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.
* Need a Fishing Guide? One that knows every lake in Alabama? Always
call on Reeds Guide Service...first! "Alabama's oldest, professional,
bass fishing only, guide service!" Website: www.fishingalabama.com
*
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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."