Summer Fishing on Lake Eufaula
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Early summer drought had the lake down 2 feet. This eliminated lots of shallow water for anglers to decipher with Lake Eufaula naturally being a shallow lake with expanded flats. It also eliminated a lot of fishable water as well. Anglers expecting to fish there favorite weedbeds in that 1- 3 feet of water had to look elsewhere as summer began. Some places normally shallow at full pool were even hard to get the boat in.
What many anglers fail to recognize is that many bass are heading for the security of thick, shallow cover or the comfort of deep water for the summer. They are not stacked up in the shallows like a few months back, when bedding bass were everywhere and post spawn activity had bass blasting topwater lures on every cast. Don’t get me wrong, there are some bass that do remain in shallow water year round on Lake Eufaula. There are also some very catchable bass in what shallow water cover that now currently exists with the lake level unseasonably low.
Lake Eufaula still has lots of aquatic weeds for bass to seek shelter in. Wood cover and rock cover can still be found lake wide. So as water temps heat up bass either seek the shelter and cooler water in the shallows around wood, rock and weed cover or they head for deeper water.
In deep water, schools of bass either suspend at a preferred depth or they are found laying on or near the lakes bottom deep along ledges, drop-offs and any other sudden depth change. Keep in mind, for their comfort these bass are always in cooler water. Moving water or current is best in summer.
Like the bass, the summertime bass angler has to search out these favorite, summertime haunts. Finding these likely, summertime holding spots always involves lots of searching and fishing Lake Eufaula from shallow to deep water. Of course this does not come easy. It can get downright frustrating going without a bite for hours while sitting in the hot, midday sun.
Patience is needed during the hot, summer months as much as it is when fishing during the dead of winter. Don’t expect a lot of bites after the typical, early morning, crack of dawn, summertime bite ceases. Any bites you do get after sunup, be glad you did.
Many anglers often leave Lake Eufaula (early in the day), disappointed in the results of their fishing. Especially discouraged after hearing from anglers from all over the United States about how good of a lake it is. Some anglers travel miles, spending lots of hard earned dollars on preparation, meals, motels, etc., while often visiting the Lake a few days…all in hopes of landing one of Lake Eufaula’s famed, trophy largemouth
bass.
So heres some tips for summertime fishing for largemouth bass on Lake Eufaula this summer. From June - September finding these bass in these likely looking spots will assure their return – when you return them to the water you found them in. Please Practice Catch and Release. Let these bass go (of course after taking a few pictures of them), right where you caught them. Unless you are in a bass tournament there is no reason to ride them all over the lake in that hot livewell, submitting them to unnecessary abuse and often, death.
Deep bass on Lake Eufaula can be deep when the temperature soars. They can be found holding along10-30 foot break lines on both creek and main river channel drop-offs. When these deep bass are found, locating them again, means marking the spot on a map or GPS to help you in returning to on later trips. Most deep water bass can be found in the same locations all summer.
So having many deep water spots shows moving around on some days, which in turn also cools you down with a boat ride. Having many previously marked deep water locations will help. If you are a first timer to massive, Lake Eufaula you can narrow your search in finding good drop-offs.
This simply means fishing around red and green river channel markers or white creek channel markers. These places are always right on the deepest drop. So are fish attractors, brush piles planted and marked by man, which are found lake wide. Rip-rap rocks found around bridges, causeways and the dam are also good day and night.
Lures for deep bass can be heavy 1/2 ounce to 2 ounce size spinnerbaits, either slow rolled or dropped along deep drop-offs. Deep diving crankbaits and Carolina rigged lizards or big, 10 inch Texas rigged plastic worms can be fished on 1/4 ounce to 1 ounce sinkers or jig heads. Tube baits, jig combos, crayfish imitations, creature baits or even small, finesse worms will also fool these deep water bass.
On cloudy days, late evenings or early mornings bass will even hit topwaters fished on shallow flats that border these drop-offs. Other lures? Rattling lipless lures in the half to 3/4 of an ounce size, shallow to deep diving crankbaits, floating and suspending jerkbaits and even jigging spoons or tailspinners will all work. So having many rods already rigged is advised to give these bass a variety of choices until you see which one works best!
Shallow bass on Lake Eufaula can be caught all day. Or if its just to hot, an angler can fish only the early morning hours, late evenings or at night. If forced to fish during the daylight hours (like tournaments) fishing the lakes many types of aquatic weeds is sure to be in your game plan. Even with Lake Eufaula unseasonably down a few feet for the summer these bass are always in and around some type of weeds still growing in the water.
Lilly pads are slowly taking over the entire lake. During the spring an unseasonably warm heat wave showed early Lilly pad growth (in a lake at full pool this past spring) displaying Lilly pads growing everywhere in shallow water. Drought left many of these huge Lilly pads protruding above the waters surface like some open umbrella. They soon whither, turn brown and die in the hot summer sun.
But new growing Lilly pads soon show the shallows green and very active as lake levels stabilize and bass move right in under the security of the shade provided by Lake Eufaula’s over sized Lilly pads. Some isolated Lilly pads can grow to over 3 feet in diameter, providing cooler water, shade and security and an oxygen rich environment for these bass and the prey they dine on to relate to.
These summertime meals can be many, in and around these Lilly pads, including the many other types of aquatic weeds this massive lake displays. This means having many lure choices for anglers to employ to aid them in fooling these shallow water bass into striking. The list of summertime favorites on bottom are many and the choices can include techniques like flipping, pitching or swimming lures in and around the weeds and Lilly pads. Each style or lure choice varies among each and every angler.
Some anglers have success fishing a huge field of Lilly pads by constantly fishing hollow bodied frogs and rats. Those lures featuring a skirt and two upturned hooks or some of the rather new solid bodied plastic frogs in use today featuring only one hook, that actually sound more like a buzzbait when retrieved.
Buzzbaits are a close second, along with safety pin type spinnerbaits (or an old favorite still in production today, the Snagless Sally an inline spinner), or the name sake Chatterbait (or the many copies now on the market today), all of which are very weedless and can be retrieved in and around these Lilly pads and weeds.
Weedless spoons (in finishes of either gold, silver, smoke black or frog), with an attached pork chunk trailer, plastic chunk trailer or twin tail trailer, are all but forgotten favorites. These weedless spoons, are, “very weedless” and their wobbling action attracts strikes from bass hiding in the weeds. Bass that are not accustomed to seeing these type of old favorite lures…lures that still fool largemouth bass in the weeds on Lake Eufaula today.
* NOTE *All of these type lures mentioned should be fished on heavy, monofilament line or one of the new braided lines on the market today. There are some big, strong bass in Lake Eufaula’s weeds.
Each lure requires a correct presentation, matched equipment and on some days even the correct lure color can make a difference in whether you get bites or not. Having 10 rods already rigged with fresh line on each reel (all for shallow or deep water applications), can be very time saving while on the water. This provides an angler more time for fishing and less time rigging rods, changing lures and not fishing.
Dawn or late evening hours (during the heat of summer), actually only shows about one good hour of fishing and catching. This usually takes place out of 3-4 hours of just casting and not getting a bite. So having a lure in the water can be important during these feeding times when bass are more active. Save rigging time, eating time and other fish ignoring activities for when the bass are not as likely to be biting. A midday break in the shade does wonders.
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:
Spring Fishing on Guntersville Lake
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Just that title is refreshing. Especially since late last winter anglers fishing Guntersville Lake were struggling with nighttime lows in the 20’s and mid day highs not even reaching 50 degrees. Spring on Alabama’s largest Impoundment Guntersville Lake, is as good as it gets for fishing for largemouth bass in shallow, weedy waters.
MARCH
March will show some changes as the bass begin their annual movement along travel routes heading towards the shallows, to begin their prespawn activities. Anglers that frequent Guntersville Lake know that after years of angling experience fishing this massive lake, that the really Big prespawn bass can suddenly appear shallow in early spring and they can really bunch up in some very predictable places.
At times in March there are many Big Bass in certain prespawn holding spots. They can all be holding in one, very small preferred spot. Places that can be duplicated and found by astute anglers fishing in similar places. By looking lake wide anglers can find fish, often in spots only as big as their boat.
Or these bass can be on the move. If weather conditions call for them cruising the Lakes ledges, drop-offs, roadbeds, main lake points and creek points, visible islands and submerged islands and man made rocks found along rip-rap lined banks.
There are also some spots that are seen and some unseen. Piers and boathouses are seen by all anglers and fished by most. They do hold catchable bass. Hidden, underwater places like submerged ridges, stump rows, rock piles, submerged humps, old creek channels, ditches and other irregular bottom features found along travel routes are fished less.
Lures can be many choices, especially when fishing with lures on bottom. Just remember to fish slow and thoroughly cover all water with bottom bumping lures like worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, jig combos and creature type lures. Even finesse fishing with light tackle outfits and small worms on jig heads can be deadly on Guntersville’s often picky, prespawn bass.
APRIL
As these big, female bass (and the smaller male bass) group up, they begin pairing off and then heading towards the shallow spawning grounds, preparing beds in water depths less than 3 feet deep.
These bedding bass and cruising bass can be seen much better (with good water clarity) by anglers wearing polarized sunglasses (See: www.flyingfisherman.com) and by cruising the shallows with a slow moving trolling motor. Standing up and scanning water less 5 feet deep as far as you can see, is best for spotting bass and their beds.
Bedding bass are spooky and they can detect your boat and your presence extremely well. Stealth is important in sneaking up on these very skittish shallow water bass, some bass that have not been in the shallows in weeks.
Cutting off your outboard motor far from where you intend to fish. Drifting in quietly with the wind or using your trolling motor set on low speed. Long casts without allowing your lure to land on your target, l is very important. Always throw your lures far past where you think a bass is laying in wait.
Being very quite and not even making any sudden boat movement are very important towards helping you reach your angling goal…which is catching fish.
With the full moon in late March bass can move up to prepare their beds in early April. They be seen cruising in pairs making beds and actually spawning in upper 60 degree water temps. Its all according to the weather. Cold fronts can stall the spawning activities a few weeks until conditions stabilize and water temps begin to rise close to 70 degrees.
Lures can involve into many choices, lure colors and lure actions and size. Experiment. You may just discover that one lure that works better than any other lure in your tackle box. Bedding bass can be very picky. Often downsizing your lure choice is necessary just to even get them to bite.
MAY
If you fish Guntersville Lake in May its easy to understand why this month is dubbed, “topwater month.” By the first week of May Guntersville Lake’s recuperating female bass are on the prowl for an easy to catch meal. These are post spawn times and many big bass are fooled into striking shallow running lures and various topwaters.
Laying in water depths less than 5 feet deep most bass are scanning the waters surface for now there are many meals available, some enticingly running across the waters surface…just like your lures! Not only do the bigger female bass get real careless and attack lures they normally would not hit, but also the smaller, bed protecting male bass will attack your offerings as well.
There are many soon to be meals these bass now dine on. Fishing with lures that simulate these meals or lures that look and act like these meals is the best way to get bit. There are also many lure choices when it comes to topwaters - some good and some are not all that productive.
Some lures that always fool a few bass in mid to late spring on top are;
* Buzzbaits - I don’t know what these lures are supposed to mimic, perhaps a small duck running across the water’s surface or a fleeing shad or a skittering frog. What ever buzzbaits look like, Guntersville Lake bass love em’. Always fish strong Trilene Big Game line and sharpen all buzzbait hooks and add a trailer hook for
short striking bass. White or Chartreuse and White are good colors, but try an all black buzzbait for giving pressured bass a different looking buzzbait.
* Frogs and Rats - These lures obviously mimic frogs hopping across the waters surface and small mice that run along the waters edge or across the tops of Guntersville Lakes thick and matted weeds. Fishing with strong monofilament line in the 17-25 pound test category is very important. You sometimes have to horse these big bass out of the thick aquatic weeds such as millfoil and hydrilla. Some anglers prefer braided line and using 6 - 7 foot rods, such as flipping rods. Colors can be many with today’s array of frogs and rats. Some anglers use white, chartreuse, brown, black, dark green or often off the wall colors like purple, red, yellow or pink.
* Popping type topwaters and prop-baits - These lures fall in the same category and both are worked similar in the retrieve. For popping type topwaters the old namesake Pop-r is always good. There are many similar versions. For prop baits you just cannot beat the old reliable single prop, Baby Torpedo or The Tiny Torpedoe. The double prop topwater “the crazy shad” is also a good topwater lure. Try shad colors or mix it up. Fire tiger colors, chrome, white, etc., are also good.
* Floating worms, soft jerkbaits, swimming jig combos, Floating lizards, weightless crayfish imitations - All of these lures are weedless and they fall in the same topwater category. They can be maneuvered just under the surface of the water or reeled across the tops of the weeds.
* Floating worms or air injected worms such as Zoom’s Trick worm have fooled thousands of Guntersville Lake bass. They seem to work when other lures fail to get a strike. Bright colors may be the reason, because bass seldom see such attactive colors. Pink, white, yellow, limetreuce and other easily seen colors (like red methiolate) will work and they can easily be seen when fishing with polarized sunglasses.
* Soft jerkbaits in white pearl or shad colors are best fished with long casts and slow, erratic stop and go retrieves.
* Jig combos should include a light jig and an oversized trailer like a twin tail grub, pork chunk, plastic chunk trailer or crayfish imitation trailer. These jig combos can be slowly swam in the weeds. They can be fished on heavy line to allow them a slow fall and can be made to ride high in the weeds. On retrieve they can be manipulated to go over, under and among the weeds.
* Floating Lizards, etc., Rigged on a 4/0 to 5/0 hook and rigged weightless, are deadly on Guntersville Lake bass in spring. Fish with a slow retrieve and be ready for a fast striking bass.
* Other plastics - The same goes for crayfish imitations, grubs, creature baits and big oversized worms, all fished weightless on hooks in the 2/0 to 5/0 size. Weedless spoons as well.
Fish Guntersville Lake this Spring for some of the year’s, best bass fishing for numbers of bass and some really big bass as well. Or call on Reeds Guide Service for booking a trip to Guntersville Lake (or any Alabama Lake) year round.
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 Summer Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
As summer progresses there are many ways to fool the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass that make up this huge, man made impoundment on the Tennessee River System. Many anglers resort to night fishing on Wheeler Lake during the summer period.
To beat the heat (that can reach 100 degrees by midday), anglers may launch the boat late in the evening and fish all night, until it begins to warm at mid morning the next day. Others just fish until the midnight hours and head for home early to get a few hours sleep. Either way, night fishing can be very relaxing and often very rewarding, in terms of trophy bass.
Some anglers are forced to fish during the daylight hours and they must adjust to the heat just like the bass they are after. Like marathon night fishing, some anglers will stay out all day and brave the midday heat in search of their ever elusive bass quarry, despite the grueling conditions. Old timers or seasoned anglers usually time their trips accordingly and fish only during the early morning hours or during late evening hours.
Despite your choice (of fishing during the daylight hours or under the stars at night), the summer months of June, July and August have got to include plans for both types of fishing. So heres some tips for anglers that do a little of both day and night fishing on Alabama’s second largest impoundment, Wheeler Lake.
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass do feed during the daylight hours throughout Wheeler Lake. They also feed at night. From the lakes headwaters (situated just below Guntersville Lake dam), to over 50 miles south at midlake where the Interstate 65 crosses the lake are good places to fish all summer. The lakes lower end fed by the incoming Elk River and major incoming feeder creeks, displays all types of shallow to deep water habitats these bass occupy all summer long.
Wheeler Lakes Headwaters - The upper end of Wheeler Lake is more of a river type situation and the incoming feeder creeks and the lakes headwaters (below Guntersville Lake dam) supply fresh, cool incoming water, which creates current and oxygen. Constant barge traffic in these lake headwaters also keeps the water moving and the dam opening and closing all day creates lots of current. Creek mouths, and the mouths of small cuts and pockets, are excellent places to fish this summer with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and lures fished on bottom.
Wheeler Lakes mid-Lake - Two bridges cross the lake at its mid section and just below here is the millfoil and hydrilla infested, Decatur Flats. Incoming feeder creeks and loads of piers, boat houses and a few marinas that show shade seeking bass plenty of places to occupy this summer.
Wheeler Lakes Lower End - The incoming Elk River winds for miles throughout the scenic hillsides. It includes many bridges, loads of rock bluffs and a twisting, winding river channel, that creates log jams on every flat and bend.
Piers, boat houses and a few incoming creeks show the Elk River an all day excursion when exploring this major source of incoming water. There is always plenty of evident prey and loads of nutrients in the Elk River. Use caution when navigating during both day and night. There are always a few logs floating down the Elk River in the summer.
There is also Spring Creek across from the Elk River and First Creek and Second Creek near the dam on the Lakes lower end. Bridges lined with man made rip-rap rocks and major creek and river channel flats, bluffs and drop-offs hold schools of bass all summer long in this lower lake region.
There is also plenty for these bass to dine on all summer long throughout Wheeler Lake and many of these prey are found in these lake headwaters, mid lake and the lakes lower end. With many choices for the bass to consider.
Incoming meals like threadfin shad and gizzard shad baitfish, all sizes of minnows, a variety of bream, sunfish, small rock bass and other small baitfish are consumed daily. Lures that mimic baitfish like crankbaits, rattletraps and both floating and suspending jerkbaits are good choices this summer.
This lengthy list of summertime favorites these bass consume includes both small and large crayfish, all types of insects like bees, wasps or dragon flies and even frogs, small mice, small snakes, worms, eels and lizards. All of which are found in and around these places lake wide this summer.
There are spots that Wheeler Lake bass inhibit all summer. Places like around wood cover such as stumps, brush piles, laying trees and man made wood cover. This includes rocks and boulders and in and around all types of aquatic weeds. These are all dependable places to return to as conditions stabilize each week and more and more schools of both predator and prey move in.
Everything these bass need for survival (when the temperature soars and they are seeking these comforts each day or night) while feeding on what ever comes their way, gets down to what lures you can use to fool them into striking your offerings this summer.
Some anglers fish shallow, some fish deep. Versatile anglers do both during the summer months. Shallow bass are feeding bass and during the daylight hours or late evenings on Wheeler Lake this tactic always calls for including a few topwaters in your list of tempting offerings.
This can mean the use of weedless lures fishing right up in the many types of aquatic weeds Wheeler Lake has to offer. Around millfoil, hydrilla and Lilly pads try buzzbaits, frogs and rats, weedless spoons, spinnerbaits and both floating worms and soft jerkbaits. These lures are among many anglers favorites.
These many types of weedless lures are necessary (for less frustration), when targeting thick weeds and fishing with weedless lures helps avoid hanging or losing costly lures. The use of weedless lures always increases your chance for more catching and fooling these bass into striking your lures as well.
At early morning light topwaters fished along flats, rip-rap rocks and around other wood, weed and rock cover, can include a lengthy list of the not so weedless type topwaters, usually featuring one or more treble hooks. Walking type topwaters like zara spooks, Sammie’s and other cigar shaped topwaters, are deadly on both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass at dawn, late evenings or during cloudy, rainy periods. Also day or night try pop-r’s, prop baits and an old favorite, the jitterbug.
Fishing at night on Wheeler Lake can include using the same lures you use during the day. But most nighttime anglers stick with topwaters, spinnerbaits and lures fished on bottom like plastics rigged on a jig head, Texas rigged or Carolina rigged plastic lures, tube baits, creature baits and jig combos.
Whether you fish during the day or night, Wheeler Lake has both types of fishing to offer this summer. Be safe and always include your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch when boating this summer. Fishing Licenses, boat registration papers, up to date boat stickers and items such as a throw cushion, a fully charged fire extinguisher and life jackets for each boat occupant will be checked by the water patrol.
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”
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:
