Fall and Early Winter Fishing on Lake Eufaula
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Lake Eufaula…back then
Lake Eufaula. No not the one in Oklahoma. Lake Eufaula (officially known as Walter F. George Reservoir) is located in the southern region of the United States. It is situated along the Alabama / Georgia State lines on the Chattahoochee River. Impounded in 1963, the lake is now 43 years old.
I’ve fished, guided and even competed in a few bass tournaments on Lake Eufaula for over 30 years. In addition (in my spare time), I’ve explored this 45,180 acre lake, from one end of this huge 70 mile long impoundment, to the other. Prior to that, my Father and Uncle (both now passed on to catching even bigger bass up above) fished Lake Eufaula together, from the week the lake was first opened to the public in 1963, for over 30 years as well.
I’ve gained a whole lot of knowledge about Lake Eufaula over the recent years, seen a lot of changes and you could say, “I know it very well.” Not only about fishing Lake Eufaula in all seasons (when both at full pool and when down during drought or winter pool) but in knowing how to navigate my boat throughout this shallow water impoundment during low water… when it can be very dangerous for inexperienced boaters to attempt to navigate.
I can remember those days of bringing in huge bass, often with as many as a dozen bass over 5 pounds, caught in just one days fishing. I’ve seen and netted several big largemouth bass over that magical ten pound mark, including two 12 pounders. My father and uncle (like most anglers of that time) were fish eaters and those old, red metal Coca Cola ice chests were always slap full of fish. Always plenty of food for feeding a big family of that time.
Back then (in the 60’s and 70’s), we either fished the lakes lower end, the middle portion of the lake or to lakes upper end, always launching on the Alabama side of the lake. There were major boat launches all over the lake when it first opened, but there were a few we visited regularly. If we planned on fishing the lakes lower end (near the dam), we launched at Hardridge Creek on the Alabama side of the lake. It had no facilities back then and was a free boat launch. Hardridge Creek had very little weeds in the 60’s, no gators and plenty of standing timber left in the lake during impoundment for us to explore.
Of course we could always run the boat nearby to the huge, 2 mile long rip-rap rock lined Eufaula dam and always plan on catching largemouth bass, many weighing from 5-10 pounds. Usually this was successfully accomplished despite the conditions with one type of lure. We found lots of line tugging action on that dam by slowly exploring the rocks with Tom Mann’s worms, like those Mann’s Hobo worms (which came 100 to the bag for $2.00) or his world famous Mann’s Jelly worms and Mann’s Augertail worms.
If we planned on fishing Lake Eufaula’s mid to upper portion we either launched at White Oak Creek or launched at world famous, Chewalla Creek Marina and boat launch. There at Chewalla Creek Marina we displayed many big bass for pictures, all hung on the bragging board of Chewalla Creek boat launch. Memories that now fill our scrapbooks with pictures for others to gaze upon for years to come.
Eufaula…today
Today, we just take their pictures and let them go. Catch and Release. Back then we did not even no what that term meant. Even during the earlier years of B.A.S.S. / Bassmasters Bass Tournaments many anglers weighed in their bass brought to the scales on fish stringers (and even some smaller ones brought to the scales in coffee cans) for “catch and release” was not yet even a spoken term. We just did not know any better.
Eufaula has changed a lot over the past 40 plus years and today it is a totally different impoundment. Although it still produces largemouth bass exceeding ten pounds, there are not as many trophy bass taken by anglers as before. Fishing pressure. Any time you see lake with such world renowned recognition as Lake Eufaula is for big bass, it gets pounded regularly by hopeful bass anglers from all over the globe. Also at times (like during the spring season), there can be as many as a dozen or more bass tournaments on this lake on any given Saturday or Sunday.
Lake Eufaula’s appearance has changed to. The standing timber (left here during impoundment) is all but gone. Stumps, laying trees, brush piles and other wood cover (including planted fish attractors) have mostly just deteriorated away. Now there are those aquatic weeds for bass to relate to. Weeds of all kinds that provide cover and plenty of oxygen rich habitat for both predator and prey to take up residence in, mostly growing during the seasons of spring, summer and fall. Winter season shows the lake drawn down (extremely low in recent years) to aid in flood control, often as low as 4-6 feet below normal full pool levels. Aquatic weeds anglers fish most of year such as bulrush, maiden cane, cattails and lilly pads are left high and dry during lake drawdown and become obsolete as fish habitat during winter.
But there is recent surge of two new type of aquatic weeds growing throughout Lake Eufaula, weeds that can grow during the winter season and weeds that can grow in deep water. Eurasian millfoil and Hydrilla aquatic weeds are spreading throughout the lakes mid to lower portion every year. Weeds that were once foreign to this lake recently introduced to Lake Eufaula by anglers that launch their boats after fishing other weed infested waters on other lakes.
An example is Guntersville Lake in Alabama or Lake Seminole in Georgia, both lakes of which are now choked out with these aquatic weeds that grow very thick and matted when left unattended. The good side is anglers like it, bass like it and the small fish and crayfish the bass dine on like it. Millfoil an hydrilla weeds also hold bass during the middle portion of the day, making them very susceptible to your lures.
Fishing Lake Eufaula during October, November and December
Fishing Lake Eufaula during the fall period is often as good as the spring season, but with less company. Anglers hanging up their rods in exchange for guns are now in the nearby woods deer hunting. Some would be anglers are home watching football. While still others have given up until next year, actually covering up their boats and parking them until next spring. To bad. They are missing out on some of the year’s best big bass action and they could still have a shot at plenty of fish catching action found lake wide.
Fall. Gone are the temperamental attitudes of the bass like during the spring spawn and picky feeding bass schools following shad schools in deep water this summer. These bass now invade the shallows of main lake flats and feeder creeks with one thing in mind, to fatten up and put on the needed fat reserves for the cold winter months ahead. Its true, like said the rest of the year, “Find the baitfish and find the bass.” This not only goes for exploring the over 500 miles of shoreline cover found in the shallows of Lake Eufaula (now exposed with lake drawdown) but getting out on the main river and fishing deeper water found along drop-offs and creek and river channel ledges, for bass relating to deep water places, they will soon inhibit during winter.
As waters cool in October and November anglers fishing the weeds will have success with a variety of modern day enticing lures. Unlike the days of long ago there are now many lure choices to aid an angler in fooling these Lake Eufaula largemouth bass…bass that have seen a lot of tempting offerings during this past spring and summer seasons. But bass forget. They have a short term memory and many, normally lure conditioned bass, may not have even seen a lure of any kind recently, since not as many anglers are now on the water.
Weedless lures are the lures of choice. Why fish with frustrating lures that grab the weeds on every cast resulting in no bites at all and possibly mean losing costly lures? Save the treble hook lures like topwaters, lipless lures, jerkbaits and crankbaits for open water fishing away from the weeds. Of course this goes for fishing wood cover in the shallows to, more of which becomes visible with winter pool and lake drawdown.
So arm yourself with a variety of weedless offerings if you plan on fishing Lake Eufaula’s few remaining weeds this fall and early winter seasons. Lures like floating worms and soft jerkbaits are good for times when nothing else works. Fished slow and with very long casts in and around millfoil and hydrilla weeds these soft plastics lures do fool bass and they are very weedless. Monofilament line tests of 12-15 pounds are needed for these lures.
Frog and small mice imitation lures continue to fool bass that have dined on these tasty morsels all summer long. Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits are also still productive lures around weed and wood cover found in the shallows of creeks and main lake flats. Some anglers have developed a technique of swimming lures (lures normally fished on bottom) along weed edges and around wood and rock cover. Swimming a jig combo is a deadly tactic that covers water fast for big bass during the Fall and early winter period. Monofilament line in the 20 pound class is suggested for all of these lures. Some anglers use braided line. Strong rods in lengths of 6-7 feet, wide spooled reels and sharp hooks are also suggested.
