By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Weiss
Lake Fall Fishing Tips
Normally, you will be hearing about the lowering of Weiss Lake for winter pool
as fall approaches.
In the past under normal, full pool, early fall conditions these
Weiss Lake bass are usually heading for the weedy shallows of this
lake. Usually, these bass have related to shallow water aquatic
weeds, wood cover and rock cover all summer long. They have buried
up in the ever growing weeds all summer long and many bass refuse
to leave the security of their oxygen rich aquatic weed homes,
even as the lakes waters begin to cool.
So like the bass (looking for an easy meal), bass anglers too
have to eliminate the aquatic weeds in their search for this ever
elusive quarry. This means targeting places they hang around otherwise.
For no matter what the conditions these bass have got to eat.
Weiss Lakes Headwaters
The Lakes headwaters begins the slow meandering journey of this
first of six lakes situated on the Coosa River System. Weiss
Lake was impounded in 1961 backing up the waters of the original
Coosa River System. Places like Mcgee bend, Fosters bend and
Morton bend are actually located in the lakes headwaters, that
stretch far into northwestern Georgia. So are some of the lakes
major feeder creeks like Cedar Creek, King Creek and Mount Hope
Creek. Many of these creeks (at normal full pool levels) usually
feature water depths of less than five feet. Most, (but Cedar
creek) have actually been high and dry with the past summer drought.
Many Alabama anglers never even venture this far into Weiss Lakes
headwaters. There is a lot to fish from Weiss Lakes headwaters
on the Alabama / Georgia State lines, without going any further
up the lake. Besides, with unseasonably low lake levels this past
summer season many anglers just navigated their boats into much
safer waters, places with marked river channel buoys and much safer
places with deep water found nearby. Mid lake on Weiss Lake during
low water is considered safer for navigation.
From the Alabama / Georgia State lines to the lakes lower Weiss
Lake dam is a lot of water for anglers to fish this fall season.
Low water concentrates bass and baitfish, showing the lakes headwaters
actually narrowed down to just an old, original river channel.
This means fishing the mouths of creeks and small pockets, islands
and main lake points located in the lakes headwaters, can all position
an angler in some places bass are now crowded into, places other
anglers avoid.
Weiss Lake Mid Lake
Mid Lake is considered some of the lakes best fishing during the
fall period. This can be fishing the mouths of smaller feeder
creeks like Ballplay Creek, Mud Creek and Three Mile creek, creeks
mostly dry with flats exposed during lake drawdown. There are
deeper creeks with navigable waters. Creeks like Spring creek
and Cowan creek are located above the Hwy. 68 causeway crossing
and they house schools of bass holding around piers, boat houses,
marinas and wood cover like stumps, laying trees and resident
planted brushpiles.
Rocky points, man made rip-rap rocks lining causeways and bridges
are also good locations for finding bass this fall season on Weiss
Lake. Besides major feeder creeks there is a lot to explore in
the lakes mid section this fall season. Above the Hwy. 68 crossing
Yanceys bend, Pruett's Island and Godfrey's Island are good shallow
water flats near deep water drop-offs that hold bass year round.
Evident schools of baitfish and bass busting on top calls for
numbers of lure selections when waters begin to cool in early fall.
Topwater lures should always be tried on every location during
fall's early mornings, late evenings or often all day if cloudy
or raining. Lures like zara spooks, buzzbaits, prop baits and popping
type topwaters are good choices. Also try spinnerbaits, crankbaits
and lipless lures like rattletraps, for these schooling bass.
Jigging spoons under these schooling bass seen on top, can show
a good chance for an astute angler to fool some of the lakes bigger,
more lazy bass. These over sized largemouth bass are usually feeding
and holding down below the smaller schooling bass that are seen
feeding on top. They are picking off the injured or dying baitfish
that look like jigging spoons fluttering down below. Tailspinners,
curly tail grubs or shad imitations fished on jig heads, blade
baits or inline spinners are also good lure choices for schooling
activity.
Both hard bodied jerkbaits and soft jerkbaits are excellent lure
choices, including suspending hard bodied jerkbaits and shallow
to mid running crankbaits in colors of white, chrome or shad patterns.
Experiment with your lure choice. Have several rods already rigged
and ready to fish, with various types of lures. On every outing
to Weiss Lake these bass will hit a certain lure. One certain lure
they will hit, one that can display a certain action, shape, color
or size they may like better than other lures. The only way to
discover the days preference is to offer these bass many lures
choices when they are actively feeding and foolishly attacking
these baitfish schools during the fall and early winter period.
* A word of caution! Stay within the red and green channel markers
when navigating Weiss Lake at low pool. There are many boating
accidents every year when this lake is low. Venturing out of the
main river channel can show an angler quickly navigating away from
the buoys, through some very dangerous waters, often in 1-2 feet
of stump filled waters left here during impoundment when stump
flats were cleared. Laying logs and other obstructions (like rock
piles) are visible or just beneath the waters surface. Use extreme
caution this fall and winter season when boating on Weiss Lake.
Weiss Lake Lower Lake
An area starting at the Hwy. 68 causeway crossing, all the way
to the Weiss Lake dam is considered lower lake fishing. There
are two major rivers that feed the lake here. The Little River
and the Chatuga River. Buffington's Island and Hog Island are
where both of these major incoming suppliers of fresh and cool
river waters, join together and form main lake waters with the
Coosa River channel. Any time you have three major river systems
join together -- it is a fish gathering spot year round.
There is also plenty of fish holding cover to explore in these
two incoming rivers. In addition both rivers feature piers, boat
houses, stump flats, small islands and main lake points. During
impoundment left here were underwater ponds (and now submerged
lakes) that can be found with map study, including old house foundations
and roadbeds now submerged.
With low water there is now plenty of evident flats loaded with
laying logs, fallen trees, stumps, brush piles and other wood cover.
This including rock cover bass relate to as well. Like man made
rip-rap rocks (for erosion) and natural banks featuring rock piles
and boulders, all seen during low water.
Hazard buoys are placed lake wide marking shallow stumps, rock
piles and other dangerous areas, but still anglers should practice
navigating their boat with extreme caution. Use your boats electronics
and idle along watching your depth finder when out of the marked
red and green buoys on the main river channel or deeper creek channels.
From the main lake at Hog Island to about half way up in these
two main feeder rivers, is all a first time angler should safely
attempt to run the boat during low pool. Besides being able to
spend an entire day in the incoming Little River and Chatuga Rivers
there is a whole lot more for fall anglers to explore this fall
and early winter seasons.
Yellow Creek Falls, Big Nose Creek and Little Nose Creek and many
unnamed coves, small pockets adorn the lower lake all the way to
Weiss Lake dam. Great places to fish this fall that are usually
loaded with schools of baitfish and feeding bass.
Unknown to many anglers there is also a power house pool located
through a small canal leading from Weiss Lake dam downstream to
the Weiss Lake dam powerhouse. This is small lake in itself and
often it gets loaded with baitfish that are funneled down through
the connecting canal. Baitfish that cannot escape the feeding activity
of both Coosa River spotted bass, largemouth bass and striped bass
that are found here in the fall and early winter seasons.
Explore massive,
Weiss Lake this fall season, but like said, "with
caution," first timers especially. It is a great time to bring
along a camera, hand held GPS and a map, to mark and reference
shallow water places that will be flooded again in the spring.
* Looking to fish Weiss lake soon? Getting ready to fish a bass
tournament on Weiss lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
We cater to the pro, novice and anglers that want to learn to fish
for bass and stripers! Guiding on Weiss lake and other Alabama
lakes for over 30 years. Several boats and guides available year
round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips. Discounts
available.
* Looking
for a new or used boat?
Go to: www.airportmarine.com and
see their bass tournament trail info found there. Alabama's best
paying tournament trails and annual events!
* Looking for a great bass tournament trail?
Go to: www.airportmarinetournamenttrail.com
* Looking for the best bass boat in the world?
Go to: www.rangerboats.com
* Looking for fishing rods, reels, fishing tackle and hunting items?
Go to: www.marksoutdoors.com
Thanks and Good Fishin'
Reeds Guide Service "Alabama's Oldest Professional Fishing
Guide Service"
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
" Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over 10 Years "
Owner / Reeds Guide Service Phone (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 ."
