Submitted
by Tim Chandler
MildrillaFishing.com
8-8-2008 Today
was the third and final day fishing with John and his son
Nate. Both of them had many first times on this three day
adventure. Both of them caught their biggest bass ever,
their most bass in a day, and had their first double & even
a triple. They also got to see a monster grass carp up
close and personal as it splashed water over into the boat.
Oh, yeah…. John even got
a hook in his hand that I got to snatch out. As I reported
on Tuesday they landed over 30 fish but no big ones, Wednesday
was much better as they caught 37 fish and this time the
good ones made it to the boat. Thursday unfortanelty was
cut short two hours due to the storms rolling across North
Alabama but not before we landed 40+ fish. Three days of
fishing there was over 100 fish caught on Yum 10” ribbontail
worms, Xcalibur Zell Pops, and Booyah jigs fished around
grass in 3-12ft of water.
8-1-2008
Thursday the fishing
picked up a bit and my clients from Calhoun, Ga didn’t mind at all. I
know it sounds like a broken record but we used Yum
10” ribbontail worms (plum), Booyah Boo jigs
(black/blue) Excalibur Zell Pops (ghost) and Heddon
Super Spooks (Lake Fork). No reason to change if the
bass still want it. Total for the trip was somewhere
between 22-25 fish. Friday it slowed down again for
us as we landed about 17 fish but I really thought
it would have been much better since TVA was releasing
more water than normal.
7-25-2008 Guntersville continues to produce quality bass for 
clients
this week. I had two trips Wednesday, the first of the
two being with Buzz and his 9 year old son Lex that were
down from Idaho visiting family. I always thought Idaho
was known for its potatoes but Buzz informed me that
Idaho actually produces more sugar beets than potatoes...
Hmmmmm that’s interesting! Anyway it didn’t take young Lex long to catch his firstlargemouth bass of his life. He handle the Xcalibur Zell Pop like a pro and manage to land 9 fish by himself as he refused all help from dad or me. For the trip there was 31 fish caught. The second trip clients broke out the Booyah jig and proceed to put some good fish in the boat before the skies blackened. It got pretty rough out there and we had to take cover for about 45 minutes. After the storms passed we went back out but the fish never cooperated for the reminder of the trip. Total for the afternoon session was 12 bass. Thursday I took some time off, but I still went fishing with two of my good friends. We fished all new water with 
Booyha jigsand Yum 10” ribbontails worms and landed 18 fish. Today (Friday) I took to gents from Georgia out looking to learn a little more about Guntersville. Webegan the day tossing a Spook Jr. & the Zell Pop but it didn’t take long for the wind to squash our topwater bite.We then switched over edges of the grassfishing witha jig and a Yum Craw Papi. Total for the day was about 23 fish.
7-22-2008 The last two days have been pretty hot out there with temps around 100 degrees. But if you can stand the heat the fishing has been absolutely awesome. Yum 10” ribbontail worms and Booyah jigs fished fished around grass edges and ledges continue to be the best thing right now. Keep the boat moving until you catch one then slow down, because today & yesterday when you found a group of fish it was common to have doubles and even triples. Monday we caught 24 fish and today we landed 37 with no schoolers.
7-5-2008
The week of July 4th has been awesome for quality
fish. I have had the pleasure of fishing with clients
wanting to learn the flipping jig, clients wanting to
experience the topwater bite, clients practicing for
an upcoming tournament (who requested not to be on internet,
so I did the honors) and clients that just wanting to
have fun. I even got to fish a little in the afternoons
with a good friend of mine. The baits that produce the
best fish were Xcalibur Zell Pops, Heddon Super Spooks,
Booyah Boo Jigs, and Yum 10 inch ribbontail worms. We
fished areas from Goosepond all the way down to the lower
end of the lake. We targeted grass in depths of 5 feet
to 10 feet and some deeper ledges as well. July and August
the fishing typically slows down but I don’t think
this year it’s going to happen. I have said before
this year reminds me of the 80’s when there was
just so many fish out there. With the grass behind compared
to past years it is shaping up to be awesome summer!
Pic and
release,
Tim Chandler
Tim Chandler's Pro Guide Service
256-655-8292
Mildrilla Fishing.com
**********************************************************************
GUNTERSVILLE LAKE
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website www.fishingalabama.com
Summer on Guntersville Lake
Lake Level; full pool
Water Temps; mid to upper 80's
If you have not visited Guntersville Lake since this past
spring you may be missing some of the best bass fishing in
Alabama! Maybe even better than you have seen in years! I
know it is the best I have seen in many years, since I first
fished Guntersville lake over 30 years ago. These are shallow,
rather easy to catch bass, any angler would love to do battle
with. Its going on every day but picking the best days involves
choosing weekdays and fishing on cloudy or rainy days. When
most anglers are not on the water.
Guntersville lake is loaded with all types of aquatic weeds
such as milfoil and hydrilla. It also has some very scummy
backwaters and some places with very thick Lilly pad fields.
No matter where you choose to fish using weedless lures is
a must! Also come prepared with strong dependable line. Some
anglers use braided line, others swear by fluorocarbon line
and other anglers just use strong monofilament in the 17-
20 pound test category. Regardless of you choice keep in
mind there are some very big bass in this lake. My advice?
For now, leave the light tackle stuff at home. As they say,
Come loaded for bear!
I've taken hundreds of anglers to Guntersville lake over
the past 30 plus years and I always tell them ahead of the
planned trip the same thing far ahead of time. Yet there
is always some angler that arrives at Guntersville Lake with
their reels loaded with 10-12 pound test line, thinking it
will be OK. Often its not. Like I always say, why go after
an elephant with a BB Gun?
So think big. Be prepared. Do not go back home with the old
tale of the one that broke your line and got away. Everybody
has heard that one! Good knots, strong line, sharp hooks
and a good rod and reel are all that's between you and the
bass of a lifetime. This includes a good net and good net
man, for times when you do get that bass almost in the boat.
A lot of big bass have been lost at this crucial moment when
all else has held up. Always instruct the net man to let
you lead the bass into the net. Tell him / her to submerge
the net up to the handle and you will do the rest.
There are many lures in this weedless category, some lures
unheard of, some lures most anglers fish. Anytime I head
to Guntersville lake there are some regular lures I suggest
my clients have tied on.
BUZZBAITS - These irritating surface lures cover water fast
and get strikes on days when you least expect it. Have plenty
of choices on hand. Small buzzbaits, or big buzzbaits, noisy
clacker-type buzzbaits, or those that emit little noise,
should all be tried until the bass tell you the type they
like best. Heavy line is a must. Always include a trailer
hook, at times we even use a treble hook trailer for short
strikers!
FROGS AND RATS - These lures can be "the lure" on
some days, so bring plenty of choices and always experiment
with all types of frogs and rats, various colors and lure
actions, different sizes and try various retrieves. Some
days they want them slowly moving, other days hopped in and
around the weeds and on some days really moving these lures,
gives the bass little chance to really scrutinize the lure,
resulting in an instinct strike or blow-up.
FLOATING WORMS, SOFT JERKBAITS AND LIZARDS - These are plastics
that will always generate some strikes.
* Floating worms such as Zoom's air injected trick worms
can be deadly on Guntersville's lure conditioned bass. Although
colors of white, limetreuce and bubblegum are bright and
gaudy colors they do fool some big bass into biting. You
can see these colors better while utilizing a good pair of
polarized sunglasses, wearing a wide brimmed hat and fishing
with the sun to your back. Adding scents and rattles may
help. Use a 3/0 to 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook.
* Soft Jerkbaits come in all sizes, shapes and colors. There
are also just as many companies that make these enticing
lures to choose from as well. Each angler has a certain preference.
This leads to more confidence, so choose soft jerkbaits you
like! Always use a good sharp hook that will penetrate the
thick plastic bodies of these lures when you get a strike
and always set the hook hard, but only after the lure is
gone or you actually feel the bass.
* Lizards are thought of by most anglers as using them Texas
rigged or Carolina rigged. Seldom do anglers fish lizards
rigged weightless. Rig the lizard by bringing the hook out
of the throat of the lizard, Texas style with absolutely
no weight. This allows the lizard to ride high in the water,
just like a real lizard that swims with its head held high.
Retrieve it just like you would a buzzbait. But slowly. Like
the Floating worms and soft jerkbaits, wait until you feel
the bass or see the lizard disappear before setting the hook.
NOT SO WEEDLESS LURES - Lures with dangling treble hooks
are usually frustrating to fish on Guntersville Lake with
so many weeds that snag the lures hooks. But fishing lures
like Zara Spooks, Sammies or popping type topwaters and prop
bait lures can be very rewarding while fishing along weed
edges. Weedy points are a good example of the use of these
and other lures. Cast far past these weedy points and make
the lure get as close to the weeds as possible. To enhance
this technique, fish windy weed points on all sides.
Fishing Guntersville Lake this summer season can evolve into
the use of many lure types. There are some lures many anglers
do not even use anymore, due to newer lure choices. Older
model lures are not seen as much by these bass and some lure
types still fool bass when other, newer lures fail.
How long has it been since you have fished a Johnson Silver
Minnow weedless spoon? Or a Snagless Sally, an inline spinnerbait.
Or do you even own a rooster tail? These are just a few lures
to try day or night. How about a Hula Popper? Or Jitterbug?
They still work as well.
Give Guntersville Lake a try this summer season. Or call
on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 for fishing any lake
in Alabama year round. Night fishing trips now being offered
as well.
* See my website www.fishingalabama.com for more info.
* Looking for a new or used boat? See www.airportmarine.com
* Looking for the best bass tournament trail in Alabama?
See their tournament trial link found there as well at; www.airportmarineteamtrail.com
* Looking for the worlds best bass boat? See www.rangerboats.com
Thanks and Good Fishin'
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
"Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over
10 Years"
Owner / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
Email: 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 ."
