Alabama Fishing Reports
02-16-2008
Weiss Lake Alabama Fishing Report by Mark Collins Guide Service
Weiss Lake Alabama Fishing Report By Mark Collins Guide Service
www.markcollinsguideservice.com 256-779-3387
January 17th 2008
LAKE WEISS IS AT 3.6 FEET BELOW FULL POOL STAINED AND 45 DEGREES
For Reports On Other Area Lakes Please Visit www.havefunfishing.com
Please be careful with the low water levels !
With the higher water level all of the marina's boat ramps are usable
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama ! For more info contact Ken Sturdivant at ken@havefunfishing.com
Bass fishing is Poor and the Bass have moved out to deeper water on the old river channels and main lake points, Carolina Rigs,Jigging Spoons, Drop Shot Rigs and 1/2-3/4 ounce double willow leaf Spinner Baits in chartreuse and white slow rolled are all good winter baits. Spotted bass can be caught in Little River on any deep rocky banks, a Senko worm in green pumkin is working well. Always remember that in winter the colder the water the slower you should fish !
Crappie fishing is Good and good numbers of fish are being caught on the main Coosa River ledges from Riverside Campground to Three mile Creek, bumping bottom in 11-14 feet of water with live minnows and Jiffy Jigs. Tight lining a 1/16 or 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jig in color JJ17 on the upper Coosa river ledges is catching fish also. The upper Coosa river is also producing some decent catches of crappie in the log jams and behind any structure that creates a current break. Fishing a minnow on a slip float 6-10 feet deep behind the log jams is always a great way to load the boat with some slab Crappie from Weiss Lake. The piers at JR's Marina are producing a lot of Crappie casting jigs and minnows under floats 5-7 feet deep.The bumping bottom technique is a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce bell sinker tied to your main line then come up 12 to 16 inches above the weight and tie a eagle claw snelled hook in size 1 or 2 style # 127 to the main line, come up another 12 inches and tie on a Jiffy Jig in colors JJ13 and JJ17, fish this rig 1 to 2 feet above the bottom on the edge of the old Coosa River channel in the Riverside Campground area down river to Three Mile Creek.
Striper fishing is Fair and the Stripers are on the edges of the the old river channels and major flats of the Coosa River and Little River. Yellow Creek is also producing some good fishing. A 4 inch curly grub in chartreuse glitter or a 3 1/2 Sassy Shad in pearl or chartreuse glitter on a 1/4 ounce jig head trolled at 1 to1 1/2 mph on 12-15 pound test Ande line . Target the area from the Cedar Bluff bridge down river to Yellow Creek and up into the Little River and Chattooga River arms. Target any of the deeper road beds, humps and points in the deeper flats and any point that meets the old river channels. The Coosa River above the Highway 68 bridge to Cowan Creek is also producing some fish.
Catfish are biting Great. Catfish are being caught all over the lake. Jug fishing in the flats of the main lake is a sure way to load the boats with some nice fish. Use live bream, cut bait, whole crappie heads or any kind of stink bait. Fishing the main Coosa river channel with cut bait, right below the Cedar Bluff bridge is producing some big Blue Cats, any of the deeper holes on the main Coosa River will hold large Catfish thru the winter months. The docks at JR's Marina are producing some 20-50 pound Blues and a few Flatheads on Crappie heads most every night. Make sure to use a good quality fishing line I suggest Ande line in at least 25 pound test. These big Catfish are strong and will fight very hard in the cooler winter months.
For your next visit to Weiss Lake I Recommend Chesnut Bay Resort on World Famous Weiss Lake Alabama www.chesnutbayresort.com 256-526-7778 This brand new resort on the banks of beautiful Yellow Creek has everything for the fisherman and family. Offering private Villa's on and off the water from 2 bedrooms to 6 bedrooms fully furnished with washers and dryer's, leather furniture, big screen Televisions, hardwood and tile floors, all in a private gated community with a in ground swimming pool. The Chalet's on the water have private boat docks with power. The resort also has a private boat ramp for your convenience, with plenty of amenities for the non fisherman it offers something for everyone ! Come stay at Chesnut Bay Resort, Weiss Lakes most exclusive resort at a very reasonable price !
All Pro Rods APX Series www.allprorods.com The Finest Fishing Rods Available Today !
Gizz 4 crank bait by SMACK TACKLE www.smacktackle.com !
JIFFY JIGS www.jiffyjigs.com Catch your limit in a jiffy with JIFFY JIGS !
Marks outdoor Sports For all your outdoor needs please visit Marks Outdoors Sports in Birmingham Alabama. The most complete sporting goods store in Alabama ! www.marksoutdoors.com
Driftmaster Fishing Rod Holders and Accessories The Right Equipment to Catch More Fish ! www.driftmaster.com
www.stripertackle.net For all the best deals on striper tackle
For the fishing trip of a life time, come fish with me on Weiss Lake, Alabama The Crappie Capital of the World and Striper Capital of the South !
NO FISH NO PAY !
Thank you and have fun fishing.
Mark Collins
256-779-3387 H
Gulf Shores fishing, Orange Beach fishing
Spring break in Gulf Shores is arriving and so is the fishing. February and March will be good months for redfish near the shores of the Alabama Gulf. The Spanish mackerel should arrive in March. As for now, the redfish are still here and they are ranging from 18 to 30 pounds. The offshore trips are producing vermillion snapper, white snapper, triggerfish, amberjack, scamp and grouper. Come enjoy some Gulf Shores fishing.
Do not forget the Orange Beach Saltwater Series Tournament from April 4th through May 26th. Entry fee only $10 per person. Includes vermillion snapper, triggerfish, king mackerel, wahoo, grouper and much more.
Captain Don McPherson Getaway Charters
Conditions on Lake Eufaula are as follows.
The current lake elevation is 190.09. The water temperature is ranging from the high 40’s in the morning to the mid 50’s by the end of the day. With warmer weather predicted, these temperatures should rise a little over the next week, at least until the next cold front arrives. Due to the recent rains, the lake for the most part is heavily stained to muddy, except on the extreme southern portion where some clear water can be found around the dam. The fishing has been really tough and unpredictable for the past few weeks. Recent tournaments have proved the same for a lot of fishermen with the exception of a few that can work a jigging spoon on those deep schools of wintertime bass. With spring approaching, the fishing should be getting better and more predictable over the next couple of weeks as the spawn gets closer. Working shallow ledges with medium running crankbaits and Carolina rigs should really pick up as the fish move from there deep water holes to position themselves for the upcoming spawn. There will also be the shallow fish that will relate to the hydrilla, and these fish can be caught on spinnerbaits, Rattle traps, and Texas rigged worms. Whatever fits your style of fishing, expect the action to really heat up for the next couple of weeks, especially if we can get several days of warmer weather between passing cold fronts.
PICKWICK LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Lake Level: Down 5 feet
Water Temperature: Upper 40's
Humps, points, bluffs and Lake headwaters. These are just a few of the types of places, an angler should target on Pickwick Lake during late January and early February. This is the official period of winter, on this Tennessee River Impoundment, situated in North Alabama near the town of Florence. Here is a run down of Pickwick Lakes wintertime, likely locations.
HUMPS
Smallmouth bass and a surprisingly good number of largemouth's, can both be found around Islands, submerged humps, sand bars and ridges, located throughout the lake. Many are now visible, some are hidden, just beneath the surface of the water.
On Pickwick Lake there are many underwater Indian mounds, left here during impoundment. These are actually rock piles, that block the swift current of the Tennessee River system.
Smallmouths relate to the edge of the swift current, awaiting an easy meal. Largemouth's hug the bottom or find refuge among washed in wood cover, stumps, or ledges around these humps and islands. Utilizing a map and good depthfinder, most anglers can find a large number of these humps, few anglers even know about.
Lures to entice strikes from these smallmouths and largemouth's, can vary, according to severe winter or slight warming trends. When its been very cold, such as nighttime lows near 20 degrees and daytime highs not even reaching 50 degrees, things slow tremendously on these mid lake high spots.
This calls for fishing thoroughly and very slow with each offering. Drifting along the edge of these islands, ridges, and submerged humps, while jigging spoons or fishing with tailspinners, will cover lot of water and entice fish hugging the bottom.
Carolina rigging small, finesse lures, such as 4 inch worms, lizards, grubs, soft jerkbaits and crayfish imitations, will entice more strikes in very cold water than bigger, more gaudy type lures. Finesse fishing with light line and small lures take big bass in winter on this lake.
POINTS
Points on this lake hold bass year round. During winter, when the lake is low, they bunch up on points lakewide. This can be long, main lake points, that border flats, dropping into deep water. Or short points with deep water along all three sides.
Or points can be found in the mouths of cuts, pockets and creeks, where both largemouth's and smallmouths gather, just out of the swift, main lake current, feeding on baitfish and crayfish. Some of these points have deep water all around, dropping abruptly into very deep water.
Points, bordering deep water can always be found along rock bluffs in small cuts, pockets and creek mouths. Fishing these many points on Pickwick Lake, evolves into simply running and gunning throughout the lake during winter.
You can move from one point to another on this lake, in a very short amount of time. Fishing each point thoroughly and very slowly, then slow your approach, until making another move nearby. Not only can bass be found right up on these points, but in the surrounding water as well.
These out-of-the current spots often contain huge schools of bass, bunched up, usually in one very small spot. This means either dragging bottom-bumping lures, or fan casting, Carolina rigged lures and deep diving crankbaits, looking for that instinct strike. Wood cover along these spots always harbor the bigger largemouth's in the area. Try laydowns, washed in debris, stumps and brush piles.
BLUFFS
On Pickwick Lake, rock bluffs account for many of the year round tournament victories and show some huge, trophy sized smallmouths and largemouth bass during the winter months.
When its been a severe winter, smallmouths can be found all along these deep, rock bluffs. Enticing strikes from these finicky bass, can mean fishing each spot slowly and trying many lures, approaches and depths.
Lures range from small worms and crayfish imitations to grubs, shad imitations and jig combos. In clear water situations, natural colored worms or colors of red, blue, and green, are always enticing for that smalmouth bite.
Crayfish inhabit these bluffs, hanging and hiding around rocks, boulders and scattered debris along the lakes bottom. Lures that simulate these tasty treats are plastic crayfish, jigs adorned with pork trailers or plastic chunks, and even deep diving crankbaits. Best choices are, crayfish colors of brown, red, or green, with contrasting colors on the belly, such as red or orange.
Shad, baitfish and bream all swim these bluffs during winter. Fishing identical looking lures, will entice strikes from these bass using their eyesight traits in these clear winter time waters. Soft plastic shad imitations, grubs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and rattletraps, are just a few of the many shad imitations that these bass will hit. Suspending jerkbaits can be dynamite on these bluff bass in winter
LAKE HEADWATERS
Its been said that simply fishing the lake headwaters will eventually connect an angler with a true, trophy sized bass in the winter. This goes for smallmouths, largemouth's and an occasional striped bass (or drum).
Just below upriver Wilson Lake Dam, there are countless smallmouths taken each winter. A word of caution. Between the bridge and the dam, are hazardous waters. Especially with the lake down 5 feet for winter.
There are hidden, underwater rockpiles, that can severely damage a boat, motor or even worse, you. These rocks can capsize a boat, knock a hole in the boats bottom, or tear off your motors lower unit. Worse yet, getting thrown in these swift, cold waters can mean hypothermia and often, death.
Always wear a life jacket and an attached outboard motor engine kill switch, when navigating in these lake headwaters (or anywhere on the lake for that matter). Life jackets are required whenever, within 800 yards of any Alabama Lake dam. Dress very warmly and be prepared for any emergency situation.
Spare clothes, matches or a lighter (and paper to start a quick fire) may be needed. Keep all in a plastic bag, in the boat, in dry storage. This could just save your life or your fishing partners life.
As for fishing, the bass are there, getting them to bite, is up to the angler that can stand the cold. Drifting in the swift current, is the normal process for catching these bass on Pickwick Lake, below the Wilson dam tailrace waters. You can use live bait, such as small minnows, shad, crayfish or leeches.
Or you can drift, dragging lures behind the boat, bumped along the lakes bottom as you drift downstream. Plastic worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, grubs, tube baits, deer hair jigs, rubber skirted jigs, and small jigs with spinners, all work here.
Drifting in this current can also just mean vertical jigging lures such as spoons, tailspinners or metal blade baits. Either on the lakes bottom, or in the mid depths, halfway to the lakes bottom, for suspended bass. Water generation dictates where these Pickwick Lake bass will hold.
When the water is not running in these lake headwaters, especially during sunny days or week long warming trends, these bass will move shallow and hit a variety of lures. Look for water temperatures in the low 50's, for this type of shallow water pattern to work in these lake headwaters.
There is a lock located at the lake headwaters. Here, water is released, every time a boat enters or exits the lock. Rip-rap rocks, line both sides of this long, narrow channel, just below the lock. Smallmouths and largemouth's, feed here along these rocks, and can be enticed to bite with many lure choices.
Crankbaits, rattletraps, grubs, jigs, spinnerbaits and even topwater lures will work here, when coupled with warming water during winter. No matter where you fish on Pickwick Lake during the winter, be prepared to connect with a possible world record smallmouth bass. They are here.
One smallmouth bass, weighing 8 1/2 pounds, was caught here in 1988. Its time for another to be taken, by some fortunate angler fishing Pickwick Lake this winter. Give it a try or call Reeds Guide Service. "Fishing all of Alabama and these Tennessee River Impoundment's for over 30 years."
12-13-2007
With North Alabama receiving moderate amounts of rainfall recently, you can expect fluctuating water levels. There could be an area on the river in which you run full throttle across one day, only to find a stump six inches below the water line the next day.
Wheeler Lake: Several good bags of largemouth bass have come from anglers throwing Carolina-rigs in the Decatur Flats and along the steep ledges of the main river channel near Finley Island. The Carolina-rigs have been tipped with everything from trick worms to tubes to soft jerkbaits.
A few decent catches of bluegill have come from around the south shore between Finley Island and the power lines. Also, check areas with a gravel bottom near Swan Creek for schooling bream. Live crickets are the preferred bait.
Wilson Lake: Look for white bass and hybrid stripe to school around creek mouths when current is flowing. If you see the surface action, be prepared to throw a one-quarter ounce, chrome-colored, lipless crankbait.
Pickwick Lake: Smallmouth bass are hammering baits around rock points when current is flowing. The main lure is crankbaits but excellent bags have been reported with spinnerbaits, jig-and-craws and slider rigs.
Lake Guntersville: The largemouth bass topwater bite has slowed lately but a few trophy fish are still available. If topwater lures aren’t working, switch to Texas-rigged plastic worms and work the edges of floating grass beds.
LAKE WEISS IS AT 6.2 FEET BELOW FULL POOL STAINED AND 83 DEGREES
Please be careful with the low water levels ! Weiss Lake is at the late December lake level !
There are very few boat ramps that are usable on Weiss Lake, all of the private owned ramps are without water, the public ramp on Hwy 9 is still usable and the public ramp in the canal in Leesburg is still usable. We are working with the state of Alabama and Alabama Power to get some boat ramps repaired so everyone can still come fish Weiss Lake. I will report every week on lake conditions and the progress of repairs to the ramps !
Bass fishing is Good. The bass have moved shallow in the main lake due to the falling water and low oxygen levels in the deeper water. Work main lake points, humps and flats near the main river channels with shallow running crank baits like the Gizz 4 and the Bandit 100 series. Work these baits on 12 pound test line with a 6 1/2 or 7 foot medium action crank bait rod. Look for flats with shad working the surface near the main river channels in the main lake from the Cedar Bluff bridge to the powerhouse lake.
Crappie fishing is Fair. The crappie are on the main Coosa River and other creek channel ledges. Night fishing on these ledges with minnows and Jiffy Jigs is always a good bet to catch a few crappie and beat the heat of summer. Bumping bottom in 8-12 feet of water with live minnows and Jiffy Jigs is producing some fair fishing. The bumping bottom technique is a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce bell sinker tied to your main line then come up 12 to 16 inches above the weight and tie a eagle claw snelled hook in size 1 or 2 style # 127 to the main line, fish this rig 1 to 2 feet above the bottom on the old Coosa River channel in the Bay Springs and Yellow Creek area. Shooting docks that are on the main Coosa River channel with a 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jig in color JJ13 is still producing some good catches.
Striper fishing is Poor. With low oxygen levels in the lake the Stripers have shut down.
Catfish are biting Good. Catfish are being caught all over the lake. Jug fishing in the bays of the main lake is a sure way to load the boats with some nice fish. Use live bream, cut bait, whole crappie heads or any kind of stink bait. Fishing the main Coosa river channel with cut bait, right below the Cedar Bluff bridge is producing some big Blue Cats.