The old favorite the Texas rigged worm in lengths of 6-10 inches continue to fool Lake Eufaula’s largemouth bass, just like 40 years ago. Texas rigged or Carolina rigged plastics such as worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, tube baits and creature type baits are also good lure choices whether you fish shallow water or deep water this fall and early winter seasons.
Deep water fishing for bass has its limitations when it comes to lure choices, but there are plenty of old stand bys that always fool some bass. The problem is many anglers have to stay on the move to find that motherlode of bass in deep water. These deep water bass often bunch up on certain, preferred locations during the late fall and early winter periods. Sticking with three lure types will help you narrow down your lure selection when targeting bass in or near deep water.
Worms or other bottom type plastics and jig combos always work here. Deep diving crankbaits or lipless crankbaits are good for covering lots of water fast and for triggering dormant bass to bite. Spinnerbaits, although usually associated with fishing shallow water, are great lure choices for probing deep water hangouts. Some anglers fish heavy 1-2 ounce spinnerbaits on 7 foot rods coupled with 20 pound test monofilament or braided line, fishing with a lift and drop presentation in deep water situations.
So give Lake Eufaula a try this fall and early winter season, you will like the results! Just like years ago big bass still live in the lake just waiting for some lucky (or skilled angler) to discover! Or call on Reeds Guide Service for fishing this lake or any Alabama Lake year round. Be safe, dress warm and always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch…it might just save your life!
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 Eufaula Fall Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Lake Eufaula has been unseasonably low for the entire summer. Drought for over three months and a scorching three weeks of 100 plus degree days in August, showed this lake and its fish inhabitants really suffer and so did the anglers that come from all over to fish this huge, man made impoundment usually fishing for largemouth bass. The Lake has been down 3-4 feet all summer and until recently when evening thunderstorms and some all day rains occurred it actually brought the lake back up a foot.
Lake Eufaula could remain low (possibly down even lower) right on into the upcoming winter season and it traditionally stays that way until spring. Or if this fall season is like most fall seasons on Lake Eufaula more heavy rains could suddenly swell the lake back to full pool. So as of this writing during the first week of September, its really hard to say. Not much has really changed…except for a slow, gradual change in the weather as September shows the real beginning of the fall season. Which can only get better creating better fishing conditions for the remainder of fall in October and November and on into the upcoming winter season.
This lake features over 70 miles of navigable water. Even when down 3-4 feet there is still plenty of fish holding waters to explore, but with caution. From Lakepoint Resort (which is situated in the mouth of Cowikee creek) - to the lakes headwaters, you will immediately notice the lake gradually narrows and then returns to more of a River channel. Most bass tournaments are held out of this very popular Lakepoint resort park that features a resort, motel, cabins, boat launch and restaurant.
From the bridge that crosses Cowikee Creek, all the way out to the main river channel, is over a mile of twisting, turning (and well marked) creek channel. It is advised not to take any short cuts in this area. Stay within the red and green channel markers when navigating the boat here and within the red and green channel marker buoys on the main lake as well. If you just happen to stray to far from these deeper creek and river channel depths you will quickly see what I mean, with 1-2 feet of water very evident nearby most every channel marker.
Fishing for the lakes so well noted largemouth bass involves either targeting shallow water bass around wood cover and whatever aquatic weeds still exists or going deep. The fall season has bass in both shallow water and deeper water to be found lake wide by the angler that is willing to do a little research, map study (and in deep water), spend some quality time with some type of depthfinder or just spend years of fishing and exploring this huge lake…like I have.
I’ve fished and guided all over Lake Eufaula for over 30 years. My dad and uncle fished in the earlier years of its impoundment when it first opened in 1963 over 45 years ago. The lake has changed in many ways over the past 30-40 years. But one thing remains common knowledge even today by the many regulars that frequent Lake Eufaula. As its waters begin to cool fall and early winter may show some of the years biggest bass in shallow water for a longer period of time, more than any other time of the entire year. Reasons being they are eating.
These bass have seen a lot of lures and although its been said a bass does not remember more than a few weeks and it does not really think just reason, they can respond. These bass are pounded with lures of all kinds all throughout the early spring prespawn season, during spring when bedding, all summer long both day and night and now, during the fall season. You can bet one of those many unfortunate bass you may catch has been caught before. This is usually quite evident by its hook torn mouth or healed up and often scarred and deformed mouth, or a missing eye or hazy looking blind eyes, or even a hook still in its mouth from the last angler that left it there or got broke off! So choose your lures wisely.
Sure both the bass of fall in shallow water and those bass in deeper water may still hit a 10 inch worm. But they may really scrutinize the lure before striking it too. Or they could just follow it and suddenly appear right at the boat, as you lift the fake offering over board. So slow down, working the worm very painstakingly slow and see if you can get bites other anglers fishing way to fast fail to entice. This goes for fishing deep within any weeds, wood cover, rocks or rip-rip rap rocks or other shallow water cover with worms, lizards, tube baits, creature baits or jig combos. Think slow, fish slow, and set the hook fast when you do get a bite and you will be rewarded.
Many anglers simply spend an entire day just dragging soft plastics or jig combos along the lakes bottom hoping to get a bite. And on some days this tactic works very well. Texas rigged plastics, Carolina rigged lures and even small finesse lures fished on light tackle outfits have worked very well in fooling Lake Eufaula’s often very skittish bass into biting. Some anglers even approach these bass in a very quite manner as they get the boat in tight to bank cover and flip, pitch and swim their lures in and around weeds, rocks and wood cover.
But there are many other ways to fool these largemouth bass, many techniques, various types of lures and loads of places to explore on Lake Eufaula this fall and early winter season. Like said, “fishing slow always has its rewards” and when bottom dragging lures or punching into thick cover, slow is always better. “Fast fishing” comes with other lures.
When I was young we trolled lures for bass on Lake Eufaula. This technique involved letting out lures (and lots of line) such as deep diving crankbaits far behind the boat, as we slowly idled the boat down the bank, along a flat featuring a drop-off, or we trolled our deep diving hellbenders, mud bugs or other deep diving crankbaits (plugs) near a river channel or deep creek channel drop-off. If you can relate and have tried trolling for bass you surely lost some lures as we did back then.
Something interesting always entered my mind as we started each day trolling. How could these bass chase down these very fast trolled lures and then catch them, often getting hooked right in the wake of that bold looking 25 horsepower outboard motor? Even during the winter! So never think you can out reel a bass, if they can chase down a lure trolled behind a boat. So fast retrieved lures such as crankbaits fished in all depths, rattling lipless lures (like Rattletraps, Cordell Spots, etc.) in all sizes and weights, even floating and suspending jerkbaits can be attacked when retrieved very fast and with very erratic actions. This can be good this fall and winter as well with just casting your lures!
Not only crankbaits, but spinnerbaits, jigging spoons and fast retrieved jig combos can often generate those reaction strikes from bass that are actually tricked into hitting your fast retrieved lures. Bass (on the other hand) that are missed by anglers fishing to slow on Lake Eufaula this fall season….
Making a trip to Lake Eufaula this fall and winter season? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! Or make plans and book a two day, discounted instructional fishing trip, this year or next spring (discounted as well) and prepare for a day full of fishing tips, instructions, lure choice and years of compiled fishing stories and tales! Remember a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service makes a great gift for Birthday’s, Father’s Day or Christmas (certificates available), for those loved ones that love to fish!
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:
Winter Fishing on Lake Guntersville
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
I write about Guntersville lake a lot because I fish this lake a lot. It is one of my favorite lakes for big, largemouth bass during the winter season. With 69,200 acres of water and over 82 miles in length, that leaves a lot of water to explore on this man made impoundment (Alabama’s biggest), situated on the Tennessee River System. It has now been near 70 years since Guntersville lake was Impounded. Since 1939 both my Father and Uncle spent an entire life fishing Guntersville Lake. Since I was a teenager I fished with them and soon began exploring Guntersville lake on my own as owner of Reeds Guide Service.
I’ve always looked at the lake with these years of experience, fishing and exploring it in every season. I visit this enormous lake in North Alabama every week and have seen over a dozen of its age old bass, many exceeding that magical mark of 10 pounds. Many of these huge, largemouth bass are fooled with a variety of lures fished from top to bottom, generally fishing in shallow, weedy main lake flats and flats in backwater feeder creeks, during the cold, winter months of December, January and February.
Warming trends always have an effect on these Guntersville lake bass that spend their time feeding in shallow, weedy waters. Cold fronts all but shut them down and warming trends always get them very active, usually after 2-3 days of consecutive warm days and warm nights. In Alabama, like during the beginning of this winter in December, it can get in the mid to upper 70’s often for more than a week at a time, showing winter water temps soar from the low 50’s into the upper 60’s. This triggers these largemouth bass to move into shallow water feeding for several days and nights at a time. That is, until conditions return to normal, winter time weather lows, slowing down their metabolism and making them slower to react to your lures. Its all a matter of timing.
Let me give you an example;
I took a young man on a trip to Guntersville Lake a few years back in December, that developed into a very memorable day. It was a Christmas gift he had received early, so we went a few weeks prior to Christmas. I say he was young, but actually he was a teenager, but with very little fishing experience. His biggest bass to date, was a 4 1/2 pounder, he had caught in his grandfathers pond on a plastic worm. So that day was dedicated to him catching one lone bass. One trophy bass he could get mounted and have bragging rights the rest of his life. Luckily for me the weather cooperated and he got his wish.
It was a week long warming trend and the bass were moving shallow and feeding more and more with each passing day bringing up the water temps a few degrees. I saw the water temps that week go from a previously two week cold front of mid 40’s water temps, to 60 degrees in just a few days. On this day a cloudy rainy front was approaching and evening showers were forecasted. Perfect wintertime warming trend conditions for targeting big bass in the shallows of Guntersville lake.
We started the day catching several bass in and around the millfoil weeds on lures like spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits, floating worms, suspending jerjkbaits, rattletraps and shallow running crankbaits. Then as the skies darkened we went to topwater lures. The young angler (as usual), exclaimed, topwater lures? In the winter? As usual, I had to explain. Yes, bass will hit a topwater lure in the winter. (See: Articles link at www.fishingalabama.com
After all, the water temps had risen over 15 degrees! I explained to him that even when it only rises from the upper 40’s to the low 50’s they will still hit a topwater lure and that I had taken bass on topwater lures in 43 degree water temps. He looked a little skeptical after I told him that. He wanted to fish a lure he had never fished before, a zara spook. He had heard this was my favorite topwater lure so a little guidance was at hand, as I showed him how to rig the lure and how to cast it and create the enticing now famous, walk-the-dog method with this old topwater lure created in the early 1900’s. I tied on a zara super spook.
This zara super spook is a newer version of the old original zara spook. The older zara spook had 2 hooks and no rattles. The Zara Super Spook has three hooks and rattles (See: www.lurenet.com) and it walks a lot easier than the older zara spooks. It is also heavier with a thicker body and the zara super spook casts a lot further and is more wind resistant.
Well, after a few casts the young man could not have gotten a better example. A blow up got both of our attention as a largemouth bass exploded on the lure at exactly 3 p.m. in the evening! The spook disappeared and the bass dove down into the weeds. Luckily the hooks and the 20 pound test line held as I swung the bass in the boat and soon a largemouth bass looking to weigh about 5 pounds was laying in the bottom of the boat. The young man was awestruck!
I knew he was now convinced, so I took a break and watched him cast the spook as it slowly began to rain. He already had his rain suit on and just kept on fishing the spook learning to master its enticing walk with each and every cast. It was a joy to behold, but I was getting wetter as the rain suddenly increased. I donned my rain suit thinking about how thankful I was the 5 pounder was not a mounting size bass. On these days often there is only one or two real trophy size bass taken and I was hoping the next explosion I heard would be a real wall hanger on the end of this anxious young man’s rod.
With the rain suit hood over my head I did not hear the explosion I was listening for. But a sudden jarring of the boat got my attention as I turned and saw the young man setting the hook time and again as he battled an obviously huge Guntersville lake bass. It was a scene I’ll never forget. Neither will he. This was the bass of a lifetime for this young man and I was just hoping we would just get it in the boat.
Earlier I had coached the young man on landing a large bass. Often, this panicky moment is when trophy bass are lost at boat side. We had tied a good knot, checked his line for nicks or unseen scrapes, checked his reels drag, adjusting it properly. Not to tight that results in broken line or straightened out hooks and defiantly not to loose of drag, that always results in loosing a bass that is not hooked very well. Seeing how good the bass was hooked and then reeling in the bass was explained. Most importantly was landing the bass.
I had told him I’ll submerge the net all the way down to the handle and you just lead the bass into the net with as little pressure as possible. He handled it like a life long pro and soon the battle was over, the huge bass was worn down and we netted it with thunder and lightning now coming in fast. He exclaimed, ” I got my trophy bass”! I knew we had to go, due to the severe weather approaching. Always a time to get off the water as fast as possible. So we just threw, what looked like a 10 pounder, in the live well of my Ranger bass boat and headed back to the boat launch…both of us bearing a smile that could easily make your mouth sore later.
So keep in mind no matter what lure your throwing at these Guntersville Lake bass, you can hook into the bass of a lifetime like this young man did on his winter time trip. Oh, how much did it weigh? Eight pounds and twelve ounces to be exact. Not as big as it looked, but big enough to ensure that this young man would have a lasting memory hanging on his wall for the rest of his life!
Also the bass was big enough that his father (who had given him the Christmas gift guided trip), called me the next day for booking another trip. A week later his father had the same “big bass expression” on his face as his son had, with an 11 1/2 pound largemouth bass was laying in the bottom of the boat, taken on an old Lunker Lure buzzbait topwater lure. But that’s another story.
Give a Guntersville lake gift to one of your loved ones that loves to fish, this Christmas season. Certificates available online. Or any occasion such as Birthdays and Fathers Day. Or just book a trip to sample Guntersville lakes waters this winter and spring with Reeds Guide Service. “Guntersville Lake’s oldest professional guide service fishing and guiding on this lake for over 40 years.” Several professional guides and boats available year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips.
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:
Lake Guntersville Fall Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Largemouth bass fishing during the Fall season on Alabama’s largest man made reservoir Guntersville Lake, is as comparable to fishing any other lake in the South, especially when it really begins to cool. Yes, it is as good as it gets. Not particularly for fooling some really trophy sized largemouth bass (although it is possible), or for catching a dozen five pound plus bass in one day’s fishing, which can happen as well, but for numbers of bass.
For anglers visiting this huge 69,100 acre reservoir situated in North Alabama, there is one thing sure they can rely on. Anglers fishing Guntersville Lake this Fall season will be noted for catching numbers of bass, with a bonus bass or two over 5 pounds expected on any trip. Something many anglers cannot honestly say about any other Alabama Lake they frequently bass fish. Why is this so? Numbers of bass. That’s why.
Guntersville Lake (67 years since impoundment) is loaded with thousands of bass, all found lake wide, no matter what season you choose to fish it. Its a lake loaded with aquatic weeds such as millfoil, hydrilla, Lilly pads and coontail moss. All of which provides loads of cover, oxygen and predator and prey habitat for these bass and the prey they feed on to survive within. This past Spring the lake went on an upswing for providing numbers of anglers with dozens bass in the 5 -10 pound range. Guntersville Lake also produced some huge, trophy sized largemouth bass, from the late winter period (prespawn bass) until late spring (post spawn bass), when even with empty bellies and weak from the rituals of the spring spawn, big bass continued to feed in the shallows.
By this past Summer things slowed (about July) on the Big G. as hot 90 degree days slowly crept in sending some bass back towards the comfort of deep water and some anglers back towards the comfort of air conditioning, T V and a nice couch. Shallow bass seemed almost non existent this past Summer when things really began to heat up, especially when they were buried up deep within weeds so thick many anglers failed to even connect with them. Many anglers found these shallow bass to be a lot more cooperative at dawn, late in the evening or some anglers resulted to fishing all night long with success. By August, hot upper 90 degree days (some days 100 degrees) and very little rain to cool things down, enticed some anglers to entirely eliminate fishing during the midday hours. But relief is in sight.
As Fall gets underway the month September will show some major relief. The first few weeks of September will seem tremendously cooler (even with low 80 degrees days), when compared with Summer’s upper 90 degree days. October will bring cooler days and nights and much more aggression to the bass, as they feed in the shallows more and more each day. November is the month of changes. Some bass anglers are home watching football, or out in the woods deer hunting. While others have parked the boat until next spring due to November’s constant incoming cold fronts.
So after over 30 seasons of consistent Fall action I have learned what to expect each month during this Fall season while fishing Guntersville Lake. This readies me for each trip as I always consider the previous conditions, current conditions, the upcoming weather and the changes to expect on each trip. Throughout the lake, each fishing excursion is always full of excitement on Alabama’s massive, 82 mile long, Guntersville Lake each month during the Fall season.
September
The Fall season does not officially get underway until September 22, a time when a new moon begins and fishing it seems, is new as well. These bass of early Fall can turn on as simple as flicking on a light switch. From one week to the next, anglers will see fishing improve in the shallows as these bass find much more comfortable surroundings, can trigger them to feed more often during the daylight hours.
Its like someone sticking us in a 90 degree room with no air conditioning or them placing us in a comfortable 70 degree room with all the comforts of home. The water temperatures will begin to cool immediately, from the uncomfortable, hot upper 80 degrees water temperatures found during late Summer period, to the low 80’s very evident during early to mid September. By the middle of the month, more changes, low to mid 70’s air temperatures can occur more frequently with noticeably cooler nights in the 60’s. By the end of September (its according to how many incoming cold fronts we have) it can cool into the 60’s.
Along with the change in the air temperatures, Fall rains and cloudy periods from passing fronts become more frequent by late September, inducing bass (and bass anglers) to head for the shallows. More changes. Heavy rains can muddy up Guntersville’s Lake headwaters and major, incoming feeder creeks during the Fall season. Falling or rising lake levels can occur as well. Although Guntersville Lake is not dropped very low for winter pool, anglers can expect it to be lowered this Fall at least 1-2 feet below normal full pool (595.0) levels, usually taking place around October. Besides cooling water temperatures, falling lake levels and bass heading back towards the shallows, anglers can expect loads of lures (more info next) to produce around Guntersville Lake’s weedy flats as the month of October shows fishing…like they say, “Is as good as it gets.”
October
Cooler nights become more frequent and cooler days become increasingly evident as each trip during October (the early Fall period in Alabama), calls for more and more clothing when fishing Guntersville Lake. Never go on a fishing trip in North Alabama during the Fall period without a rainsuit, rubber boots, jumpsuit, toboggan, gloves and a heavy coat. Including plenty of spare clothing for emergencies as well. You may need these items on any trip during the mid Fall to Winter period, so you might as well go ahead and make plans to pack these necessary items for each trip. Believe me, you will be glad you did.
Sure its cold and rainy, but October can be the beginning of more than two months of the years best bass fishing on Guntersville Lake, especially when you can pick your fishing days. But be prepared, it can be a lonely month as well with few anglers on the water. Or maybe you are already prepared with all the company you had these past few months.
Lures for Fishing Guntersville Lake this Fall
Lures for fishing Guntersville Lake are many, as are the opinions and suggestions of each outdoor writer, fishing guide, marina operator, fishing buddy or professional angler. All of which are for sure going to promote their favorite brand of lure, perfect size lure, lure color, lure type or lure cost, especially when it means sales. Cha-ching I think they call it.
Truth is most anglers know how to fish, generally what color lures to choose and when to fish certain lures that produce what we all are looking for…bites! There are even times (on most lakes) when it seems like a certain style or type of lure, certain color, exact lure size or even the way its fished…seems to get more bites than other lures. There are times when certain lures out produce others when it comes to getting bites.
But what it all boils down to is lure preference, confidence in your lure selection and experience fishing today’s wide variety of lures, many lures of which can be fished in dozens of various ways. Some anglers just have more of these three, self-made things (like it takes to build years of on the water experience), than others do. Until you do, you will still be open to suggestions and ask others for their suggestions. So here’s just a few of mine!
For one thing (and boy will I get contradicted for this one) I think every lure in your tackle box will produce largemouth bass, both in shallow water and deep water year round on Guntersville Lake. I have seen every lure type that is fished from top to bottom produce in all season’s on Guntersville Lake.
Topwaters? Yep. Just this past 2006 late Winter season in an Airport Marine’s first bass tournament of the season I had a couple of bass in the 3-4 pound range, fishing in 43 degree water, while having to constantly dip my rod in the water to keep the eyes from freezing up. Both bass came on topwaters. One on a scum frog and another (that missed a Zara Super Spook in practice on Friday), I caught Saturday in the tournament on the same Zara Spook, same spot, it missed the day before! Unbelievable! My tournament partner (that does my website: www.fishingalabama.com) can be reached by going to the cover page bottom at; Arrell Internet Services. He will attest to the fact…its true! Those are the coldest topwater bites I have ever had while fishing every lake in Alabama!
Deep diving crankbaits fished of course in deep water, work year round on Guntersville Lake. Fall is a great time (like the rest of the year) when crankbaits will produce quality catches lake wide. This is true fishing along creek and main river channel drop-offs, along rip-rap lined banks and around creek and river channel humps, bars, points, islands, submerged islands and high spots most only found with some map study or the use of a depth finder.
Colors? Stained water, fish brighter colors such as chartreuse / blue back or crayfish colors with maybe brown on the back and red or orange on the belly. Clear to lightly stained water, fish shad colors, chrome or natural colors. Or mix it up.
Lure types? Now that’s where a matter of choice comes in. I’m from the old school, so I fish a lot of old dependable lures, many of which can still be bought today. I have boxes of Norman’s DD-22 deep divers, Bagley’s DB-3’s, Tom Mann’s Loudmouth series deep divers, Deep diving Number 7 & 8 Rapala deep diving crankbaits, even some old Rebel Maxi R’s, Wee-r’s and some Mudbugs and Hellbenders! But I still shop around and there are many other deep diving crankbaits that will produce as well on Guntersville Lake this Fall, so experiment!
November
Its the last month of Fall in Alabama. To many anglers the month of November displays a feast or famine on each consecutive trip. One trip you kill em’ catching bass on all types of lures. The next trip it seems they have lock jaw and you can’t get a bite. Reason being? Many.
Like said cold fronts, heavy rains, fluctuating lake levels all take place during the late Fall period. Each one, especially when combined together, can really throw a curve ball in your fishing game plan. So, as when planing any fishing outing, timing is essential for a successful trip. I always look back a week or two to see what has taken place on Guntersville Lake and I look forward to see what’s planned for lake levels, current conditions or the upcoming weather. Like a boy scout, Be prepared.
Lure selection has not been mentioned a whole lot in this Fall Lake report for Guntersville Lake, for a good reason. They will hit any lure in the box, so writing space is limited. But like most anglers I’m full of suggestions so here are a few favorites if mine for fishing lake wide throughout this Fall season and early Winter period or like said…all year long!
Topwaters. Yes, they continue to work even in low 60’s down to 50 (or less) degree water. Frogs, rats, Zara Spooks, Sammie’s, buzzbaits, single and double bladed prop-baits, popping type topwaters like Pop-R’s, floating worms of all colors, soft jerkbaits and all other topwater types should be tried.
Spinnerbaits always fool some bass on Guntersville Lake. Small models with small blades in clear water and larger, more gaudy type spinnerbaits featuring bright colors in stained water.
Jerkbaits are excellent lures during the Fall on Guntersville Lake. Hard bodied models in floating and suspending models work lake wide. Soft bodied jerkbaits as well.
Rattling lipless lures, such as the name sake, “Rattletrap” lure, cover water fast and they get the big bass bite many anglers overlook on Guntersville Lake. Fish quarter ounce or half ounce sizes shallow and three quarter ounce sizes deep. Chrome / blue back or Chrome / black back or Red rattletraps usually get the job done…try both.
Bottom lures, like worms of all sizes, shapes and colors work during the Fall. Experiment. Don’t be afraid to fish worms in the 10-2 inch size, for big bass of Guntersville Lake feed on end of the year snakes, freshwater eels and worms that have grown to these lengths by the Fall season.
Plastic crayfish fished on a jig head, Texas rigged or weightless are great in shallow water. The jig combo that simulates crayfish take some of the years biggest bass during the fall period on Guntersville Lake. Some anglers flip and pitch crayfish or jigs around piers, boat houses and thick weeds. Others swim a jig along any available wood cover, around rocks and in and around weed cover. Adding oversized pork or plastic trailers to jigs allows them to fall slower and it presents a bigger lure profile. Tube baits of all sizes simulate crayfish, experiment with 4-8 inch sizes in various colors according to water clarity.
Plastic lizards are great lures when fished over thick, weedy mats, fished weightless. Or when fished Texas rigged and Carolina rigged fished slowly along shallow to deep water drop-offs, main creek points and around bridges, islands, around causeways and culverts lined with rip-rap rocks.
So as you see, there is a lot more to fishing Guntersville Lake this Fall season as each month progresses. Just think, Winter is ahead when the really big bass come out of hiding!
Always dress warm and be prepared for any emergency when fishing during cold weather…the life you save may be your own. Wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch.
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service…first! For lake conditions and lake updates or to book a trip to Guntersville Lake (or any Alabama Lake) this Fall and Winter season. Over 30 years guiding on all of Alabama’s Lakes. Several professional guides and boats available year round for multiple parties and Corporate guided trips. Instructional trips available and equipment can be provided.
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:
Winter Fishing on Jordan Lake
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Winter officially got underway in Alabama the first week of December, 2006. However you would still think it was late Fall if you were fishing the second week of January. The New Year came in with a bang on the water as well, with water temps reaching 60 degrees!
So how does the rest of the “so called winter” look for anglers here in Alabama on Jordan Lake? Very good. For the next 6 weeks these Coosa River breed of spotted bass and some big largemouth bass are all in a winter pattern and a winter state of mind. March is a prespawn month.
WINTER CONDITIONS
These bass are conditioned to move about at any time to feed during conditions that may arise during incoming cold fronts, or during rainy cloudy periods, on sunny days and week long warming trends. Various situations that involve moving water (current on the main lake from dam discharge in some areas of the lake), shows that these bass in some spots, are often biting better than in other places.
Varied conditions found lake wide can have a tremendous effect on the habits of all Jordan Lake’s bass. Conditions of many kinds take place during winter and each condition affects all bass and the meals they feed on, especially when its comes to them eating and putting on the needed fat to make it through a harsh winter.
Jordan Lake is the last lake of six lakes situated on the Coosa River System (that runs from north to south Alabama) and anything is possible for this mid Alabama impoundment created in 1928. With water temperatures currently in the low to mid 50’s and air temps close to 60 degrees constantly warming the lakes creeks and backwaters, you can see a difference 5-6 degrees water temps can make.
In various places throughout the lake, warming spots take place on every sunny day this winter. Places such as main lake flats are bathed in an all day sunshine and shielded from high winds. In addition, they are out of the constant, main lake current. Also out of the current are small cuts and pockets such as those found on main lake rock bluffs and the dozens of weed lined, timber filled pockets.
Always keep in mind, evident current found on the lake (just look at moving trot line jugs facing down river) will not heat up like the lakes still backwaters that remain calm, still and constantly bathed in water warming sunshine. Flats found in incoming feeder creeks, bathed in sunshine all day, show that from mid day to late evenings the rising water temperatures do have an effect on these bass.
Anglers may get plenty of bites from bass that become more active when water temps rise 4-5 degrees in a days time. So always return to places such as this (places you may not get a bite in during a cold morning prior to a warm sunny day) for active feeding fish. Just the opposite can occur in these areas when it is colder a few degrees. You may get a few bites early, but often no bites during very cold, cloudy days when water
temperatures do not rise significantly.
LURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR JORDAN LAKE’S BASS
Lures and the many ways to fish them can involve many choices during both cold front situations and warming trends during winter on Jordan Lake. Most anglers associate this “January and February winter fishing” with a slow, bottom dragging process utilizing various types of lures such as grubs, small worms, lizards and crayfish imitations, jig combos, tube baits, creature baits and finesse lures fished on small jig heads, etc.
Conditions always dictate the use of many different types of lures, lure colors, lure sizes, lure actions and the various ways to fish all of them. Traditionally, most anglers fish slow and think slow during late winter. This is when the winter season slowly winds down and eventually March will bring in prespawn conditions and schools of bass move shallow.
But often in this mid Alabama Lake during the January to February period, the bass will chase down a crankbait, nail a rattletrap or suspending jerkbait, or hit spinnerbaits with a rod jarring strike, even on a cold, winter day. They will even hit a topwater lure, when very active bass are affected by various conditions and at times even a cold front can turn them on!
So “Look” at the conditions prior to your trip and see what’s taking place during your planned trip to Jordan Lake. These conditions dictate lure choice. If its been raining for a week this lake can get a lot of rain run-off. There five lakes above Jordan Lake and it all comes done the Coosa River to this last of six lakes.
Spinnerbaits can be lures you throw all day when stained water and swifter current following heavy rains can swell the lake and create conditions where bass cannot see as well. This is when flash, vibration and lure colors come into the picture. Choosing spinnerbaits with gold and silver blades creates flash and more vibration the bigger the blades. Bright colors on the spinnerbaits head, skirt and trailers create various colors.
Crankbaits, rattling lipless lures, and both floating and suspending jerkbaits are all good lures on Jordan Lake during stained water conditions. These lures with rattles and lots of wiggling lure action help draw bass in for strikes in stained water conditions. Colors like chartreuse, white, yellow, lime, red and orange can be seen better and should be included on each lure. Conditions again, may show an angler fishing clear water and fishing with more subtle colored lures and natural lure colors
CURRENT, LAKE LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY
Current, Lake levels and water clarity play a huge role as well in your daily fishing on Jordan Lake. Anglers can check on Jordan Lake’s daily lake levels (normal full pool level is 252.0) and dam discharge schedules for 3 days by calling Alabama Power Company’s toll free Lake information center at 1-800-lakes-11.
Always check water generation schedules for both upper Mitchell Lake dam and lower Jordan Lake’s (2) dams. Write these water generation scheduled times down and tailor your fishing to each situation created by this current moving through the lake and its tributary creeks.
The current released by these dams affects both spotted bass and largemouth bass during the winter months just like the rest of the year. When they are feeding and water is evidently being generated there are certain places you need to be fishing and evident, current related signs to look for.
For example: If both dams are running all day bass will be tight to cover on the main lake. If the upper lake (Mitchell Lake) dam is running and the lower Jordan Lake dams are not running, then the lake fills up and bass move into flooded waters. If lower dams are running and Mitchell Lake dam is not, then the lakes water levels can fall, moving bass away from the banks and shallow flats.
Dam discharge areas are dangerous so always wear life jackets and outboard motor kill switches when fishing here or any where you fish! Hypothermia kills, so be prepared and be aware throughout your day and always play it safe! Dams are rocky and lures like grubs, small worms, jigs and jigging spoons fool bass every day. But bring plenty of lures, you will lose some in a days time in the swift current found below the dam discharge area.
Bring warm clothes and spare clothing. Have dry fire starting material (wood or paper) on board and a lighter. Always let loved ones at home know where your at and when to expect you home. Cell phones can be life savers. In winter, the life you save could just be your own!
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 Jordan Lake
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Jordan Lake is the last of six lakes situated on the Coosa River System that runs from North to South Alabama. It receives a lot of rain runoff during the Fall period and water generation (for electricity) at the lakes
headwaters, shows upper Mitchell Lake dam constantly creating some current. During the Fall period this means bass, especially those hard fighting Coosa River Spotted bass, are going to bunch up and feed on
incoming meals, both on the main lake and in its feeder creeks. Each month the fishing only gets better during the Fall season.
September
Although the first week of Fall still feels like summer it will eventually cool down by the months end. Both the bass and the bass angler are ready for this cooling down period that always means it will get better. Fishing Jordan Lakes headwaters just below Mitchell Lake dam, anglers will soon discover the first mile is void of any weeds, there is very little wood cover and the rocks are where you will fish regardless. Huge boulders, rocks and bluff type banks show excellent habitat for the spotted bass. Many “spots” as they are called, will be taken here in Jordan Lakes headwaters for the next three months. Some are truly trophy sized spotted bass. There are hundreds of spotted bass found here in 1- 3 pound range. Bigger spotted bass in the 4-7 pound range (or bigger) do exist here. Your chances of hooking into one of these feisty spotted bass in the trophy class range are good this Fall and early Winter season. Getting it in the boat shows your chances dwindle somewhat, so be prepared.
Lures are many, dozens of fish catching techniques exist here as well and fishing locations mean just drifting with current, fishing the banks or probing the underwater bottom. Any time an angler fishes below any dam there is one thing evident, he is going to hang up and lose some lures in a days time. So fishing with lures that do not cost much, means you will care less if you do have to break them off due to hang-ups. Cheap lures? Well, they do exist when you fish some types. Jig heads can be adorned with a variety of plastics. Small worms in the 4-6 inch size, small lizards or crayfish imitations, shad imitations or just a plain old grub, are expendable, so bring plenty, for the rocks do have way of eating them up.
October
Anglers will see a major change in the fishing, for the better, when October arrives. Waters begin to cool and some weeds begin to die. Bass are feeding on baitfish, which is very evident as busting bass are seen feeding, often all day when the weather permits. Cloudy periods, rain or early morning bites can show some of the lakes biggest bass acting very foolish as they feed and fatten up in the shallows. As they spend more and more time in the shallows they are very susceptible to a wide range of lures. Topwater lures are great lures on these days. There are many choices when it comes to topwaters. Big gaudy type topwaters like the Zara Super Spook, Luck Craft’s Sammies, Pop-r’s and Chug bugs get the big bass’s attention. Noisy clacker type 1/2 ounce buzzbaits can really irritate a bass into striking, especially when thrown right into a likely looking big bass lair several times.
Spinnerbaits of all sizes and colors will always trigger some bass strikes on Jordan Lake. This does not matter if you fish weeds, wood cover or rocks, bass will hit a spinnerbait anytime and anywhere. The more stained the water is the more an angler should attempt to trigger strikes with spinnerbaits. If the water is clear fish small spinnerbaits in white or shad colors. If its stained try spinnerbaits with bigger blades and use plastic grubs or trailers and trailer hooks for short strikers. Colors of white, chartreuse and white, blue, yellow, lime or red will combine for aiding the bass in seeing your spinnerbait much better. Always use line from 14-20 pound test for various sizes of spinnerbaits.
Crankbaits come in all shapes, sizes, actions, colors and diving abilities. From deep divers to shallow diving crankbaits there is always some water on Jordan Lake to be fished with crankbaits. They will work anytime and anywhere on Jordan Lake during the mid Fall period for fooling spotted bass, largemouth bass and an occasional striped bass. Use lighter line of 10-12 pound test if you want to get deep divers to go deeper. If you are fishing crankbaits around shallow cover then heavier line can be tried to avoid breaking off precious lures. Rattletraps and Cordell rattling spots fall in this crank and wind category. These lipless ures can also be maneuvered to work in the shallows or allowed to drop deep for bass suspended in deeper water situations. Lipless lures are also very wind resistant and they are excellent lure choices when covering water fast or when encountering schooling bass. Jerkbaits are good in November to. Floating model jerkbaits, suspending jerkbaits and soft bodied jerkbaits are all good around weeds, wood cover, along rocky banks and points and even in open water situations when schooling bass are seen busting baitfish on top.
November
Its all according to the weather. November can show warming trends, rainy weather and mild nights. Or it can get cold in a hurry with cool nights and cold days showing several cold fronts in a row. Warm fronts show the largemouth bass really turn on in November and many trophy sized largemouth’s are taken during this late Fall period. Spotted bass are not affected as much as largemouth bass but even a minor cold front can slow them down. Many anglers find that seining the bottom with small finesse lures is the ticket to getting constant action with these often very picky spotted bass when conditions are poor for fishing on Jordan Lake.
Creek fishing is at its best from the mid Fall to early Winter period on Jordan Lake. Weeds that are dead or dying can show lots of bass nearby. They simply move out to the next available cover when the weeds die and the prey is not as evident. Stumps, laying trees and logs, found near these dead or dying weeds can hold more than one bass when they are forced to relocate. The lakes lower end near both dams, may be the best place to consistently find clear to lightly stained water conditions when heavy Fall rains swell the lake and create muddy water lake wide.
Fishing Jordan Lake this Fall season? Always call on Reeds Guide service…first! Over 30 years of exploring every fishing spot imaginable on Jordan Lake, with many tournament wins and big bass awards taken in years past 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:
Winter Fishing on Lake Neely Henry
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Neely Henry / Lower Lake
When winter arrives Neely Henry Lake goes through some major changes. December shows water
temperatures cooling into the low 50’s. The lake is also down for winter pool. By January the lake has
stabilized and unlike years past, it is only down from 1-2 feet. If lower than 1 foot, this all but eliminates any aquatic weed growth.
By mid winter most bass are relating to piers, boathouses and other wood cover, rock cover and slight bottom irregularities. Cold fronts can cool down the water into the low to mid 40’s. Warm spells that can last for a week or more, can really bring up the water temps often close to 60 degrees or more.
There is another thing to consider in winter, especially January and February. Heavy winter rains. These 2-3 days of rain can swell the lakes headwaters and muddy them up real bad for a few days. This goes for major incoming feeder creeks on Neely Henry Lake.
So plan your trip accordingly and be prepared with several back up plans, that include fishing the lakes lower end, especially when practicing for a major bass tournament. Don’t rely on just one or two spots, or rely on just a few ways of catching these bass on Neely Henry Lake. Be versatile.
Make plans to fish the mid to lower lake if rain precedes your fishing trip. This lower lake region stays clearer, has bigger feeder creeks (than upper Neely Henry Lake creeks), creeks that clear up fast after rain, and the lower lake is more dependable, than targeting the lakes headwaters during winter.
Besides the rain, you are going to be looking at a river situation (20 miles) if you fish the lakes headwaters above Gadsden City launch. Going south of Gadsden City boat launch displays a more wide open, spread out lake situation. If you fish below the Gadsden City launch you have about 30 miles of water to explore.
Neely Henry Lakes headwaters
Fishing the lakes headwaters calls for tactics that shows lots of main river targets. The narrow, river type waters, fish just like any river would. This means fishing the mouths of small creeks and pockets. Some creeks still have good water depth as you enter the mouths but most creeks in these lake headwaters play out to shallow flats, now mostly dry due to lake drawdown. Besides these creek mouths there are some places many anglers overlook when fishing the upper reaches of Neely Henry Lake.
Broken off banks fall into the water all the time due to bank erosion and constant current in these lake headwaters. These can be spots with standing timber, timber that keeps on standing, as the entire bank just slides off into whatever bank was underwater there before.
What takes place (unknown to many anglers) is a very small, timber filled island, is now very close to the bank, mostly hidden beneath the waters surface. The original bank could have dropped down right into a main river channel, or on top of a ledge, or it could have slid down deep now covering up a previously, plain looking bank.
Not only is there standing timber now in the water, from 5-15 feet deep, but plenty of washed in debris, such as brush piles, trees, logs and original stumps. All of which block the main river current and cover that can hold schools of unmolested bass in the winter. Anglers can fish the upper portion of these washed in banks, along the sides, or fish the lower ends, where most winter bass hold out of the current.
There are other places real similar, but featuring rocks instead of wood cover. Rock bluffs adorn the lakes headwaters. Outside river bend banks that are exposed to the elements, can break off and tumble down into the water. Anglers should look for slight irregularities on these miles of rocky bluff banks. For often there is no evidence of any broken off banks, unless you look real close.
Like the timbered banks that are broken off, there is hidden cover down below on these rock bluffs. Places now covered up from fallen in, washed in boulders, rocks and slab rocks. Perfect places for an entire school of both spotted bass and largemouth bass to hole up in, out of the current. As they await an easy to catch meal as it passes by.
Rock bluffs in Neely Henry Lakes headwaters, also show many other slight irregularities worth investigating. Small cuts and pockets situated within these rock bluffs provide eddy areas and places for the baitfish to escape the swift current. Great ambush spots for bass to prey on these meals too.
There are irregular bluff banks, bluff points, logjams and places where rock bluffs meet other types of banks. Not only is there plenty of visible wood and rock cover for anglers to target along these bluff banks, but places many anglers overlook, due to bank fishing.
First and secondary ledges on rock bluffs can hold schools of bass relating to deeper water or places not hammered as much as the visible bluff banks. These are ledges that can be right against the bluff banks, or the secondary ledges can be real close to the river channel, or they actually could be the main river channel drop-off.
Finding these places only means eyeing your depthfinder, studying a map, or just fishing. You can slowly probe these ledges with bottom lures, such as a very weedless Texas rigged worm. A lure that will help you feel every bit of cover down there. Wherever you intend to fish later in a bass tournament, you should always feel the bottom with lures in practice to actually know whats underwater.
Lure types for these lake headwaters vary tremendously. Warming trends show spotted bass and largemouth bass real active, often chasing down crankbaits, spinnerbaits, rattling lipless lures, a swimming jig, or attack floating and suspending jerkbaits, and even at times rise to a well placed topwater lure.
All of these lure types are lures that emit some kind of sound, flash or vibration for bass in these normally stained headwaters to home in on. Lure colors should be experimented with. Clear water calls for natural colors, white, silver and shad colors. Stained water calls for chartreuse, yellow, red, orange and other bright colors for bass to see better. Then there’s those cold fronts.
When heavy winter rains muddy up the lakes headwaters and incoming feeder creeks its hard enough to get these wintertime bass to bite. Add a cold front to that and you are fishing an anglers toughest conditions he can face…any time during the winter.
Cold, muddy water should always be avoided during the winter months. Head down the lake when these conditions take place. Do it fast. There are only so many hours in a fishing day. Don’t, “do it or die” in cold, muddy water situations, hoping for that one bite. Not when you can fish clearer water and get a lot more bites in a days time on the lakes lower end.
Be safe and always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. The life you save could be your own this winter! Dress warm and carry spare clothes. Bring along spare sandwiches, candy bars, bags of potato chips, cakes and cookies (energy food — for emergencies). Always have plenty of crackers, warm food like soup, warm drinks like coffee and hot chocolate and always have fire starting materials like dry wood or paper.
You could fall in the water on any given day and need to heat up real fast. Hypothermia kills! Be prepared for the unexpected! Its hard to start a fire on a rainy day, without good dry paper, cardboard or wooden sticks and chips for fire starting material. Bring plenty of spare clothes for each boat occupant as well.
Never leave anything to chance, be safe this winter and always let loved ones at home know where you intend to launch and on what lake. Let them know when to expect you home and always give them a cell phone number to reach you and you have theirs as well. Have ways for them to give info to others, your type of boat and color, tag numbers and vehicle type and color, all for identification purposes in emergencies.
Need help fishing Neely Henry Lake this winter? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! Alabama’s oldest, professional freshwater guide service, guiding on all of Alabama’s Lakes year round. Several qualified guides and boats available year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips.
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:
Lake Harris (Lake Wedowee) Fall Bass Fishing
Article by: Reed Montgomery - FishingAlabama.com
Lake Harris is also called Wedowee Lake due to the nearby town of Wedowee, Al. It is situated in northeast Alabama where the Big Tallapoosa River and The Little Tallapoosa River join at mid lake about 5 miles from this small town. This is Alabama’s youngest Impoundment with R L Harris dam completed about 25 years ago. By comparison to other Alabama man made impoundments, this is not a big lake. It is only 27 nautical miles from Lake Harris dam to the lakes headwaters. But it is still a rather spread out lake with 10,660 acres of surface water.
This lake does not receive a lot of fishing pressure maybe due to the fact it is so far from a major suburb city. Although it is situated close to a small Alabama town (Wedowee), it is over 30 miles to nearby Anniston, Al. along Interstate 20 going from Birmingham to Atlanta. Nearby, Logan Martin Lake on the Coosa River System and Lake Martin situated down stream of Lake Harris on the Lower Tallapoosa River, both get a whole lot more attention from Alabama’s anglers and constant recreational use.
Lake Harris was stocked with more than 135,000 largemouth bass when impounded in 1983. Prior to impoundment there was already a good population of native largemouth bass that already existed in the waters of the big and little Tallapoosa rivers. Some big bass that were previously in small ponds, lakes and creeks. All of which was inundated when the lakes backwaters were flooded.
As the lake rose when impounded it covered up the previous homes of these bass. These rivers and small bodies of water also held other fish species including the Tallapoosa breed of spotted bass, lots of crappie, bream, minnows, crayfish and catfish. All of which when combined is the perfect recipe for creating an excellent bass fishery…much better than any angler could ever have imagined. Huge, trophy sized largemouth bass!
LAKE HARRIS IN THE PAST / HUGE, LARGEMOUTH BASS
Just five years after impoundment Lake Harris started exhibiting phenomenal catches of big, largemouth bass. Hundreds of five pound plus bass were recorded being caught by about every angler that bass fished Lake Harris in the mid-to-late 1980’s. Soon, big trophy sized largemouth bass (those exceeding that almost magical mark of 10 pounds), started showing up. Not just a few 10 pounders here and there each month, but weekly, several bass over 10 pounds were reported being caught or weighed in at nearby tackle stores. It got even better.
Bass in the “teens” became common and soon the word got out, “Lake Harris has monster bass”! Although it took almost 10 years to build this lake, it did not take half of that time before the anglers of Alabama and surrounding states started showing up. Word soon got out, not only in Alabama but throughout the south, especially when three largemouth bass of near state record (over 15 pounds) proportions were caught. Including an unfortunate bass that had obviously lived out its entire life, a huge bass exceeding 17 pounds, found deceased and floating in the lake.
It was not long before the Alabama state record bass of 16 pounds and 7 ounces became threatened. In the early 1990’s even bigger bass - those exceeding 16 pounds - were taken out Lake Harris, then 10 years since impoundment. But these, “bass of a lifetime” were only boated by the fortunate angler that was lucky / skilled enough to land such an adversary. These were huge, largemouth bass. Bass that not many anglers had ever even had the honor of doing battle with. There were many huge bass reported being lost right at boat side by panicky or just plain unprepared anglers. But like said, “all good things soon come to an end.”
LAKE HARRIS TODAY
Since the lake was impounded its been about 25 years of anglers seeing the ups and downs of a new impoundment. The locals tried to keep it a secret, but once those huge bass started appearing it was out of their hands. Today the numbers of largemouth bass exceeding 10 pounds has decreased. Often, you will hear of an angler catching one. Maybe a 13-14 pounder. But what has happened to all those bass in the “15 pound plus” weight category?
They are still there, but maybe fishing pressure and the lake going through good and bad cycles has contributed to the plain fact. Maybe even pollution. Still, Lake Harris is one of the best lakes in Alabama for fall, winter and spring trophy bass fishing and as they say, ” a young or newly impounded lake always has a sudden reoccurrence of excellent bass fishing about every 5-6 years. ” We are due.
So today, you could assume bass anglers are due again for a chance of landing a possible state record size largemouth bass. There is actually a 6 month period, from fall into the winter season and continuing on into the spring of next year, for actually hooking into the bass of a life time. Records show most really huge largemouth bass (those in the teens), are taken from January through March.
These are late winter bass to prespawn bass. Big female bass usually feeding heavily and constantly fattening up for the rituals of spawning, in the spring when they will eat very little for almost 30 days. These are catchable bass and these bass are susceptible to a whole range of lures fished in all depths on Lake Harris.
LURES FOR LAKE HARRIS BASS THIS FALL
Choosing the correct lure, fishing it in the right manner, in the right depth of water, in the right place, is the recipe for success this fall season on Lake Harris. Many variables will determine your lure choice and your fishing success. Rigging several rods with various types of lures that cover the top, middle and bottom water column will help determine where the most catchable bass are holding on each outing.
TOPWATER LURES - Its a sure bet if an angler starts out the day throwing a topwater lure (on any day) during this fall season on Lake Harris, he / she may be connect with the days biggest bass. With the lake currently down 10 feet and no weeds on the lake, you can possibly eliminate lures normally fished for their weedless qualities. Still, I have seen lures like frog and rat imitations (normally used in weedy situations), work just as well around Lake Harris wood cover and rock cover, especially during low water periods on this lake when these bass are more concentrated in a much smaller lake.
Wood cover is very evident, with standing timber, brush, stickups and stumps, all left here during impoundment, still standing today. With the lake normally down from 10-15 feet during the fall period for winter pool, it looks like you are fishing a forest. When casting your lures among all of this lure grabbing wood cover use precise casts. Topwaters like zara spooks, Sammies, pop-r’s, the spittin’ image, the poppin’ image and baby torpedoes (with dangling, wood grabbing treble hooks) should be fished with precise casts during this fall and winter period to avoid frustration or losing lures.
When the lake is down it also exposes lots of previously submerged cover. Topwaters, like just mentioned, fished out in open water get strikes from suspended bass holding out in deep water. These can be schools of spotted bass as well that have grown to trophy size bass over the past 25 years. Keep a big heavy topwater lure (like a zara super spook with 3 hooks), rigged and ready for these schools of bass can erupt at any time during the fall and early winter season.
If looking for a more weedless topwater lure try noisy clacker type buzzbaits, that feature one upturned hook. They cast long distances, are very weedless and wind resistant and buzzbaits can be made to weave through all the wood cover. Another plus is, buzzbaits attract the bigger bass bites! Always include a trailer hook and fish buzzbaits on at least 20 pound test monofilament line or 30-40 test braided line.
LURES FOR FISHING IN THE MIDDLE WATER COLUMN
These lure choices are as many as when choosing a topwater lure. But these lure choices work anytime. Like Spinnerbaits. Choosing your spinnerbaits depends on water clarity. During falls heavy rains the lakes headwaters and the incoming feeder creeks can get stained. At times the lakes mid to upper section and its feeder creeks can get downright muddy. As most anglers know when faced with this situation this is the time to fish with heavier 1/2 to 3/4 of an ounce spinnerbaits.
Those models that show brighter colors both on the spinnerbaits skirt and trailers as well are best. Spinnerbaits sporting big, oversized blades are a must, so bring along plenty of blade choices. Spinnerbaits can be retrieved right through standing timber without hanging. They are very weedless and will not hang up unless your casts are not precise and you snag a limb or tree trunk. Spinnerbaits can also be slow rolled or dropped among all this lakes standing timber, for some bass are still holding deep from the hot days of summer and early fall.
Crankbaits would be a good second choice lure, if I had to cover the middle water column where a lot of big bass just suspend during the fall and early winter period. These lures fool a lot of bass into striking, usually out of instinct and some big bass as well. Rig three rods, one with a shallow diver, one with a mid diver and another rod rigged with a deep diving crankbait. This will help you determine what depth most strikes can occur from. Colors, lure actions and the way you retrieve these crankbaits may determine whether or not you even get a bite. Experiment and try all types.
The same goes for lipless lures that sink and can be fished at all depths. I’ve seen these type of lures like Rattletraps, Vibes, Cordell spots and Rapala’s Rattlin’ Raps work very well on Lake Harris schooling bass and bass suspended in this standing timber. There are times when they prefer small to large sizes so bring plenty of 1/4 to 3/4 ounce lipless type lures.
Suspending and floating jerkbaits fall in this middle water column. Although most jerkbait models only dive less than 5 feet deep they are excellent lures for triggering bass that ignore other lures. Fished with a fast, erratic stop and go retrieve, fishing jerkbaits can show these bass follow these lures and often hit right at the boat…so be ready! Always use 14-17 pound test line on your crankbaits and jerkbaits.
LURES FISHED ON OR NEAR BOTTOM
Boy, how long of a list would this be? When choosing lures that you generally drag along the lakes bottom this fall season there are many lure choices, lure colors and various lure shapes, sizes and actions these bass may prefer. Water clarity, water depth, the time of year you are fishing and the type of cover being fished should determine your lure choice.
Also what are you wanting to catch? Lots of small bass or fish all day hoping for just one big old monster bass? The choice is up to you and yes, bigger is always better when faced with this decision. I would rather cast a big lure all day, that fills a bass’s belly fast and gets its eating interest, rather than fish a smaller offering, usually resulting in getting lots of bites, but generally from smaller bass. So here’s a few choices.
Worms - These slithering creatures have fooled a lot of bass over the last 25 years on Lake Harris. Small worms work very well especially in clear water situations or when following a cold front, when bass are more picky and usually full. Even small 4 inch finesse worms fished on light tackle outfits have fooled some big bass into striking on Lake Harris. Problem is many of these huge, tackle testing bass are not landed. The timber, rocks and bottom can damage your line nicking it and causing a big strong bass to break it. So heavier outfits are recommended.
Big worms fool the bigger bass. Worms in lengths of 10-12 inches, fished on a 4/0 to 6/0 hook with a 1/4 ounce to 1/2 ounce Texas rigged sinker have fooled a lot of trophy sized bass on this lake. They still work today. Always sharpen all hooks and bring plenty of worms, hooks and sinkers. Lizards, tube baits, creature baits and jig combos come in small and large sizes and they fool these bass on bottom this fall season on Lake Harris.
Looking for a real, trophy sized bass this fall and winter season? Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! ” Fishing, guiding and exploring all of Alabama’s lakes for over 40 years,” including Lake Harris, since it was impounded. Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service makes a great gift for Birthdays, Fathers day and Christmas (certificates available), for those loved ones that love to fish. Several qualified guides and boats available year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips. 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”
Originally Published (2007)
Resources:
