Winter Fishing on Bankheak Lake/Warrior River

JAN-FEB / Winter on Bankhead Lake

This old river system about 20 miles from Birmingham still shows some big bass taken each winter. January and February shows less anglers on the water due to hunting season and generally very cold days in the upper 20's at night and low 50's during the day.

However, there are winter warming trends that can bring up water temperatures in the shallows 5-10 degrees in a few days time. There is also Gorgas Steam plant far up the Warrior River about 10 miles from the junction of the Little Warrior River and the Big Warrior River at Howton's Camp launch.

Here anglers can find water temperatures as much as 10-15 degrees warmer than main lake waters. The warm discharge water coming from the plant can show warm water as much as 100 yards down the bank and hold some nice spotted bass, largemouth's and striped bass. When main lake temperatures are in the mid-to-upper 40's, fish gather here in numbers and will hit conventional lures like the rest of the year.

Any angler that has fished Bankhead Lake in the winter knows to look for baitfish, slack water, the warmest water available and to avoid any rain run off that can quickly muddy up the creeks and main river and show very poor fishing. Cold, muddy water is the worst conditions an angler can face during the dead of winter.

Very clear water is unusual on the Warrior River but it to can be found in winter. The backs of small pockets and cuts, especially the ones behind main lake flats, far from the main river channel, are good places to explore.

Up in some major feeder creeks, like Valley Creek (or even the first 4-5 miles up in the Little Warrior River), there are small pockets where baitfish and bass find much clearer and warmer water, than the main creek (or river water) at times. Fishing crankbaits, rattletraps, floating and suspending jerkbaits, in and around the mouths of these small pockets (especially with evident current), will show active bass throughout the winter.

Warming trends show these places to heat up tremendously. Heavy rains can swell the creeks (or Little River), and muddy it up so bad you are forced to fish small, side pockets.

Fishing Bankhead Lake would not be complete without fishing some log jams on the main river. There are plenty of choices lakewide. Look for isolated logs, laying trees, or small log jams with only a few logs or entangled trees. These are better than fishing a whole one mile stretch of logs.

Running a lure straight down these laying logs is what usually triggers both largemouth and spotted bass to hit. These bass are relating to the main tree trunk or the smaller branches usually protruding out from these laying logs. Most logs or logjams are situated along flats, where floods have washed them up and lodged in the muddy bottom. The best log jams in winter seem to always be right near deep water drops, ledges and channels.

Spotted bass are plentiful on the Warrior River. They can be found shallow, far up in feeder creeks or deep along rock bluffs, river bends, old ledges and drop-offs. Like the largemouth's these spotted bass prefer slack water in winter, but they can be found right where the current meets the slack water or eddy area.

In winter a jig combo is a great lure for probing the depths of the Warrior River. Stained to muddy water calls for colors of black and blue or colors of brown and orange. Natural colors of pumpkinseed and watermelon are also good when confronted with clear water situations. Both species of bass will hit jigs when its cold. Worms are also good, as are lizards, tube baits, small grubs, crayfish imitations and shad imitations.

Give the old Warrior a chance to prove its worth this winter. Fish Bankhead Lake, near Birmingham, or E-mail me for guide rates and info at: ALABASSGYD@aol.com or call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133. I grew up fishing the Warrior River and know its waters well.