Wilson Lake Spring Fishing
This small impoundment of 15,930 surface acres has some very fishy looking water. Wilson lake, now over 80 years since impoundment, is “very big” on all types of fish. Wilson lake may be the most varied fishery in Alabama, holding many different species of freshwater fish. It is loaded with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and a good population of spotted bass as well. Striped bass come in numbers, some weighing from 20-30 pounds (or bigger) have been taken in years past. This goes for hybrid striped bass and white bass as well.
Anglers seeking the famed “brown bass,” the smallmouth bass, come from all around the globe to sample her waters for these true tackle testing bass…and rightfully so. The previous world record smallmouth bass came out of Wilson Lake in 1950. It weighed a whopping ten and one half pounds. After over 50 years, there have been many smallmouths taken from 7-10 pounds on Wilson Lake, some that got away.
March on Wilson Lake is all according to the weather. Fishing can be tremendous for weeks at a time with warming trends. But you can always expect a cold front in March in north Alabama, one that can shut them down for a few days. Heavy rains are common during March and often several days of torrential downpours can really muddy up the lake and incoming creeks.
The first week of March this spring season (and a few weeks after that) showed unseasonably warm days of mid 70’s and mild nights of mid 50’s. Some cold fronts with daytime highs in the 50’s occurred, but nothing to serious to severely drop the water temperatures and send the bass back to the deep.
By mid March of this spring season water temperatures were hovering in the mid 60’s on Wilson Lake. So, it looks like an early spring, unless of course another severe cold front sneaks in, when anglers least expect it.
As bass of all species move in the creeks, a variety of lures will fool some of the year’s biggest largemouth bass, spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Some bass are still feeding and very active while others are already bedding with the full moon nearby in mid April. Lures are many at this time of year for fooling both largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and an occasional spotted bass or even a striped bass species.
Shallow to deep diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, floating and suspending jerkbaits, rattling lipless lures, topwaters and loads of soft plastics and jigs on bottom, will all fool these prespawn bass of March.
April shows the entire lakes water warming, aquatic weeds in full bloom and Wilson Lake alive with feeding bass, baitfish activity and lots of spawning bass. As waters reach the optimum spawning temperature of 72 degrees bass can actually be seen in the shallows. Feeder creeks, flats on the main lake, flats found in shallow water along rock bluffs, flats in small cuts and pockets, and any point on the main lake or up in feeder creeks, will display the easily seen and freshly made beds for spawning.
The month of May on Wilson Lake (like any Alabama Lake) shows some of the year’s best, consistent action, for bass fishing. Especially with the use of topwater lures. Many anglers wonder why topwater lures are often the lures of choice when it comes to bass fishing in May on Wilson Lake and all throughout Alabama.
Well, there are many reasons why you should have several different types of topwaters handy this spring. Maybe even a few extras, just in case a big bass decides to take one away from you.
Most bass have bed by mid May. Many bass are through with the rituals of bedding, some are through guarding the bed against unwanted intruders and now mostly smaller male bass are protecting the small, inch long, newborn baby bass. This is all that’s left to keep them in the shallows. All but one other very important factor in the life of all bass. Eating.
For almost a month (from late March, until the first week of May), both the male and female bass of Wilson Lake have been stressed out. Prior to bedding, both male and female bass have eaten well, fattening up for the spawn. But when actually going on the bed they don’t eat very much. The bigger female bass lay their eggs, hang around a few days and leave the tending of the nest for the male.
But these much bigger female bass (most anglers are seeking), do stick around and even some male bass can reach a hearty weight of 5 pounds. They both rest during May and recuperate, but still they are constantly watching over their newborn baby bass offspring. Most only eat when irritated or when the occasion provides an easy to catch meal. Like slow moving topwater lures.
After a few weeks of spawning both the male and female bass will regain their strength and make up for lost time at the dinner table. That’s why lures that are retrieved on or along the waters surface in shallow water (less than 5 feet deep, but usually around 1-3 feet deep), are at their best during the month of May. May is traditionally known as post spawn time for some very hungry bass on Wilson Lake, the Tennessee river’s smallest lake…that is very big on fishing during the spring.
Give it a try this spring and discover some of Wilson Lake’s ” best fishing of the year ” for targeting bass, stripers and other species of freshwater fish. Or always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! (205) 787-5133. ” Over 30 Years of Bass and Striper Fishing, Professionally Guiding, Catering to Tournament Anglers…and just fishing and catching whatever bites while exploring beautiful Wilson Lake and all other Alabama Lakes.” Several boats and professional guides available year round.
*NOTE* Please Practice C P R Catch, Photo and Release This Spring Season. So Future Anglers Will Have Fish Like We Do Today!
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:
Bass Fishing and the Weather
Weather plays a big role in the day to day feeding activity of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. While stable weather over 3 or 4 days in a row can put bass in a consistent feeding pattern, a cold front can come in and mess it all up in one day.
Windy weather can be very productive for bass fishing, although, it makes boat control a lot harder. Many anglers that can’t keep their boat in good positions will think that windy weather is not good for bass fishing. Wind can do a lot of things to help bass anglers though. A little chop on the water will allow bass to feel more comfortable to feed in the shallows longer. Wind will also push tiny organisms to certain parts of the lake, which will push bait fish into certain areas making it easier to find feeding bass. Too much wind makes boat control a problem though.
A light rain is great for bass fishing if you don’t mind getting a little wet. With some rain gear, it’s not too uncomfortable to fish in a light rain and bass will move shallower because of the low-light conditions. With bass feeling safer in shallower water, they become easier to find and catch.
Heavier rains make fishing difficult and can dirty the water up in a hurry. While it is possible to catch bass in heavier rains, many bass anglers will get off the water in these conditions.
Overcast conditions (cloudy or partly cloudy) are great for bass fishing. With less light penetration, expect bass to be cruising a little bit shallower than they would be if it were sunny out.
Sunny conditions can make bass fishing tougher, but it depends on the time of year. In spring and fall, the sun is not at the angle that it is at during the summer. Sunny days in spring and fall are not as tough for fishing as they are in the summer. When the water temperatures are cooler, a sunny day can actually help the fish turn on. In the summer, the sun will push bass out of the shallows into deeper water or closer to cover in shallow water such as docks. Many bass anglers do very well in the middle of the day on a hot and sunny summer day because the bass will be holding tight to the shady docks. Since anglers know where to target the bass, they have a lot of success flipping jigs, worms and other types of baits at them.
The weather will help determine where the fish will be feeding on any given day. Once you learn how the weather positions fish, you will become a better bass fisherman.
Fishing Resources:
- Shop Bass Fishing
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing and Water Temperature
Understanding what the water temperature will do to bass can greatly improve your chances of boating more bass on any given day. Most bass anglers know that bass are cold-blooded. In colder water temperatures (less than 60 degrees), their metabolism starts to slow down which makes them less active. As the water temperature warms up, their metabolism speeds up which makes them more active and more aggressive. Even in the heat of the summer, when most anglers think bass are sluggish, there are certain periods of the day that these bass will go on a feeding spree and they can even be seen chasing bait fish to the surface before striking them.
To keep it simple, bass will typically be in deeper water when water temperatures lower into the mid-50s and below. The 60 - 70 degree range brings lots of bass shallow. As the water warms up even more, there will still be some bass shallow using docks or other types of cover for shade from the sun. Shallow cover also provides some excellent ambush spots for bass.
Even as the water temperatures warm into the upper 70s and even into the 80s, many bass fishermen still catch plenty of bass shallow. You’re going to need to target cover if you want to catch bass consistently though. Most of the bass are typically found in deeper water once the water heats up. It is not uncommon to catch big largemouth bass in 15 to 20 feet of water and big smallmouth bass in 25 to 35 feet of water during mid-summer.
As fall approaches, water temperatures cool, which allows bass to come shallow again. As water temps come back down into the mid to upper 60s, shallow water cover is where a good percentage of bass will be found, but don’t count out the deeper water. Deeper water near shallow water cover usually produces some nice bites during the day.
Water temperature will move bass throughout the lake. Spring and fall are usually the best times for shallow-water bass. Early spring, mid-summer and late fall are good times for catching deep water bass.
Fishing Resources:
- Shop Bass Fishing
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Jig Fishing Boat Docks
Boat docks are great cover for a variety of species such as bluegill, perch, rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. Most fishermen that target docks are bass fishermen though. That’s because docks almost always hold bass from spring through fall, especially if there is access to deep water nearby.
To catch bass on the docks consistently, there are a few things you need to know. During low-light conditions, bass may not be holding as tight to the docks. Bass like to use the docks because they shade certain areas from the sun. During low-light conditions, there is nothing to drive them way underneath the dock. You may still catch plenty of bass under the docks, but there will be bass spread out around the docks and within a 50 to 100 foot cast from the docks.
During sunny days, the docks will provide shade for bass and they will take advantage of the shade almost every time. When the sun is straight up during the middle of the day, expect to have to make casts way underneath the dock. This is where they will be. When the sun is not straight overhead, the shade will actually be under the dock and out to one of the sides of the dock. Most of your bass will come from the shady areas. If your lake has a lot of docks to fish, just concentrate on the shady areas and keep moving. You’ll catch more bass by the end of the day this way.
To make the most out of each dock, try to fish the edges of the docks first, then move farther and farther underneath the docks. This way, you up your odds of catching multiple fish off of each dock. If you cast way underneath with your first cast, you may spook some of the other fish if you get a bite and pull a bass from way underneath. Work the edges first then go underneath. You’ll catch more bass using this technique as well.
Fishing Resources:
- Shop Bass Jigs
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With In-Line Spinners
In-line spinners work well for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Spring seems to be one of the best times to throw these lures because bass are feeding on smaller minnows at this time of year. Spinners will catch fish into summer and through fall, but spring is the time to fish them hard. A slow, steady retrieve usually does the trick.
Some of the better colors to use are all white or a green and orange mixture. Bass love these colored spinners in the spring time. You may also run into an occasional northern pike, walleye, perch or crappie.
Bass Fishing Resources:
- Shop In-Line Spinners
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits are a great warm water and cold water bait. Use it as a search bait or just work some cover with a slow, steady retrieve and you will catch bass.
Many tournament anglers turn to the spinnerbait to cover some water and find active fish. Then they usually follow up with a jig, plastic worm or something else that they can fish slow once they know they have found an area of water that is holding bass.
Spinnerbaits work excellent all spring with a nice, slow retrieve. As the water warms up with the warmer days of summer, a faster retrieve can produce heart-pounding strikes. Work them into the fall as well and remember that a spinnerbait is a great lure for throwing into schools of bass feeding on the surface over deeper water. If you put enough time on the water, you will see this at the end of summer into the fall as water temperatures start to cool down.
Bass Fishing Resources:
- Shop Spinnerbaits
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With Soft Plastic Lizards
Soft plastic lizards took the fishing industry by storm in the 90s. Just because they aren’t the new thing anymore doesn’t mean that they don’t produce. There are times when a lizard will out produce the plastic worm, although, most bass anglers prefer to use the worm over the lizard.
One situation that can be very effective is using plastic lizards around the spawning beds during the spring time. When bass move in to spawn, they will start to guard their beds and a plastic lizard usually has that extra action that drives a bass to bite. When you’re fishing the beds, watch out for bass that will pick up your lizard by the tail and just move it away from their bed. This is fairly common because the bass aren’t really grabbing your bait out of hunger; they are just trying to protect the bedding area.
There are many other situations that the lizard will work for you as well. Any spot where you would throw a plastic worm would also be a good spot to fish a plastic lizard. Sometimes, just giving the bass a chance to see something different is all you need to get a bite.
Bass Fishing Resources:
- Shop Soft Plastic Lizards
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With Lipless Crankbaits
Lipless crankbaits are an excellent bait for largemouth and smallmouth bass. From spring through fall, lipless crankbaits will produce in many types of conditions and around many types of cover.
Some of the common techniques are:
- to wind the bait in with a steady, but fast retrieve
- to wind the bait in with a steady, but slow retrieve
- stop and go retrieve
- countdown method - count the bait down to the desired depth before you retrieve the lure
Bass Fishing Resources:
- Shop Lipless Crankbaits
- Crankbait Fishing Tips
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With Chuggers
Chuggers are a unique topwater lure that works well for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Because of its dished out or cupped head, this lure causing a big disturbance which will bring bass in to take a look.
Most anglers have their best success with a pop and pause retrieve. Sometimes, pausing for as long as 10 to 15 seconds is what it takes to drive a big bass crazy enough to eat it.
They are great baits for bass from late spring through fall.
Bass Fishing Resources:
- Shop Chuggers
- Topwater Bass Fishing Tips
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Library
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Library
- Top Bass Fishing Trips
Bass Fishing With Chatterbaits
Chatterbaits have been one of the hottest new baits to hit the bass fishing community in the last few years. It is a great bait that has a flash similar to a spinnerbait, with the profile of a jig. This bait works well with a slow retrieve worked near shallow or deep cover. Some anglers also use the chatterbait as a slower type of search bait and they’ll either drag it on the bottom or higher up in water column for suspended fish.
This bait seems to be earning a reputation for being a great spring time bait, although, you can catch fish throughout the summer and fall as well with a chatterbait.
Bass Fishing Resources:
