditions usually in the mid to upper 50’s, always choose smaller spinnerbaits, ones that display smaller blades, often fished right out of the package without even adding a plastic trailer. If Fall rains swell the lake and show heavily stained to muddy water conditions, going to bigger more gaudy type spinnerbaits may be needed to aid the bass in finding your offerings.
Selecting spinnerbaits in the half ounce to one ounce category sporting bigger blades (either willow leaf or Colorado type blades), and adding trailers such as grubs or twin tail plastics, will show more lure action, more flash and vibration and brighter colors for them to see when conditions are too poor for other lures. Stained water conditions are also the times when astute anglers that either pitch, flip or swim a jig combo around wood and weedy cover, really excel on Mitchell Lake. Of course long 6-7 foot flipping rods, strong monofilament line in the 20 pound test category or braided line and very sharp hooks, are all necessary for success.
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Lake Mitchell Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
It’s one of Alabama’s most popular lakes for night fishing. This small impoundment on the lower Coosa River, also shows many reasons not to give up on the bass of daytime either. The lakes headwaters, displays one of the most varied fisheries on the Coosa River. Here are a few choices for targeting these Mitchell Lake bass, during the hot days of summer.
Easily accessible, the dam tailrace waters of upper Lay Lake Dam, can produce phenomenal catches of spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and hybrid striped bass, during the summer months.
Fooling these fish can be done with only one type of lure. Or the versatile angler can have a dozen lures for offering these fish a variety of choices. Early light, late evenings and on rare, cloudy days, these fish will school on baitfish, busting them frantically on the waters surface.
This action calls for topwater lures. Some of the bigger fish will hit oversized lures. Smaller species may have to be enticed with smaller poppers, prop baits and walking type lures. If they won’t come up, then you may have to probe deeper.
This can be on bottom with spoons and tail spinners. Or you can target the mid water column with inline spinners, crankbaits, jerkbaits or rattletraps. Grubs, shad imitations and tube baits, are also good lures, when bounced along the lakes bottom, as you drift in the swift current found below Lay Dam.
These Mitchell Lake headwaters also feature rock bluffs, many tall towering islands and small cuts and pockets, lined with a variety of aquatic weeds. All of these places are refuge for the bass and baitfish seeking shelter from the swift dam discharge.
Along the bluffs, anglers must search out the spots with the least amount of current. This can be right up against the bluff wall, or bass can be hidden within small cracks in these bluffs. Often, huge schools of bass can bunch up in one small spot, or they can found scattered around boulders or broken off sections of rocky bank.
The fish can be suspended along the eddy areas, where swift current meets the dead water. These rock bluffs also feature points and small cuts or pockets within the bluff. Laydown trees, washed in debris, and weedbeds, are a bonus. Bluffs with these features always deserve a few cast’s with lures that probe the entire water column.
The islands found scattered here in Mitchell Lakes headwaters, were towering hillsides, when the river was impounded. Now, they are covered with water on all sides and most hold bass year round.
The upper points of these islands, extrude out for some distance, many hold bass facing the current, waiting on approaching meals. Some schools of bass roam the slack water, found along the islands sides and lower ends, for easy to catch baitfish and bottom dwelling crayfish.
Starting on the upper end of these islands and drifting the boat backwards, gives the angler, in the back of the boat, first shot at all the bank cover. But it is found to be much easier to maneuver the boat when done in this manner, facing upstream and using the boats trolling motor to position the boat. Precise cast’s must be
employed, for lure hang-ups require several minutes in the swift current, to retrieve your hung lures.
The small, weed lined pockets found on Mitchell Lake have given up some big largemouth’s and nice spotted bass. The largemouth’s can be found while probing deep within the weeds, with heavy worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, tube baits, shad imitations and jig combos.
Spotted bass are usually found cruising the weed edges or they can hold along desired cover choices, attacking baitfish that are washed in. The upper and lower points leading in to these cuts and pockets, always deserve many cast’s, with a variety of lures, from many angles, fished from top to bottom. Even returning later to these places, several times during the day, will eventually show an angler places that may not have even produced a bite earlier.
Try the current induced actions of Mitchell Lake’s spotted bass, striped bass and some hefty sized largemouth’s, this summer. Shady banks, eddy areas, and an abundance of baitfish, found in these lake headwaters, pockets, islands and rock bluffs, are all great choices to begin your search this summer. Often, for bass that can cooperate all throughout the season, on into the Fall.
Looking for a guide on the Tennessee River System? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first!” Over 30 years fishing / guiding on all of Alabama’s Lakes for bass and stripers.”See my website: www.fishingalabama.com for more info.
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Weiss Lake Fall Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Normally, you will be hearing about the lowering of Weiss Lake for winter pool as fall approaches. But just like last year at this time, another summer season drought had the lake already down for winter pool. Weiss Lake was unseasonably low this past summer season. Just how low? Mid August showed the lake down five feet. This set some summertime low water records, for never has this lake been this low during the summer season. So how has this changed the bass fishing during the fall period? Tremendously.
In the past under normal, full pool, early fall conditions these Weiss Lake bass are usually heading for the weedy shallows of this lake. Usually, these bass have related to shallow water aquatic weeds, wood cover and rock cover all summer long. They have buried up in the ever growing weeds all summer long and many bass refuse to leave the security of their oxygen rich aquatic weed homes, even as the lakes waters begin to cool.
So like the bass (looking for an easy meal), bass anglers too have to eliminate the aquatic weeds in their search for this ever elusive quarry. This means targeting places they hang around otherwise. For no matter what the conditions these bass have got to eat.
Weiss Lakes Headwaters
The Lakes headwaters begins the slow meandering journey of this first of six lakes situated on the Coosa River System. Weiss Lake was impounded in 1961 backing up the waters of the original Coosa River System. Places like Mcgee bend, Fosters bend and Morton bend are actually located in the lakes headwaters, that stretch far into northwestern Georgia. So are some of the lakes major feeder creeks like Cedar Creek, King Creek and Mount Hope Creek. Many of these creeks (at normal full pool levels) usually feature water depths of less than five feet. Most, (but Cedar creek) have actually been high and dry with the past summer drought.
Many Alabama anglers never even venture this far into Weiss Lakes headwaters. There is a lot to fish from Weiss Lakes headwaters on the Alabama / Georgia State lines, without going any further up the lake. Besides, with unseasonably low lake levels this past summer season many anglers just navigated their boats into much safer waters, places with marked river channel buoys and much safer places with deep water found nearby. Mid lake on Weiss Lake during low water is considered safer for navigation.
From the Alabama / Georgia State lines to the lakes lower Weiss Lake dam is a lot of water for anglers to fish this fall season. Low water concentrates bass and baitfish, showing the lakes headwaters actually narrowed down to just an old, original river channel. This means fishing the mouths of creeks and small pockets, islands and main lake points located in the lakes headwaters, can all position an angler in some places bass are now crowded into, places other anglers avoid.
Weiss Lake Mid Lake
Mid Lake is considered some of the lakes best fishing during the fall period. This can be fishing the mouths of smaller feeder creeks like Ballplay Creek, Mud Creek and Three Mile creek, creeks mostly dry with flats exposed during lake drawdown. There are deeper creeks with navigable waters. Creeks like Spring creek and Cowan creek are located above the Hwy. 68 causeway crossing and they house schools of bass holding around piers, boat houses, marinas and wood cover like stumps, laying trees and resident planted brushpiles.
Rocky points, man made rip-rap rocks lining causeways and bridges are also good locations for finding bass this fall season on Weiss Lake. Besides major feeder creeks there is a lot to explore in the lakes mid section this fall season. Above the Hwy. 68 crossing Yanceys bend, Pruett’s Island and Godfrey’s Island are good shallow water flats near deep water drop-offs that hold bass year round.
Evident schools of baitfish and bass busting on top calls for numbers of lure selections when waters begin to cool in early fall. Topwater lures should always be tried on every location during fall’s early mornings, late evenings or often all day if cloudy or raining. Lures like zara spooks, buzzbaits, prop baits and popping type topwaters are good choices. Also try spinnerbaits, crankbaits and lipless lures like rattletraps, for these schooling bass.
Jigging spoons under these schooling bass seen on top, can show a good chance for an astute angler to fool some of the lakes bigger, more lazy bass. These over sized largemouth bass are usually feeding and holding down below the smaller schooling bass that are seen feeding on top. They are picking off the injured or dying baitfish that look like jigging spoons fluttering down below. Tailspinners, curly tail grubs or shad imitations fished on jig heads, blade baits or inline spinners are also good lure choices for schooling activity.
Both hard bodied jerkbaits and soft jerkbaits are excellent lure choices, including suspending hard bodied jerkbaits and shallow to mid running crankbaits in colors of white, chrome or shad patterns.
Experiment with your lure choice. Have several rods already rigged and ready to fish, with various types of lures. On every outing to Weiss Lake these bass will hit a certain lure. One certain lure they will hit, one that can display a certain action, shape, color or size they may like better than other lures. The only way to discover the days preference is to offer these bass many lures choices when they are actively feeding and foolishly attacking these baitfish schools during the fall and early winter period.
* A word of caution! Stay within the red and green channel markers when navigating Weiss Lake at low pool. There are many boating accidents every year when this lake is low. Venturing out of the main river channel can show an angler quickly navigating away from the buoys, through some very dangerous waters, often in 1-2 feet of stump filled waters left here during impoundment when stump flats were cleared. Laying logs and other obstructions (like rock piles) are visible or just beneath the waters surface. Use extreme caution this fall and winter season when boating on Weiss Lake.
Weiss Lake Lower Lake
An area starting at the Hwy. 68 causeway crossing, all the way to the Weiss Lake dam is considered lower lake fishing. There are two major rivers that feed the lake here. The Little River and the Chatuga River. Buffington’s Island and Hog Island are where both of these major incoming suppliers of fresh and cool river waters, join together and form main lake waters with the Coosa River channel. Any time you have three major river systems join together — it is a fish gathering spot year round.
There is also plenty of fish holding cover to explore in these two incoming rivers. In addition both rivers feature piers, boat houses, stump flats, small islands and main lake points. During impoundment left here were underwater ponds (and now submerged lakes) that can be found with map study, including old house foundations and roadbeds now submerged.
With low water there is now plenty of evident flats loaded with laying logs, fallen trees, stumps, brush piles and other wood cover. This including rock cover bass relate to as well. Like man made rip-rap rocks (for erosion) and natural banks featuring rock piles and boulders, all seen during low water.
Hazard buoys are placed lake wide marking shallow stumps, rock piles and other dangerous areas, but still anglers should practice navigating their boat with extreme caution. Use your boats electronics and idle along watching your depth finder when out of the marked red and green buoys on the main river channel or deeper creek channels.
From the main lake at Hog Island to about half way up in these two main feeder rivers, is all a first time angler should safely attempt to run the boat during low pool. Besides being able to spend an entire day in the incoming Little River and Chatuga Rivers there is a whole lot more for fall anglers to explore this fall and early winter seasons.
Yellow Creek Falls, Big Nose Creek and Little Nose Creek and many unnamed coves, small pockets adorn the lower lake all the way to Weiss Lake dam. Great places to fish this fall that are usually loaded with schools of baitfish and feeding bass.
Unknown to many anglers there is also a power house pool located through a small canal leading from Weiss Lake dam downstream to the Weiss Lake dam powerhouse. This is small lake in itself and often it gets loaded with baitfish that are funneled down through the connecting canal. Baitfish that cannot escape the feeding activity of both Coosa River spotted bass, largemouth bass and striped bass that are found here in the fall and early winter seasons.
Explore massive, Weiss Lake this fall season, but like said, “with caution,” first timers especially. It is a great time to bring along a camera, hand held GPS and a map, to mark and reference shallow water places that will be flooded again in the spring.
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Wheeler Lake Winter Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
North Alabama’s Wheeler Lake is down for winter pool. It will remain low until April. Lake levels fluctuate up and down a foot during winter, with the lake currently down 4 feet. So like any lake that is drawn down during winter, boat navigation is hazardous, especially for first timers to Wheeler Lake, the second largest man made impoundment in Alabama.
January and February are the months when the coldest weather of the winter season hits north Alabama. Although winter warming trends are common in January the best time to fish in the next few weeks is…whenever you can go! The weather is so unpredictable, it could be 70 degrees for today’s high and 20 degrees for a cold morning…a few days later.
Warming trends and cold fronts create rising and falling water temperatures. Water temps are very important aspects as to the way fish feed at times during winter. For instance. Water temps can be 45 degrees. Suddenly a week long, winter warming trend takes place. This shows both mild daytime temperatures and warmer than normal night time temperatures. Unlike warm days and cold nights this constantly warming water brings up the lakes water temperatures as much as 10 degrees in a weeks time.
Keep in mind this only applies to still water with little or no evident current — not moving water. This warming water theory only applies to the lakes backwaters. On Wheeler Lake calm water with little current can be found in small cuts and pockets, main lake flats out of the current and up in the mid to far back ends of major feeder creeks. Water will warm, but only if it is bathed in an all day sunshine and it is found out of the swift and flowing main lake current. Of which most anglers know, moving water does not heat up.
With Wheeler Lake 4-5 feet down for winter pool it is a much smaller lake for fish to bunch up in during the winter months and they do. At times there are certain conditions that place an entire school of bass in one small, particular spot. These bass are either feeding or they are resting and off the feed. Regardless, they usually stay together unless the entire school is feeding along a flat and they are fanning out individually as they chase down baitfish and other prey.
Unlike other Tennessee River Impoundment’s the best bass fishing is on the lower end of Wheeler Lake. That is unless you want to run over 50 miles north or launch in Wheeler Lakes headwaters fishing below Guntersville Lake dam found upstream. Regardless of where you decide to fish on Wheeler Lake don’t worry there is plenty of bass holding cover to target throughout the entire lake.
The lakes headwaters show small cuts and pockets that hold bass around the mouths due to low water. At mid lake during full pool Decatur Flats is a popular weedy flat full of bass relating to hydrilla and millfoil aquatic weeds. With the lake down for the next 3-4 months these bass will continue to relate to this area when feeding.
Only now and throughout the cold, winter weeks ahead they are found grouping up along weed edges and around rocky and stumpy bottoms. Nearby ledges, rock piles, old roadbeds and the rip-rap rocks that line the base of electrical towers spanning the lake (in the Decatur flats area), will be good fishing spots for the remainder of the winter.
These holding spots where bass relate to wood cover, rock cover and slight bottom irregularities can be excellent places for big bass and for encountering numbers of bass. Current can position them, sunny days can put them tight to cover or cause these bass to suspend out from cover. Cloudy or rainy periods may show the entire school break up and roam nearby.
Various lures can entice bites, even from sluggish bass, but often when these bass are not feeding you must entice a strike by putting the lure right in their face. So exact lure presentation gets better results than just haphazardly casting lures without any thought.
Main lake points are good examples. Although most points are now exposed with the lake down there is always some part of a point that drops into nearby deep water. This usually where the current break is. Current breaks are places where bass hold as they wait for a passing meal brought to them in the swift current.
Most bass, that anglers encounter in these situations, are going to position themselves where all they have to do is open their mouth and flare their gills for an easy meal. This means an angler must repeatedly cast his / her lures until it comes right in the face of an awaiting bass. They won’t move far but they will hit your lures if they are close by. That’s when crankbaits come into play.
Although a fast moving crankbait is not thought of as an excellent meal during winter for sluggish bass on Wheeler Lake, they do work when applied in the right manner. When fishing a point, an angler must make long casts far above the point as he holds the boat down stream. Making that crankbait run right into the exact spot you are thinking the bass are holding on, is next.
If your fishing 10 feet deep and the holding spot is assumed to be in shallow water 4 - 5 feet deep then imagine when that crankbait is going to hit that 5 foot depth. Deep divers, mid runners, shallow runners and rattling lipless crankbaits are all used when determining what depth you need to reach. The object is to make contact with the bottom, at the exact place on that point where it should be. When you do and you make repeated casts to the same spot in the same manner, the bass will respond.
Wheeler lakes lower end is going to remain clear during January and February except maybe around the mouth of the Elk River, when following heavy rains. Rock bluffs, main lake points, feeder creeks and plenty of bass holding cover found down below the water line (with a little map study), are excellent starting spots.
These are places to target the next few weeks. Winter bass bunch up in likely locations such as river ledges, creek channels, secondary ledges out from the banks, creek and river channel junctions, rock bluffs, the mouths of small cuts and pockets and the points leading into these out of the current spots.
Fishing on bottom is the normal approach for these sluggish wintertime bass. Soft plastics and jig combos fool some of the years biggest smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Small worms, lizards and crayfish imitations in colors of root beer, watermelon or pumpkinseed are good choices in clear water situations.
If the water has a stain to it try dyeing the tail or legs of your lures. Try more brighter colors on your lures if stained. Avoid cold muddy water. Jigging spoons and fishing with tailspinners are good search lures, but they do hang up so bring along plenty. You will lose some lures in a days time when dragging exposed hooks across the lakes bottom.
Shad type lures fished on jig heads fool all kinds of fish. So do single tailed grubs or twin tailed grubs. Pearl colors, white colors, and smoke with glitter are all good choices as well. Tube baits and creature baits are not seen as much and both are excellent lures during winter.
Experiment this winter on Wheeler Lake as you decipher each place you fish and determine your lure choice by the day ahead. Big smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and some huge, striped bass are taken each winter. This is when some of the years biggest bass are fooled, but only if your there.
It can be downright miserable during winter on Wheeler Lake, so dress warm, bring plenty of spare clothes and warm food, coffee or hot chocolate. Always wear you life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. Be safe and catch a lot of fish this winter!
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Wheeler Lake Fall Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Wheeler Lake, Alabama’s second largest man made impoundment on the Tennessee River System in north Alabama, is situated just downstream of Guntersville Lake, the largest man made impoundment in Alabama. Both of these lakes on the Tennessee River System get a lot of attention from anglers coming here this fall in search of trophy bass. Wheeler Lake has a very good population of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and striped bass. The cooler it gets the better the fishing gets on Wheeler Lake.
Fall shows some major changes on this lake. Summer drought showed Wheeler down a few feet. It is now down 1 foot. Within a few weeks it could suddenly drop 3-4 feet. Even lower at times. Even your most well laid game plan can fall apart when your catching bass and then return a few weeks later and the water is gone in the shallows, places that you were “tearing them up” in and now the bass are gone as well.
So when practicing for an upcoming tournament in October and November keep in mind those weeds and wood cover you were catching bass around, may be high and dry when you return, with the lake traditionally down for winter pool by the end of October.
Not only are falling lake levels to be expected on Wheeler Lake this fall but falling water temperatures as well. Summer showed weekly air temperatures of over 100 degrees during late August. Water temperatures were close to 90 degrees for an entire month. Since then it has taken an entire month for the waters to cool back to normal water temperatures of around 80 degrees in late September.
As with every year, it gets colder each month as the year comes to an end. October shows slight cold fronts invade north Alabama. By November cold fronts are common some bringing nighttime temperatures down below 30 degrees. Water temperatures that suddenly drop into the low 70’s trigger these bass to feed. It has not been that cool since spring when they were bedding and now they instinctively know winter is on its way.
That means feeding and fattening up for the cold winter months ahead. It also means they are susceptible to whole a range of lures fishing from top to bottom.
Topwater lures like buzzbaits, prop baits, popping type topwaters are all good in October and November on Wheeler Lake.
Mid running lures like shallow running crankbaits and mid running crankbaits, lipless lures, floating and suspending jerkbaits and spinnerbaits. Floating worms and soft jerkbaits are very good in shallow water around wood and rock cover.
Deeper water calls for lures fished on or near bottom and this can be many lure choices. Deep diving crankbaits and jigging spoons are good along drop-offs, ledges and along the sides of points. When bass are found, slow down and re work the area with Texas rigged worms, lizards and tube baits. Or try Carolina rigged plastics, creature type lures or jig combos, drop shot rigs and shad imitations on jig heads. All of these lure choices are good both in deep water and along shallow water drops this fall season and early winter.
Another problem with the coming of the fall season is rain. The Tennessee River lakes can get a whole lot of rain run-off from upstream and at times it can get downright muddy water in the lakes headwaters, incoming feeder creeks and the incoming Elk River on the lakes lower end. So like when preparing for dropping lake levels an angler should be prepared for muddy water rain run-off and time the trip accordingly. If there has been days and days of heavy rain then expect some places to display stained to muddy water for a few days.
If faced with this muddy water problem no matter where you fish, find the clearest water available then fish bass attracting lures like noisy clacker type buzzbaits, half ounce spinnerbaits with over sized blades and bright, gaudy colors on the skirt and trailer. Try half ounce Rattletraps, Cotton Cordell’s Rattlin’ Spots and other lipless lures in colors of lime, chartreuse, red, orange and other crayfish colors.
Visiting Wheeler lake this fall season? Or any Alabama lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! “Over 40 years fishing the Tennessee River lakes and other Alabama lakes”. Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 makes a great surprise gift for Birthday’s, Father’s Day and Christmas (certificates available), for those loved ones that love to fish. Several guides and boats available for multiple parties and corporate guided trips to any lake in Alabama, year round. See my website www.fishingalabama.
com
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Resources:
Winter Bass Fishing On Bankhead Lake
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
I can remember many cold, winter days while fishing for bass on Bankhead Lake as a young man. The reason being is because of so many bass we caught! At times we had as many as 50 bass in a day’s time while fishing from shallow to deep water around wood cover, rocks and aquatic weeds on this cover filled Warrior River Lake, Impounded in 1916.
Bankhead Lake (just called ” the Warrior ” by locals) is situated less than 20 miles from the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama. But you would not think it is located so close to a major city consisting of over one million people. We usually found ourselves all alone, while other anglers were home watching TV in a nice, warm house during the cold, winter months of December, January and February. Oh, but the times have changed.
Catching 50 bass in one days fishing is unheard of today, especially during the toughest fishing conditions of the year — winter. Most people would think you were telling a “good ol’ big one” if you said that today. Its still called, ” the Warrior ” by locals, but being all alone during the winter months is now unheard of. But there are some cold, winter days when only a few boat trailers are seen at the boat launch. Big bass days, when pictures are taken of big bass caught under the toughest of conditions. Pictures you can show your warm hearted friends as you stop off at their warm house…on the way back from the lake!
Fishing Bankhead Lake during the dead of winter shows many variables to consider prior to your trip. Heavy rains can swell the lake to over full pool. This is good for shallow water anglers, for largemouth bass always move into shallow, flooded cover when lake levels rise. Of course if you are fishing cold, muddy water following winter’s heavy rains, you are up against nature’s toughest fishing conditions.
So finding clear water is always your objective after a few days of heavy winter rain. Avoiding the lakes headwaters is first. This goes for the mid to far back ends of major feeder creeks. These spots will be very muddy following a few days of rain with rain runoff. But keep one thing in mind. They do clear up fast and most anglers will avoid these places and not even venture their boat any further, to see if the previously muddy rain run-off head waters, are clearing.
Aquatic weeds on this lake are many. In other seasons the lake is flooded with growth from all types of aquatic weeds such as Lilly pads, which all but die and whither away during winter. Finding the greenest weeds available during winter means targeting sun drenched pockets situated along the lake’s protected northern banks. This is the ticket to finding active bass during the winter months living and feeding around Bankhead Lakes weeds. Avoid fishing in and around dead or dyeing weeds, usually turned dark green or brown from the lack of oxygen. There are very little prey and very few bass predators around these types of weeds during the dead of winter. These decayed weeds also show very little oxygen (and clearer water usually found surrounding these weeds), like greener weed types will display.
Fishing shallow water this winter season on Bankhead Lake, anglers will discover loads of wood cover to explore throughout the entire lake. Log jams can be seen on every main river flat, places where main river current can position baitfish and bass. Current edges and targeting spots within this wood cover are likely ambush spots holding bass of all sizes. Stumps, laying trees and brush piles are also good winter time wood cover to target. Isolated wood cover can hold one big dominant bass or several bass that prefer one lone spot for ambush purposes. Always approach these isolated spots with stealth.
Laying trees can be fished by slowly targeting the outer edges with lures that will not hang up, spoiling the entire spot when you do go in to retrieve hung lures. One mistake many anglers make is to try and out cast their partner when approaching this isolated cover. Usually resulting in a bad cast and more hung lures. Agreeing on each angler choosing one side or the other of the targeted wood cover, is a much better way to approach isolated cover and results in you catching, not spooking these bass.
Rock bluffs can be found on the main lake and even far up in major feeder creeks, such as the many scenic rock bluffs that adorn Valley Creek. These are wintertime bass habitats and there are always some biting bass on rock bluffs. You can fish right along the banks and be targeting spots that drop off into deep water. Rock bluffs can show broken off banks, whole banks that have just slid right off the original bank into the water, or isolated rocks and boulders, slab rocks and even small pockets within the bluffs, featuring wood cover, small rocks or small pebble bottoms. Trees are often found laying on the banks of rock bluffs, or they are found bunched up in logjams or crisscrossed with several other trees or laying logs. Providing homes for bream, minnows, crappie, catfish and even crayfish, all delicious and nutritious meals for some big largemouth bass and spotted bass this winter.
Barge traffic is common on the Warrior River. So is current created when water is passed through the locks and dams. This is, to the spotted bass that make up the Bankhead Lake, their dinner bell. It is time to fish the mouths of creeks and small pockets, along main river flats and all around deep, rock bluffs and secondary ledges nearby. It is also a good time to just simply fish around red and green river channel marker buoys. These are marked, easy to fish, original river channel drop-offs, that hold bass all winter long. Especially when current is evident, easily visible by observing buoys leaning down river.
* Lure suggestions and wintertime fishing techniques for Bankhead Lake and other Alabama Lakes can be seen at the ” fishing tips ” link on my website: www.fishingalabama.com
* Need help fishing Bankhead Lake this winter? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! Alabama’s (and The Warrior’s), oldest Bass Fishing Guide Service. See: www.fishingalabama.com for more info.
Always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch when fishing this winter. Dress warm – hypothermia kills! Always, during winter, have a change of dry clothes in the boat, fire starting materials and matches or a lighter. Be safe and courteous to other anglers. Watch out for floating logs when navigating Bankhead Lake…in any season. Stop and fish…never run a boat in the fog on our lakes! Safety pays!
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Resources:
Bankhead Lake Summer Bass Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
I grew up fishing Bankhead Lake, better known locally as just, “The Warrior.” And what a “Warrior” it is, to survive in such an unforgiving world, just like many Warriors before.
I started out fishing, long ago, renting an old wooden boat at Lost Creek. Now, some 30 plus years later, I still visit that exact same Lilly pad, infested pocket, near the mouth of Lost Creek. It still holds bass and casting a frog imitation, spinnerbait and buzzbaits still works, just like it did back then.
In the mouth of Lost Creek is a huge log jam. Its been there as long as I can remember. Back then, casting a beetle spin, rooster tail, or rapala, always fooled a few anxious largemouth bass. Even topwaters of that time, jitterbugs, pop-R’s and hula poppers, are still manufactured today, and continue to fool the huge bass scattered along this one mile plus, log jam.
Lining the banks in this area, are various weed types, washed in debris, brush piles, laying trees and logs. All refuge for the mighty Warrior, “the largemouth bass.” Some 10 pounders do exist in this impounded river and this is one spot many are fooled each summer season.
As you head downstream, from the mouth of Lost Creek, you encounter several grass filled pockets, many small islands abound with wood cover, and a series of rock bluffs in every river bend. Here is variety.
Just like many years ago you can target the weedy banks and pockets and fish a snagless sally (still in production) an in-line spinner, a frog or rat imitation, or just like years ago, a prop bait such as a baby torpedo.
The rock bluffs have first and secondary ledges, small pockets, points and a series of creeks, cuts and pockets, that all intermingle with the bluffs. Here, just like years ago, you can throw a plain old 6 inch worm (but you may have trouble finding a two hook model worm with small propellar on the front) rigged Texas style and still catch quality bass.
Added to the old reliable worm arsenal are today’s jig combos, tube baits, crayfish imitations and of course bigger, 8-10 inch model worms and lizards, fished with oversized hooks. These bottom bumping lures can be fished right up against the face of the rock bluff wall, day or night.
But today’s anglers probe just a little deeper than anglers of long ago, that just targeted the banks. The first drop-off on these bluffs and adjoining creek mouths is usually around 10 feet deep. Often, this is as deep as you need to go, to find summertime bass hanging along the current breaks found here.
But during the heat of the day, bass can be found either suspended deeper or on the bottom in water 10-20 feet deep along a secondary ledge, river or creek channel drop-off or irregular bottom feature found here. Broken off bluff banks, with huge boulders or slab rocks washed into the river channel, are excellent spots for huge schools of bass to gather in during summer.
Heavy jig combos, Carolina rigged plastics, jigging spoons, dropping heavy spinnerbaits and fishing with deep diving crankbaits, will cover the entire area fast and show the small spots these bass gather in. As you head downstream, look for the junction of the Little Warrior River and Big Warrior River at Howton’s Camp boat launch. Till next time, keep chunkin’
Thanks and Good Fishin’
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
“Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Spotted Bass and some huge Striped Bass”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass
Using a fly rod for smallmouth bass is a little more popular than targeting largemouth bass with a fly. The reason is simple: Smallmouth bass thrive in many rivers and streams. Trout fishermen love fishing rivers and streams, so switching to smallmouth bass doesn’t require them getting out of their comfort zone. Smallmouth bass can be caught in a lot of the same places as trout. Current breaks, undercut banks, pools, and even the main current areas will hold smallmouth bass. Poppers, hair bugs, streamers and hellgrammite flies work well for smallmouth bass.
Resources:
