Lake Neely Henry

Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

SPRING ON NEELY HENRY LAKE

Impounded 1966
Lake Level: Full pool (508.0)
Water Temperature: Low-to-mid 90's
Water Generation Dam Schedule Call: 1-800-lakes-11

Neely Henry Lake and Fishing Below Neely Henry Dam in the Summer

Summer shows hot weather and slow bass fishing at midday. But choosing to fish early at dawn or around these Coosa River lake's dams during the day and evenings, can increase your catch. Here's some info for fishing both in the lake and below the dam on Neely Henry Lake;

NEELY HENRY LAKE
During the summer months the lake stays at or near full pool. Drought may show the lake down a few inches or heavy rains can suddenly swell the lake to over full pool. Evening thundershowers can stain up the lake's headwaters or the backs of major incoming feeder creeks. But basically, the mid summer months of July and August always display one thing. Hot days, in the mid-to-upper 90's. Which always slows the shallow water bite after dawn.

Aquatic weeds abound throughout the lake. But the lake's headwaters situated below Weiss lake dam is void of any weeds. Mid-to-lower Neely Henry lake's aquatic growing weeds hold some big, summertime largemouth bass. They can be fooled into biting at any time like early, late in the day, or all throughout the night. Even at midday these shallow water bass will bite, if you are persistent and overloaded with confidence.

Something hard to do when that hot, mid-to-upper 90 degree summer sun is bearing down on you!

Seeking out the comfort of midday shade is important for both your health and the comfort desired by the bass you are seeking. Its a known fact bass prefer the shade, those places away from the bright sun on those very sunny, high pressure days of mid-to-late summer. Cooler water and much cooler air temperatures can always be found in the shade. Here's some places to begin your search;

Deep river bends, the mid-to-far back ends of feeder creeks, under culverts and bridges, along rock bluffs are all places that feature visible, cooler shade during the mid-to-late evening period. Always check out any piers, boat houses or around marinas, places that can provide shade as well.

Combine these places with weed or wood cover and a slow presentation with slow sinking lures or slow retrieves are best. Yamamoto Senkos, Zoom's trick worms or soft bodied jerk baits all fished weightless, are good lure choices. Just cast them out and allow them to slowly sink along weeds, wood cover or rocky areas.

Deeper bass can be found in water depths of 5-20 feet deep. During the day try deep diving crankbaits and 10 inch natural colored worms, Texas rigged. River ledges or main lake drop-offs are easily found while fishing around red or green channel markers. But there are not many buoys found lake wide.

Around islands, along deep outside river bends, near rock bluffs and all along rip-rap rocks found along bridges, culverts and the dam area -- all near deep water retreats -- are all good places all summer long. Whether you fish during the day or at night (around well lighted areas) this summer.

NEELY HENRY DAM
Fishing below Neely Henry Lake Dam (in the headwaters of Logan Martin Lake), requires you launch at nearby O'Hatchee Creek about one mile below Neely Henry Lake dam. Or you can launch at mid lake on Logan Martin Lake at Riverside Marina (beside I-20 mid-lake crossing) about 25 miles downstream of Neely Henry Lake dam.

Either way, use caution when running the boat and use boat idle speed only. From the mouth of O'hatchee Creek to the dam, is loaded with boulders. Even using your trolling motor, watching your depth finder and slowly fishing this area is advised, over idling the boat. If Logan Martin Lake is down...even more so. Boulders will be visible if Logan Martin Lake is down a foot or more. Some boat and motor damaging rocks are lurking right beneath the water's surface.

Lures for fishing here vary. Topwater lures can work at any time throughout the entire day. Schooling activity will be evident. Keep a lure like a pop-r, zara spook or even a buzz bait rigged and ready for sudden eruptions from schoolies. There are spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, and white bass here all summer long.

These are schooling bass. These bass will also hit floating and suspending jerk baits, shallow-to-mid diving crank baits, swim baits, spinnerbaits, in-line spinners like rooster tails, or spoons and lipless lures like rattletraps. Finesse fishing with small worms is great for spotted bass. Keep in mind, the water is usually less than 10 feet deep here below Neely Henry Lake dam. But it is cooler, features current and shade nearby. Bass love it.

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Practice catch and release year-round especially this Spring. You won't regret it!

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."