By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service
Call: Reed Montgomery - (205) 787-5133
alabassgyd@aol.com

Fall Bass Fishing Bankhead Lake on the Warrior River

Bankhead Reservoir (as its actually called) or just Bankhead Lake if you prefer, is situated on the Warrior River System and is conveniently located about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Al. This very old, man made impoundment - just referred to as ," the Warrior" by locals - is now nearing 100 years since it was first impounded many, many years ago.

When Bankhead Lake was first Impounded (back in the year 1916), it was given the name John Hollis Bankhead Dam and Lock and it was put into service backing up the 9,200 surface acres of water. Waters previously made up of the incoming Warrior River System and the Little Warrior River System. Not only did the building of this Bankhead dam flood the back waters of these two major river systems, but also as the waters rose, it flooded nearby roads, houses, bridges and farm buildings.

In addition, when the Army Corps of Engineers built Bankhead lock and dam the newly created Bankhead Lake consisted not only of inundating this huge river system and its surroundings, but it flooded many small lakes that were previously close to the old, original Warrior River channel. This flooded nearby farm ponds, incoming streams and feeder creeks. The building of this huge lake also included the addition of a newly created lock for bigger boats and barges to pass through. This new passageway soon opened these waters to barge traffic and lots of boaters and anglers that soon discovered a much bigger body of water to explore. Including loads of big bass!

When the year 2016 arrives Alabama anglers should all get together and throw a huge, Birthday party in celebration of such a fantastic bass fishery surviving 100 years.

Bankhead Lake this Fall
Yes, as many of you readers have heard me say many times before," I grew up fishing Bankhead Lake." It was only a few miles from my home back then located just south of Birmingham, Alabama. Not as many years as the lake is celebrating, but long enough ago when I can still remember that they rented wooden boats out of Lost Creek boat launch for $3.00 a day.

Today (just like back then), fall bass fishing is a season I always look forward to, with as much anticipation as during my teenage years, as I often reminisce in my mind some of my fantastic previous fall fishing trips to the old Warrior, usually on my way to the lake.

Its been real hot since Alabama anglers experienced three weeks of 100 plus degree temperatures in late August. The fishing slowed on Bankhead Lake as it did on every Alabama Lake, displaying 90 degree water temps. Fall is now a very welcome sight.

As waters begin to cool (beginning in late September - mid 70's), it seems a real triggering sensation overcomes both the tenacious spotted bass and the big largemouth bass that make up this 77 mile long impoundment. These bass will invade the shallows in search of food as they are instinctively triggered to feed more and more with each cooling day and fatten up for the upcoming winter months ahead.

From Bankhead's lower lake dam to the lakes headwaters below Smith Lake dam, there are numerous incoming feeder creeks and the incoming Little Warrior River system. These are the places anglers should explore this fall and early winter seasons. Feeder creeks can have schools of both bass species that cruise these incoming waters, from the creek mouths at the main river, often far back in the scenic woods, twisting and turning for miles and miles, all the way to the creeks headwaters.

Valley Creek for example, goes for over ten miles as it twists and turns through winding creek flats, log jams, laying trees, stumps, rock bluffs and weed lined pockets. Loads of weeds, wood cover, and rock cover, all holding bass all throughout this entire major feeder creek this fall. The same goes for the Little Warrior River System that junctions with the main Warrior River at the famous Howton's Camp.

Topwater lures excel on this lake during the fall season and even during early winter warming trends these bass will blast a well placed topwater lure, even in water temperatures of 50 degrees! Its no wonder a big bass will blast about any offering slung their way and drug across the waters surface - Warrior River Bass will eat anything! So lures that simulate meals they are accustomed to eating will be nailed when fished among all the lakes visible weed, rock and wood cover. Cover this lake has to offer...for over 70 miles!

Explore Warrior River's age old lake, Bankhead Reservoir, this fall season as waters begin to cool and bass go on a major feeding spree. Rig plenty of rods, not only with topwater lures like buzzbaits, frogs, rats, poppers, prop baits and zara spooks, but rig many other rods with lures like spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms to be fished from top to bottom as well. Or call on Reeds Guide Service...first!

" Bankhead Lake's oldest, most qualified licensed guide, fishing this lake for over 40 years."

Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service makes a great surprise gift for Birthday's, Father's Day, or Christmas (certificates available) or any occasion, for those loved ones that love to fish! See my website www.fishingalabama.com for more info and for making reservations. Several boats and qualified professional guides available year round, for multiple parties and corporate guided fishing trips to any lake in Alabama.

 

Good Fishin'
 

Fall and early winter on Lake Eufaula

Lake Eufaula...back then
Lake Eufaula. No not the one in Oklahoma. Lake Eufaula (officially known as Walter F. George Reservoir) is located in the southern region of the United States. It is situated along the Alabama / Georgia State lines on the Chattahoochee River. Impounded in 1963, the lake is now 43 years old.

I've fished, guided and even competed in a few bass tournaments on Lake Eufaula for over 30 years. In addition (in my spare time), I've explored this 45,180 acre lake, from one end of this huge 70 mile long impoundment, to the other. Prior to that, my Father and Uncle (both now passed on to catching even bigger bass up above) fished Lake Eufaula together, from the week the lake was first opened to the public in 1963, for over 30 years as well.

I've gained a whole lot of knowledge about Lake Eufaula over the recent years, seen a lot of changes and you could say, "I know it very well." Not only about fishing Lake Eufaula in all seasons (when both at full pool and when down during drought or winter pool) but in knowing how to navigate my boat throughout this shallow water impoundment during low water... when it can be very dangerous for inexperienced boaters to attempt to navigate.

I can remember those days of bringing in huge bass, often with as many as a dozen bass over 5 pounds, caught in just one days fishing. I've seen and netted several big largemouth bass over that magical ten pound mark, including two 12 pounders. My father and uncle (like most anglers of that time) were fish eaters and those old, red metal Coca Cola ice chests were always slap full of fish. Always plenty of food for feeding a big family of that time.

Back then (in the 60's and 70's), we either fished the lakes lower end, the middle portion of the lake or to lakes upper end, always launching on the Alabama side of the lake. There were major boat launches all over the lake when it first opened, but there were a few we visited regularly. If we planned on fishing the lakes lower end (near the dam), we launched at Hardridge Creek on the Alabama side of the lake. It had no facilities back then and was a free boat launch. Hardridge Creek had very little weeds in the 60's, no gators and plenty of standing timber left in the lake during impoundment for us to explore.

Of course we could always run the boat nearby to the huge, 2 mile long rip-rap rock lined Eufaula dam  and always plan on catching largemouth bass, many weighing from 5-10 pounds. Usually this was successfully accomplished despite the conditions with one type of lure. We found lots of line tugging action on that dam by slowly exploring the rocks with Tom Mann's worms, like those Mann's Hobo worms (which came 100 to the bag for $2.00) or his world famous Mann's Jelly worms and Mann's Augertail worms.

If we planned on fishing Lake Eufaula's mid to upper portion we either launched at White Oak Creek or launched at world famous, Chewalla Creek Marina and boat launch. There at Chewalla Creek Marina we displayed many big bass for pictures, all hung on the bragging board of Chewalla Creek boat launch. Memories that now fill our scrapbooks with pictures for others to gaze upon for years to come.

Eufaula...today
Today, we just take their pictures and let them go. Catch and Release. Back then we did not even no what that term meant. Even during the earlier years of B.A.S.S. / Bassmasters Bass Tournaments many anglers weighed in their bass brought to the scales on fish stringers (and even some smaller ones brought to the scales in coffee cans) for "catch and release" was not yet even a spoken term. We just did not know any better.

Eufaula has changed a lot over the past 40 plus years and today it is a totally different impoundment. Although it still produces largemouth bass exceeding ten pounds, there are not as many trophy bass taken by anglers as before. Fishing pressure. Any time you see lake with such world renowned recognition as Lake Eufaula is for big bass, it gets pounded regularly by hopeful bass anglers from all over the globe. Also at times (like during the spring season), there can be as many as a dozen or more bass tournaments on this lake on any given Saturday or Sunday.

Lake Eufaula's appearance has changed to. The standing timber (left here during impoundment) is all but gone. Stumps, laying trees, brush piles and other wood cover (including planted fish attractors) have mostly just deteriorated away. Now there are those aquatic weeds for bass to relate to. Weeds of all kinds that provide cover and plenty of oxygen rich habitat for both predator and prey to take up residence in, mostly growing during the seasons of spring, summer and fall. Winter season shows the lake drawn down (extremely low in recent years) to aid in flood control, often as low as 4-6 feet below normal full pool levels. Aquatic weeds anglers fish most of year such as bulrush, maiden cane, cattails and lilly pads are left high and dry during lake drawdown and become obsolete as fish habitat during winter.

But there is recent surge of two new type of aquatic weeds growing throughout Lake Eufaula, weeds that can grow during the winter season and weeds that can grow in deep water. Eurasian millfoil and Hydrilla aquatic weeds are spreading throughout the lakes mid to lower portion every year. Weeds that were once foreign to this lake recently introduced to Lake Eufaula by anglers that launch their boats after fishing other weed infested waters on other lakes.

An example is Guntersville Lake in Alabama or Lake Seminole in Georgia, both lakes of which are now choked out with these aquatic weeds that grow very thick and matted when left unattended. The good side is anglers like it, bass like it and the small fish and crayfish the bass dine on like it. Millfoil an hydrilla weeds also hold bass during the middle portion of the day, making them very susceptible to your lures.

Fishing Lake Eufaula during October, November and December
Fishing Lake Eufaula during the fall period is often as good as the spring season, but with less company. Anglers hanging up their rods in exchange for guns are now in the nearby woods deer hunting. Some would be anglers are home watching football. While still others have given up until next year, actually covering up their boats and parking them until next spring. To bad. They are missing out on some of the year's best big bass action and they could still have a shot at plenty of fish catching action found lake wide.

Fall. Gone are the temperamental attitudes of the bass like during the spring spawn and picky feeding bass schools following shad schools in deep water this summer. These bass now invade the shallows of main lake flats and feeder creeks with one thing in mind, to fatten up and put on the needed fat reserves for the cold winter months ahead. Its true, like said the rest of the year, "Find the baitfish and find the bass." This not only goes for exploring the over 500 miles of shoreline cover found in the shallows of Lake Eufaula (now exposed with lake drawdown) but getting out on the main river and fishing deeper water found along drop-offs and creek and river channel ledges, for bass relating to deep water places, they will soon inhibit during winter.

As waters cool in October and November anglers fishing the weeds will have success with a variety of modern day enticing lures. Unlike the days of long ago there are now many lure choices to aid an angler in fooling these Lake Eufaula largemouth bass...bass that have seen a lot of tempting offerings during this past spring and summer seasons. But bass forget. They have a short term memory and many, normally lure conditioned bass, may not have even seen a lure of any kind recently, since not as many anglers are now on the water.

Weedless lures are the lures of choice. Why fish with frustrating lures that grab the weeds on every cast resulting in no bites at all and possibly mean losing costly lures? Save the treble hook lures like topwaters, lipless lures, jerkbaits and crankbaits for open water fishing away from the weeds. Of course this goes for fishing wood cover in the shallows to, more of which becomes visible with winter pool and lake drawdown.

So arm yourself with a variety of weedless offerings if you plan on fishing Lake Eufaula's few remaining weeds this fall and early winter seasons. Lures like floating worms and soft jerkbaits are good for times when nothing else works. Fished slow and with very long casts in and around millfoil and hydrilla weeds these soft plastics lures do fool bass and they are very weedless. Monofilament line tests of 12-15 pounds are needed for these lures.

Frog and small mice imitation lures continue to fool bass that have dined on these tasty morsels all summer long. Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits are also still productive lures around weed and wood cover found in the shallows of creeks and main lake flats. Some anglers have developed a technique of swimming lures (lures normally fished on bottom) along weed edges and around wood and rock cover. Swimming a jig combo is a deadly tactic that covers water fast for big bass during the Fall and early winter period. Monofilament line in the 20 pound class is suggested for all of these lures. Some anglers use braided line. Strong rods in lengths of 6-7 feet, wide spooled reels and sharp hooks are also suggested.

The old favorite the Texas rigged worm in lengths of 6-10 inches continue to fool Lake Eufaula's largemouth bass, just like 40 years ago. Texas rigged or Carolina rigged plastics such as worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, tube baits and creature type baits are also good lure choices whether you fish shallow water or deep water this fall and early winter seasons.

Deep water fishing for bass has its limitations when it comes to lure choices, but there are plenty of old stand bys that always fool some bass. The problem is many anglers have to stay on the move to find that motherlode of bass in deep water. These deep water bass often bunch up on certain, preferred locations during the late fall and early winter periods. Sticking with three lure types will help you narrow down your lure selection when targeting bass in or near deep water.

Worms or other bottom type plastics and jig combos always work here. Deep diving crankbaits or lipless crankbaits are good for covering lots of water fast and for triggering dormant bass to bite. Spinnerbaits, although usually associated with fishing shallow water, are great lure choices for probing deep water hangouts. Some anglers fish heavy 1-2 ounce spinnerbaits on 7 foot rods coupled with 20 pound test monofilament or braided line, fishing with a lift and drop presentation in deep water situations.

So give Lake Eufaula a try this fall and early winter season, you will like the results! Just like years ago big bass still live in the lake just waiting for some lucky (or skilled angler) to discover! Or call on Reeds Guide Service for fishing this lake or any Alabama Lake year round. Be safe, dress warm and always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch...it might just save your life!
 

Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Clarity / Stained to muddy in major feeder creeks (from recent rain)
From Mitchell lakes headwaters to the lower lake is clear (Late Feb.)
Current Water Temperature / (Late Feb). Mid-to-upper 50's
Water Temps. / March Mid-60's Water Temps / April & May Mid-to-upper 70's

SPRING ON MITCHELL LAKE

During the spring season Mitchell Lake (the fifth of six impoundments on the Coosa River System), like most Alabama impoundments, can get awfully crowded. As the weather warms and the spawning season gets underway there are hundreds of new anglers visiting this small lake, now over 85 years since impoundment.

Every year, not only during the spring season, but year round as well, they come for all over Alabama. Even anglers from throughout the United States plan their fishing vacations, bass tournaments or just fun fishing excursions, to sample some of Mitchell lake's very fertile waters.

Coosa River spotted bass (some real, trophy-sized spots in the 6-7 pound class) and largemouth bass (up to 10 pounds), are the species they come to Mitchell lake to target. Often, this is the first trip to Mitchell lake for some anglers. They may misjudge the sheer strength of both of these very worthy, adversaries.

But, like any well planned fishing trip...getting ready comes first.

Preparation
For the most part, these springtime anglers have been cooped up all winter, anxious and ready to wet a hook (although many anglers fish right through the winter months), some have not even fished for months. So they are very "keyed up" and some anxious anglers just head right to the lake, often unknowingly, very unprepared. A day destined to be headed for disaster, if you have not fished lately or even got your boat out for months!

First, comes a little preparation. This means a lot of anglers are preparing the boat getting it ready, like replacing old batteries or at least re-charging all batteries to see if they are still good enough to hold a charge. A bad battery can ruin the start of your fishing day. No matter if its a cranking battery or one or two batteries (some trolling motors now have 3 batteries) that are used for trolling purposes. They may need to be replaced.

In today's bass boats a lot of electronics and an other items can drain the boats batteries on each outing. This takes place after every trip so you must recharge each battery. Constantly re-charging your boats batteries, is what wears them out. Cold, winter seasons can kill a battery fast. Especially if has not been kept fully charged all winter.

Organizing all your old tackle boxes and making room and categorizing all your new tackle, can take all day. This includes sharpening all hooks or best yet, replacing all treble hooks on your lures that need it. Check your equipment. Rods may need new eyes, new rod tips or just cleaning up. Reels need servicing or at least oiled, all nuts and screws tightened down or some old reels may just need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Check reel handles for wear and replace them if necessary. Always reel-spool all your reels with fresh, new fishing line at the beginning of your spring fishing season. Not that line you had last year, of which has a short shelf life. Try new lines, new types of line, heavier line or lighter line test and make a note of how each line performs with various types of lures.

Oh, I could go on. Like checking your boat trailer winch and bumpers, runners and wiring. Especially your boat trailer lights, tires, brakes and most importantly tighten the nuts on the wheels and grease or replace the wheel bearings. Service your outboard motor. Change the oil in the foot of your outboard motor, change to new spark plugs. Even adding a gas additive will help prevent any moisture build- up that may have occurred recently.

Trolling motors need new switches, cables, propellers or cotter pins. Always remove both your outboard motor's propeller and the trolling motor propeller. There may be a bad seal or fishing line could be wrapped around the hub of either. A spare propeller for both is suggested

So as you see a little (or a lot ) of preparation is at hand, if you have not fished this past winter or even if you went fishing all winter. Maybe the bass have been biting and you forgot...

Now, more on Mitchell lake for tackling those pre spawn bass of March, April's spawning bass and my favorite month May. When, as we all know by now, "its top water time" for those hungry, post spawn bass!

March / Pre spawn Bass on Mitchell Lake
I speak a lot of Mitchell Lake's famed, Coosa River Spotted bass. If you read any of my wintertime Mitchell lake reports, you are sure to notice I write a lot about fishing Mitchell lakes headwaters, islands and rock bluffs, all situated right below upper reservoir Lay Lake dam. Well, not to worry, you did not as they say, " miss the boat. "
Those huge, spotted bass we fooled in the winter months are still there!

March is a great time for searching out these places, all within a few miles of Lay lake dam, for numbers of spotted bass in the 1-3 pound range. An occasional one maybe even bigger, like 3-5 pounds. If you are very lucky, you may fool a true, trophy size spotted bass into biting your tempting offering. One that could reveal to be over that magical mark of six pounds! These are rare, with my biggest spotted bass ever fooled on Mitchell Lake coming from these lake headwaters. It weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces!

All of this hinges on you landing the bass. These are huge, spotted bass that will test any anglers patience and his tackle and equipment as well. As a fishing guide on Mitchell lake for over 30 years I have seen many big, spotted bass lost, some right at boat side. Simply taking place by anglers just not prepared for tackling these very strong, current-oriented spotted bass.

Besides the aforementioned plan of getting ready, "being ready" is just as important. Always check your reels drag first thing in the morning. Most reels will be frozen and will need the drag adjusted. Not to tight, that can result in broken line, straightened out hooks, a big spot ripping its mouth loose to freedom, or even a broken rod! Of course, your drag must not be set "to loose" as well. Too loose of a reel's drag will result in not even getting a good hook set or burying the hook, which usually results in lost fish.

As Mitchell lake's headwaters warm into the low-to-mid 60's, its nearby rocky points leading into smaller pockets, flats with drop-offs nearby and boulder-strewn banks, are all excellent places to target these spotted bass, in your search for these very catchable and fat, pre spawn bass. By the end of March, they make their move to prepare another year's spawn. This usually takes place on or near the next full moon.

At this time many feeder creeks are stained to muddy from recent rain and still, incoming cold fronts plague the lake. This may influence Mitchell lake's more weed and wood cover oriented, largemouth bass to perk up a little. Or they may become more scarce. But during April and May these largemouth bass can be found to be much more easier to fool.

April / Spawning Bass on Mitchell Lake
Although there is a lot to be said for the pre spawn bass of March, there is more to be mentioned about fishing in April. Especially for targeting Mitchell lake's largemouth bass. I did not mention the largemouth bass of March, although the same places you find spotted bass are often occupied by some big, pre spawn largemouth bass as well. Its just that cold fronts, muddy water and still, dead aquatic weeds, always affect the largemouth bass more in March. So, during April many more factors are in their favor.

April on Mitchell lake shows new growing weeds and more largemouth bass moving shallow, the closer it gets to the perfect spawning temperature near 72 degrees. Major feeder creeks like Hatchet Creek or nearby Weogufka Creek are all day excursions, in your search for these big, spawning largemouth bass. Both of these creeks feature loads of flats, small cuts and side pockets with weeds, wood cover, rocky habitat and lots of points and flats for finding undisturbed, largemouth bass.

As Mitchell lakes various types of new growing aquatic weeds emerge, so do the bass. Most largemouth bass have occupied any wood cover recently. Lay down trees, isolated logs and logjams, stumps or any visible brush may now hold several big, female largemouth bass. All getting ready to mate and make their move shallow nearby in their newly prepared beds.

As both the male and female largemouth bass of Mitchell lake begin to make their beds they may occupy some piece of wood cover nearby. They usually prepare their bed very close to some sort of wood or rock cover. If new growing weeds are beginning to emerge as they prepare these beds, it only enhances these bedding spots.

Aquatic weed growth increases the oxygen level. This is very evident as you can actually observe the clearing of the water surrounding new growing weeds, immediately following heavy rain in stained to muddy water situations. Weeds also provide great ambush spots for big bass laying in wait for any potential meal passing by. Then again, these weeds also hide the many types of smaller prey from bigger predators, like the largemouth bass.

As Mitchell lake's flats and back waters warm more and more with each passing day in April, the activity becomes evident as well. All within and all around any of these green, newly- growing aquatic weeds, prey begin to occupy the security of these oxygen-rich weeds...and the bass seem to know it, with their evident explosions within the weeds.

These largemouth bass are big and its not easy hiding a two foot long body from these very quick and agile prey. So the thicker the weeds and the more wood cover they have to relate to, the better hidden they feel and the more secure a big bass is for stealth and ambush purposes.

Largemouth bass linger by these weeds all day long at times. They can occupy thick, matted weeds if its a bright and sunny day. Or cruise the weed edges at night, early morning, late evenings (or all day if raining or very cloudy), during low light periods.

So keep in mind. Always return to places "they were not in", or places "they just were not active in" you fished early in the day. To have a better chance at fooling these often weary bass of Mitchell lake in spring. Bass moving in spawning areas or even bass that become more active with daytime sunlight often warming the water 4-5 degrees. In addition, mid mornings to late evenings during the month of April, often show bass that are undisturbed when other boats leave an area...all for you to explore in silence.

May / Post Spawn Bass
By around the first week May, the majority of Mitchell lake's bass will have spawned. Most are through bedding and getting ready for summer. You may ponder, "how does he know that"? Well, its no secret that some of Mitchell lakes bass do spawn later in the spring season than other bass, for some reason. Maybe they live on the lakes mid-to-lower end. On Mitchell, this is where some of the lakes deeper water is and its usually the last water to cool lake wide, to a more comfortable 72 degrees.

One very evident factor anglers can look for, to determine if a bass has already bed, is searching for small fry bass. They are usually visible when you use polarized sunglass and cruise the shallows in clear water situations. Small fry bass ball up in a small, dark mass, usually about the size of soft ball. Or bigger.

If a lot of newborn balls of fry are evident, its a sure fact most bass have bed in any given area. What's good about this is, small defensive male bass are always nearby and often, a big female bass may not be to far away. They are there and always ready to attack your lures with a vengeance, in an attempt to protect the newborn fry.

How else can you tell if these bass have already bed? If you see a lot of beds along flats, around weeds, or up in some very shallow backwater area, look for those beds that display a dull looking color. These are abandoned, silted-in beds, that help you determine if these bass have given up house keeping.

Most of Mitchell lake's largemouth bass will keep a bed clean, fanned-out, and free of any debris. They will run off all intruders, until the eggs hatch, and the newborn fry grow to about one inch in length. This is when both of the parents of these 10,000 (or more), newborn bass and their surviving, newborn offspring will abandon the bed. Of this many newborn bass, over half will not make it, due to predators during the spawning season.

On the other hand, if you are searching for bedding bass on Mitchell Lake its true they can be identified by observing if they have a bloody tail or wore-off tail. This means both the male and female bass are still fanning or preparing their beds. Bedding bass (bass actually on the bed) will hover over a rounded out, brightly colored bed. Or they can rest along weed lines and wood cover near the bed. They will also look like they are in a trance and at times they will completely ignore every lure you throw at them.

Fat, healthy bass, with healed up tails, are usually in a post spawn mode by late May and around the first week of June, the beginning of summer.

* Looking for help on exploring Mitchell lake or learning to fish for bass and stripers on Mitchell Lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! Alabama's oldest, freshwater fishing guide service. Mitchell lake's only professional guide to call for spotted bass, largemouth bass and an occasional striped bass, year round. Several guides and boats available for multiple parties and corporate guided trips.

Winter on Mitchell Lake

As waters begin to cool on all of Alabama's lakes, many would-be anglers are finding their duties elsewhere are keeping them off the water. Holidays, deer season and hunting in general, past times such as watching football and for some, just trying to stay warm - like when chopping wood for the winter becomes a real necessity. That leaves a lot of water on Alabama's 5,850 acre Mitchell lake for wintertime anglers to fish - in somewhat of a solitude setting.

Although Mitchell Lake (the fifth lake in a series of six Coosa River Impoundment's), is unseasonably low for winter pool (it is usually close to full pool year round) and Mitchell lake is somewhat of small lake when compared to other Alabama impoundments, there is still plenty of water to explore this winter. Even major feeder creeks (at full pool displaying 20 foot depths), still have plenty of both spotted bass and largemouth bass that can be very cooperative. That is, when you are fishing during the right conditions on the right days. Like any impoundment Mitchell lake has its good days and its bad days.

Often and more times than not, the weather dictates the way your fishing day is going to be. Most of the time (very cold nights in the upper teens and low twenties) coupled with daytime highs not even reaching 50 degrees can be downright miserable and staying home is smarter. Including, it can be a day when only a few scattered bites make up an entire day of searching for bass out of the high winds and often it can be a cold, cloudy day. Tournament days on Mitchell lake go even faster and before you know it your fishing day is at an end usually around 3 p.m. So making the best of your day, being in the right place at the right time and making the correct fish catching decision is very important to your fish catching success.

Most of these online fishing reports consist of, (for instance) Well, we went out this week on Lake-What-a-Hog and we were fishing some "big bass lures" in such and such water depths and we just literally slayed em' on what just happens to be my favorite sponsors lures and ironically their best selling colors! Of course you have got to have the new $1000.00 rods I use and the new, one and only $1000.00 reel as well. These are made by my sponsors too!

And that's OK. But it does you no good.

Conditions change daily. That gets us back to the weather, fishing locations and most importantly whether your fishing on a week day or a weekend on Mitchell lake. So here's one likely location you can explore all throughout this winter season on Mitchell Lake; Mitchell Lakes Headwaters. When being in the right place, at the right time, fishing the right lures during the right conditions...is what it takes to fool Mitchell Lake's bass.

Mitchell Lakes Headwaters
Low water. That is not good for any angler, whether or not an angler is in a shallow draft aluminum boat or when one is navigating a shiny, new $50,000 bass boat. Extreme caution must be used in these Mitchell lake headwaters, which is situated just below upper reservoir, Lay Lake dam. During low water (wintertime pool levels), these rocks are just under the waters surface. Boulders that are normally just a few feet under the waters surface are reasonably safe to idle your boat around, that is when the lake is at full pool.

But with Mitchell lake now down anywhere from 2-3 feet, a lot of these previously submerged rocks and boulders are now either protruding above the waters surface near the dam, or some rocks are now dangerously hidden just inches under the waters surface. Just waiting for some unfortunate angler to bang a boat into, causing boat damage, motor damage or worst yet putting lives at stake. So having said that, if you have ever fished Mitchell lakes headwaters then you know about idling down your boat at the last island, right before seeing the dam.

Gilchrist Island (Airport island) sits right below a bridge in Mitchell lakes headwaters. You will see Lay Lake dam about a half mile ahead. As for you experienced anglers (a reminder), or for anglers new to navigating their boats in Mitchell Lakes headwaters, this means running the boat up the left side of this island as usual. Upon seeing the bridge slow down to an idle and stay close to the left side of the lake, close to the middle of the bridge, but away from the long, upper Airplane island point, it runs way out towards the bridge pilings.

Just above this bridge, using the trolling motor is suggested, as you near the main lake point obviously sticking out on your left, just below the mouth of Yellowleaf creek. From here to the dam (excluding the dam discharge area and a few deep holes), the water is only 1-3 feet deep. The current can be swift at times in these lake headwaters, so bringing an anchor is highly suggested. There are very few places where an angler can escape the current and the batteries on most of today's boats, no matter how new they are, could be drained by mid day, especially if the current is evident all day.

Anchoring down the boat does have its good points and its drawbacks. Anchoring down a tournament boat with the trolling motor in the "stowed position" is a good way to claim a spot. Most tournament rules specify an angler can claim a spot when fishing in this manner. It is common courtesy for other tournament anglers to stay at least 50 yards away or anchor down and claim their own spot! Some anglers may not like it, but as they say, "that's the rules." I always carry an anchor and a long 50 foot rope for anchoring down. You never know when you are going to need it!

Besides anchoring down your boat in these swift, lake headwaters claiming a spot during bass tournaments, there are other advantages to having an anchor. For one, it does make you thoroughly fish a spot, not getting off course when trolling all around in the current and concentrating on your lure presentation. It also keeps the boat stationary and you can easily cast upstream bringing your lures with the current in the right manner, while not having to deal with the wind, current and trolling motor.

All fish face into the current, they are looking for an easy to catch meal in these current laden, Mitchell Lake headwaters. Usually these meals are washed their way as they stay hidden down below in ambush spots just out of the current. Minnows, shad of all sizes, bream, crayfish, worms, fresh water eels and other prey all live in these lake headwaters. They are all susceptible to being ate by Mitchell Lakes predator fish such as spotted bass, largemouth bass, white bass and striped bass. So your lures should simulate these prey in shape, size, color and even lure action.

The disadvantages of anchoring down the boat is hanging up lures fished on or near bottom. Hanging up costly lures means either breaking them off or pulling up the anchor and having to go after them. Remember time is money in bass tournaments. Doing this 5 - 6 times alone means at least 30 minutes of your tournament day is gone wasted on retrieving hung lures, instead of enticing bass to bite. So beforehand, whether your in a bass tournament or just plain fishing discuss hanging up your lures with your partner to avoid this problem to start with.

Lures that will not hang up can be many when fishing in 1-3 feet of water. Although winter is not thought of as topwater lure season ask any angler and most will exclaim they have seen schooling bass in these Mitchell lake headwaters and most anglers have managed to fool a few bass even in low 50 degree water temperatures. So always have two rods rigged, one with a large topwater lure and another rod rigged with a smaller topwater offering.

The same goes for your fishing partner, who may be experimenting with various topwaters, different colors or even topwaters with qualities such as prop-baits, cup-faced topwaters or walking type topwaters. You can fish most topwaters with 14-20 pound test line in these lake headwaters. Long rods and wide spooled reels allow for longer casts with less frustration. Sharp hooks are a must, for many bass just slap at the lure missing it, if it is not sporting very sharp or newly replaced hooks.

Another topwater lure or one that can be fished weightless is a soft jerkbait. Line test of 10-14 pound test is suggested to get these not-so-wind resistant weightless lures out there. Adding nails or rattles to the center, head or tail of a soft jerkbait, will cause these soft jerkbaits to slowly sink and allow for better casting distance with more weight. Going to a bigger hook or fishing a thick-shanked hook, also adds needed weight to soft jerkbaits.

You can also fish these lures with a sharp jerking motion keeping it on or near the water's surface. Or you can dead stick them or allow them to slowly sink while feeling for a strike. Other lures in this weightless category are slowly sinking plastics like Gary Yamamoto's Senkos or Zoom's trick worms. Even wacky rigging soft plastics fools bass that may ignore all other lures and presentations in these oftentimes very crowded lake headwaters.

To avoid hanging up in these lake headwaters calls for the use of many other types of lures. Spinnerbaits will not hang as much if you pay attention on every cast and choose your spinnerbait weights according to the swiftness of the current. You can slow the spinnerbaits fall using bigger blades, gaudy trailers, or heavier line. Long rods and heavy 17-20 pound test line are suggested.

Shallow running crankbaits, especially square billed crankbaits are great for fooling bass, bass that other anglers fail to entice. Many meals in these lake headwaters look like a crankbait. Keeping your rod held high and giving a slight jerk when your crankbait careens off of a rock can avoid hang-ups. Floating or suspending jerkbaits are also weedless and really help avoid hang-ups while fishing in Mitchell lakes 1-3 foot of rocky, boulder-strewn lake head waters.

Rattletraps or other rattling, lipless lures can be fished fast to avoid hang-ups or they can slowly be fished in a lift and drop fashion. Paying attention to what your lures are doing is a big part of either hanging up or learning to fish Mitchell lakes headwaters with less frustration. If you are just casting out your lures and allowing them to sink to the rocky bottom, then you can expect to hang up all day. If fishing lures along the bottom and planning on anchoring down, start with cheaper lures like small worms, lizards, grubs, shad imitations and crayfish plastics rigged on jig heads. Breaking off these lures is less costly and can be afforded by most anglers.

Planning a trip to Mitchell Lake this winter season? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! "Over 30 years exploring, tournament fishing and guiding on Mitchell Lake and other Alabama Lakes" Several guides available, year round, for multiple parties and corporate guided trips. Discounts available. Tournament anglers welcome!
 

Fall Bass Fishing on Mitchell Lake

Mitchell Lake, the fifth man made impoundment in a series of six Coosa River Lakes found running from north to south Alabama, can be deceiving. It looks like a big lake when first encountered, but actually Mitchell Lake is less than 20 miles in length, from Lay Lake dam at its headwaters to the lower end of the lake at Mitchell Lake dam.

Again, in fishing terms -- looks can be deceiving. Although Mitchell Lake, is a rather small lake (especially if compared to other Alabama Impoundment's, it is still a great lake to explore as waters cool during the fall to early winter period.

Mitchell Lakes Headwaters
Whether an angler targets spotted bass, largemouth bass or even those ever moving striped bass, its a sure bet within a day's fishing in the headwaters of Mitchell Lake, his quarry will be found. Often fooling all three bass species in one day (including a trophy bass or two within each species), is very possible during the entire fall season and often this action lasts on into the early winter period.

From Mitchell Lakes headwaters, to the far back ends of its major feeder creeks, there are some very catch able bass just waiting to be had on any day during the fall season. These cool weather bass can be fooled on a variety of lures all fished from top to bottom this fall season.

Just like when fishing other portions of the lake, being in the right place at the right time or during the right circumstances...is when an angler catches fish. Not when running all over the lake, burning a lot of gas, with nothing in the means of fish to show for the days fishing can often be the results. Its simply called, staying put.

Here in these Mitchell Lake headwaters timing is everything. Calling the Alabama Power Lake level info and water generation number at 1-800-lakes-11 is suggested, if you plan on fishing the lakes headwaters just below Lay Lake dam during the most productive times. Its no secret by those anglers that frequently fish below these Alabama Lake dams, these lake headwaters are seldom very productive if the water is not moving.

Here an angler can really mop up on numbers of spotted bass species during the fall period. There are a lot of 1-2 pound size smaller schooling spotted bass, often seen erupting on the waters surface. But don't be fooled. During each fall and winter season some of the year's biggest trophy sized spotted bass are taken, that is by the angler fortunate enough to land one of these true, tackle testing bass.

Largemouth bass are not usually associated with moving waters such as what's seen below Lay Lake dam in Mitchell Lakes rocky headwaters during the fall season. But they are here. Usually following a day or two of heavy fall rains the current is increased from water being released at Lay Lake dam. Big meals are then washed through the dam, such as minnows, crayfish, catfish, crappie, bream or oversized baitfish, such as the now bigger end of the year threadfin shad and gizzard shad.

These crayfish and baitfish that survive the swift dam discharge waters or those prey that are just living below these dams in Mitchell Lakes headwaters are susceptible to becoming the days next meal. They can be found holding in eddy areas away from the swift main lake current. The largemouth bass seem to know the best places to lay in wait.

Rocks, boulders, islands, main lake points and rock bluff banks make up the lakes upper mile of current swept headwaters. Some aquatic weeds are here, but only if the lake is at full pool. All are homes to some trophy sized spotted bass and some big, largemouth bass. Even a striped bass can be fooled once in a while in these lake headwaters.

But what about those other bass in other parts of the lake?

Mitchell Lake's Mid Section and Lower Lake
Mitchell Lakes mid section and lower lake consists mostly of places anglers fish main lake waters this fall season. (More on fishing its two major feeder Creeks Hatchet Creek and Weoguftka Creek next.) Leaving the lakes headwaters and heading south down stream, anglers will immediately notice several main lake islands.

One island found immediately (about one mile), below Lay Lake dam is a flat and long island. It is dubbed, "Airplane Island" due to its mid island section featuring an airplane landing strip. Other islands feature towering rock bluffs so far above the lakes water line and so tall, very few boaters have ever even parked the boat and explored them. Bass gather around these islands, places that can block the swift main lake waters found here in the fall.

From here on down the lake to the public boat launch (Mitchell Lakes Higgins Ferry boat launch), are rock bluffs, main lake points, timber and stump filled small cuts and pockets and loads of aquatic weeds that line the banks, places to explore that hold all species of bass this fall season.

Anglers can target Mitchell Lakes weeds by probing deep within the weeds with jig combos and Texas rigged worms or they can fish topwaters and spinnerbaits all among the weeds. Topwater lures such as buzzbaits, frogs and rats and even spinnerbaits are proven favorites for fall's largemouth bass found in and around these weeds.

Mitchell Lakes major Feeders / Hatchet Creek and Weoguftka Creeks
Besides main lake waters and the lakes headwaters there are always plenty of fish to catch in the lakes major feeder creeks. Across the lake and downstream about one mile from Higgins Ferry State public boat launch is the junction of these two major feeder creeks. Here these two creeks join the main lake waters with water depths of over 50 feet found around the main lake island nearby.

Leaving this junction and heading up in Hatchet Creek you will notice the huge amount of visible cover such as the constant weed lined banks and wood cover found all within the weeds. Anglers that like to flip and pitch lures like jig combos, tube baits, worms and lizards of all sizes while getting the boat in close to fish thick and matted weeds, are right at home here.

Deep diving crankbaits, floating and suspending jerkbaits and rattling lipless crankbaits like Bill Lewis Rattletraps, Rapala's Rattlin' Raps and Cordell's Rattling Spots are all especially good reaction strike lures when cast all around the sides and ends of laydown trees and along both sides of main lake points.

About one mile traveling up in Hatchet Creek on your right is actually a small feeder creek. Its called Pennemotly Creek. Good for harboring schools of baitfish in the fall and also good for feeding bass all throughout the fall season. This section may call for the use of lighter line and the use of smaller lures due to clear water clarity.

As you travel up in Hatchet creek you will see a small weed lined pocket loaded with fallen trees, brush and laying logs with an island very close to the weedy bank. This is a good spot (normally considered to be a community hole), no matter how many anglers you see fish it. It is very close to a deep water junction where Hatchet Creek and Weoguftka Creek join. It is also very susceptible to high winds and baitfish that are usually on its wind blown banks following windy days.

From this creek junction far up in both creeks the water gets shallow the further you travel up in each feeder creek. It can get dangerous for navigating. If the lake is low even more so. Use extreme caution and study your map before navigating unknown waters on Mitchell Lake this fall season.

Planning a trip to Mitchell Lake this fall or winter season? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
" Over 40 years fishing, exploring and guiding on this and other Alabama Lakes." Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 makes a great gift for Birthdays, Father's Day or Christmas! (certificates available). For those loved ones that love to fish!

 

Summer on Mitchell Lake
Its one of Alabama's most popular lakes for night fishing. This small impoundment on the lower Coosa River, also shows many reasons not to give up on the bass of daytime either. The lakes headwaters, displays one of the most varied fisheries on the Coosa River. Here are a few choices for targeting these Mitchell Lake bass, during the hot days of summer.

Easily accessible, the dam tailrace waters of upper Lay Lake Dam, can produce phenomenal catches of spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and hybrid striped bass, during the summer months.

Fooling these fish can be done with only one type of lure. Or the versatile angler can have a dozen lures for offering these fish a variety of choices. Early light, late evenings and on rare, cloudy days, these fish will school on baitfish, busting them frantically on the waters surface.

This action calls for topwater lures. Some of the bigger fish will hit oversized lures. Smaller species may have to be enticed with smaller poppers, prop baits and walking type lures. If they won't come up, then you may have to probe deeper.

This can be on bottom with spoons and tail spinners. Or you can target the mid water column with inline spinners, crankbaits, jerkbaits or rattletraps. Grubs, shad imitations and tube baits, are also good lures, when bounced along the lakes bottom, as you drift in the swift current found below Lay Dam.

These Mitchell Lake headwaters also feature rock bluffs, many tall towering islands and small cuts and pockets, lined with a variety of aquatic weeds. All of these places are refuge for the bass and baitfish seeking shelter from the swift dam discharge.

Along the bluffs, anglers must search out the spots with the least amount of current. This can be right up against the bluff wall, or bass can be hidden within small cracks in these bluffs. Often, huge schools of bass can bunch up in one small spot, or they can found scattered around boulders or broken off sections of rocky bank.

The fish can be suspended along the eddy areas, where swift current meets the dead water. These rock bluffs also feature points and small cuts or pockets within the bluff. Laydown trees, washed in debris, and weedbeds, are a bonus. Bluffs with these features always deserve a few cast's with lures that probe the entire water column.

The islands found scattered here in Mitchell Lakes headwaters, were towering hillsides, when the river was impounded. Now, they are covered with water on all sides and most hold bass year round.

The upper points of these islands, extrude out for some distance, many hold bass facing the current, waiting on approaching meals. Some schools of bass roam the slack water, found along the islands sides and lower ends, for easy to catch baitfish and bottom dwelling crayfish.

Starting on the upper end of these islands and drifting the boat backwards, gives the angler, in the back of the boat, first shot at all the bank cover. But it is found to be much easier to maneuver the boat when done in this manner, facing upstream and using the boats trolling motor to position the boat. Precise cast's must be employed, for lure hang-ups require several minutes in the swift current, to retrieve your hung lures.

The small, weed lined pockets found on Mitchell Lake have given up some big largemouth's and nice spotted bass. The largemouth's can be found while probing deep within the weeds, with heavy worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, tube baits, shad imitations and jig combos.

Spotted bass are usually found cruising the weed edges or they can hold along desired cover choices, attacking baitfish that are washed in. The upper and lower points leading in to these cuts and pockets, always deserve many cast's, with a variety of lures, from many angles, fished from top to bottom. Even returning later to these places, several times during the day, will eventually show an angler places that may not have even produced a bite earlier.

Try the current induced actions of Mitchell Lake's spotted bass, striped bass and some hefty sized largemouth's, this summer. Shady banks, eddy areas, and an abundance of baitfish, found in these lake headwaters, pockets, islands and rock bluffs, are all great choices to begin your search this summer. Often, for bass that can cooperate all throughout the season, on into the Fall.
 

Summer on Jordan Lake

Its hot and getting hotter. No, I'm not talking about the weather this time. I'm referring to the spotted bass fishing on Jordan Lake. Each year, this lake, now near 75 years old, gets better with age.

The Lakes headwaters get all the notoriety for the spotted action found here throughout the summer months. Below Mitchell Lake dam, the spots, as most anglers call them, are right at home in this perfect, spotted bass habitat.

First of all they have current. Spotted bass love current. They also have boulder strewn banks, rocky bluffs and rocky points and even some washed out holes and ledges on the lakes bottom. All "spots" love these attractions.

Baitfish, washed through the dam discharge, keeps em' coming back for more and many huge spotted bass just spend their lives within a few miles of the dam. Spotted bass, weighing up to 8 pounds (or more) have been taken here, by the angler fortunate enough to land them. Spots, in the 4-5 pound range, are common in these Jordan Lake headwaters and some anglers catch a 5 bass, 20 pound limit, on any summer outing here.

Fooling these bass, that have seen so many lure choices, would seem to be difficult. But you never know, unless you throw. Choosing many types of lures, in a days time, will eventually show them a lure, they have not seen very much or a retrieve that triggers that reflex strike.

The old standby, the worm, has fooled many of the bigger spotted bass species found here. Although these spotted bass have features such as a small mouth, they can be gluttons when it comes to soft plastics. Many anglers choose small 4-6 inch worms. But 7- 8 inch models, seem to target the bigger bass.

This oversized lure choice also goes for crayfish or lizard imitations. The bigger the offering, the bigger the bass. Around these rocks many crayfish are consumed by the bass. Lures such as jigs, with pork or plastic trailers, get the attention of bass feeding on these bottom dwelling crustaceans.

With all the evident baitfish found here in Jordan Lakes headwaters, lures that resemble shad or bream are good choices. Spinnerbaits fool a lot of these bass. Crankbaits, rattletraps and jerkbaits, are all excellent for covering a lot of water fast and getting that reflex strike from lure conscience bass.

Topwaters, such as zara spooks, baby torpedoes, spittin' image, pop-r's, double prop baits and buzzbaits, always generate a few anxious bass bites. Prepare for these bass. They are very strong and will test any tackle or anglers patience. Many anglers leave Jordan Lake, with just the tale of the one that got away.

You don't have to use light line and tackle, unless you want to. Line in the 14-20 pound test category can be safely used, without breaking off any trophy sized bass. Give it a try this summer and discover the incredible spotted bass action on Jordan Lake.


WINTER CONDITIONS
These bass are conditioned to move about at any time to feed during conditions that may arise during incoming cold fronts, or during rainy cloudy periods, on sunny days and week long warming trends. Various situations that involve moving water (current on the main lake from dam discharge in some areas of the lake), shows that these bass in some spots, are often biting better than in other places.

Varied conditions found lake wide can have a tremendous effect on the habits of all Jordan Lake's bass. Conditions of many kinds take place during winter and each condition affects all bass and the meals they feed on, especially when its comes to them eating and putting on the needed fat to make it through a harsh winter.

Jordan Lake is the last lake of six lakes situated on the Coosa River System (that runs from north to south Alabama) and anything is possible for this mid Alabama impoundment created in 1928. With water temperatures currently in the low to mid 50's and air temps close to 60 degrees constantly warming the lakes creeks and backwaters, you can see a difference 5-6 degrees water temps can make.

In various places throughout the lake, warming spots take place on every sunny day this winter. Places such as main lake flats are bathed in an all day sunshine and shielded from high winds. In addition, they are out of the constant, main lake current. Also out of the current are small cuts and pockets such as those found on main lake rock bluffs and the dozens of weed lined, timber filled pockets.

Always keep in mind, evident current found on the lake (just look at moving trot line jugs facing down river) will not heat up like the lakes still backwaters that remain calm, still and constantly bathed in water warming sunshine. Flats found in incoming feeder creeks, bathed in sunshine all day, show that from mid day to late evenings the rising water temperatures do have an effect on these bass.

Anglers may get plenty of bites from bass that become more active when water temps rise 4-5 degrees in a days time. So always return to places such as this (places you may not get a bite in during a cold morning prior to a warm sunny day) for active feeding fish. Just the opposite can occur in these areas when it is colder a few degrees. You may get a few bites early, but often no bites during very cold, cloudy days when water temperatures do not rise significantly.

LURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR JORDAN LAKE'S BASS
Lures and the many ways to fish them can involve many choices during both cold front situations and warming trends during winter on Jordan Lake. Most anglers associate this "January and February winter fishing" with a slow, bottom dragging process utilizing various types of lures such as grubs, small worms, lizards and crayfish imitations, jig combos, tube baits, creature baits and finesse lures fished on small jig heads, etc.

Conditions always dictate the use of many different types of lures, lure colors, lure sizes, lure actions and the various ways to fish all of them. Traditionally, most anglers fish slow and think slow during late winter. This is when the winter season slowly winds down and eventually March will bring in prespawn conditions and schools of bass move shallow.

But often in this mid Alabama Lake during the January to February period, the bass will chase down a crankbait, nail a rattletrap or suspending jerkbait, or hit spinnerbaits with a rod jarring strike, even on a cold, winter day. They will even hit a topwater lure, when very active bass are affected by various conditions and at times even a cold front can turn them on!

So "Look" at the conditions prior to your trip and see what's taking place during your planned trip to Jordan Lake. These conditions dictate lure choice. If its been raining for a week this lake can get a lot of rain run-off. There five lakes above Jordan Lake and it all comes done the Coosa River to this last of six lakes.

Spinnerbaits can be lures you throw all day when stained water and swifter current following heavy rains can swell the lake and create conditions where bass cannot see as well. This is when flash, vibration and lure colors come into the picture. Choosing spinnerbaits with gold and silver blades creates flash and more vibration the bigger the blades. Bright colors on the spinnerbaits head, skirt and trailers create various colors.

Crankbaits, rattling lipless lures, and both floating and suspending jerkbaits are all good lures on Jordan Lake during stained water conditions. These lures with rattles and lots of wiggling lure action help draw bass in for strikes in stained water conditions. Colors like chartreuse, white, yellow, lime, red and orange can be seen better and should be included on each lure. Conditions again, may show an angler fishing clear water and fishing with more subtle colored lures and natural lure colors

CURRENT, LAKE LEVELS AND WATER CLARITY
Current, Lake levels and water clarity play a huge role as well in your daily fishing on Jordan Lake. Anglers can check on Jordan Lake's daily lake levels (normal full pool level is 252.0) and dam discharge schedules for 3 days by calling Alabama Power Company's toll free Lake information center at 1-800-lakes-11.

Always check water generation schedules for both upper Mitchell Lake dam and lower Jordan Lake's (2) dams. Write these water generation scheduled times down and tailor your fishing to each situation created by this current moving through the lake and its tributary creeks.

The current released by these dams affects both spotted bass and largemouth bass during the winter months just like the rest of the year. When they are feeding and water is evidently being generated there are certain places you need to be fishing and evident, current related signs to look for.

For example: If both dams are running all day bass will be tight to cover on the main lake. If the upper lake (Mitchell Lake) dam is running and the lower Jordan Lake dams are not running, then the lake fills up and bass move into flooded waters. If lower dams are running and Mitchell Lake dam is not, then the lakes water levels can fall, moving bass away from the banks and shallow flats.

Dam discharge areas are dangerous so always wear life jackets and outboard motor kill switches when fishing here or any where you fish! Hypothermia kills, so be prepared and be aware throughout your day and always play it safe! Dams are rocky and lures like grubs, small worms, jigs and jigging spoons fool bass every day. But bring plenty of lures, you will lose some in a days time in the swift current found below the dam discharge area.

Bring warm clothes and spare clothing. Have dry fire starting material (wood or paper) on board and a lighter. Always let loved ones at home know where your at and when to expect you home. Cell phones can be life savers. In winter, the life you save could just be your own!

 

I've had lots of phone calls and e-mails this year pertaining to info needed for Demopolis Lake. Many anglers have qualified for an October Bassmasters Tournament scheduled to be held here out of the City of Demopolis this Fall season. Many of these professional bass anglers have never fished Demopolis Lake (now over 52 years since impoundment) and some will have no trouble figuring them out when their tournament takes place. Many anglers are having trouble getting maps so heres help.

* MAPS * Carto Craft Maps in Birmingham, (205) 822-2103 or Toll free number 1-800-444-4095.

Demopolis Lake - Really more like a river than a lake. The joining of two major Alabama Rivers in 1954 backed up the waters of the Tombigbee River and the Warrior River. Demopolis Lock and Dam was built just a little over a mile below Demopolis City Boat launch, backing up the waters of these two major Alabama Rivers and Demopolis Lake, featuring over 10,000 surface acres of water was created.

Tombigbee River - Leaving Demopolis City launch and heading upriver you will see a very evident looking Two River junction about one mile north. At this Y junction the Tombigbee River goes to your left and the Warrior River goes to your right. The Tombigbee River runs for 68 nautical miles, from Demopolis Lock and Dam to Gainesville Lock and Dam upstream. It features many creeks, Cyprus filled backwaters, rock bluffs and weedy swamps, including a barge navigated River. There was a barge navigated canal dredged right through the nearby woods and this created an area just above the Two Rivers junction called, Rattlesnake Bend.

There are also many places to explore in these 68 miles of Tombigbee River waters, all filled with weeds, Cyprus Trees and other wood cover. Just above where the two rivers junction is Taylor Lake Slough. In the Rattlesnake Bend area are Mc Connico Creek, Birdeye Creek and Birdine Slough. Up the Tombigbee River places worth trying this Fall season would have to include, Logjam Slough, Spidle Lake Slough, Belmont Landing Slough, Culpepper Slough, Foscue Creek and Lock and Dam Slough.

Warrior River - The Warrior River runs for 53 miles of twisting, winding, barge navigated river heading North, from the city of Demopolis to Warrior River Lock and Dam, just below the city of Tuscaloosa in mid Alabama. Leaving the two river junctions and heading to your right up the Warrior River (right before you go under the Hwy. 43 bridge), on your left is Dobbs Swamp, full of weeds and wood cover. Runaway Branch that features weedy banks, standing timber, stumps, fallen trees, Cyprus trees and resident built piers, is closest to the Hwy 43 bridge on your left. Just past the Hwy. 43 bridge heading up the Warrior River, is a small spot on your left called, Kelly's Slough. Hidden like many backwaters on Demopolis Lake.

There are many unnamed swamps and backwaters, some with mouths so small the boat is touching weeds on both sides as you enter. But keep in mind most of these backwaters have water 5-10 feet deep during full pool and resident bass. French Creek is an all day exploration if you really wanted to fish the entire Creek. It is on your right just after you pass Citadel Cement Plant and Slough. Idling the boat is suggested in this winding creek channel flat loaded with stumps. Noted by its name, Powerline Slough just above French Creek is evident. Backbone Creek a weed and wood filled creek, is on your left, just above Powerline Slough as you navigate north up the Warrior River.

A few miles north of Backbone Creek is the Greene County Steam Plant, evident by the tall smoke stacks and the straight, carved out canal created for warm water discharge during winter (The water intake is further upstream on this huge island). A few miles above The Greene County Steam Plant discharge area is a very evident creek mouth. Big Prairie Creek. It is so big it looks like another incoming river. But looks can be deceiving. Shallow water flats (due to floods silting in this creek) can make navigation hazardous. So use extreme caution after you reach the piers and mid creek islands in Big Prairie Creek, about one mile from the creek mouth junction. Idle the boat or troll from here on into this huge creek, that goes for a few miles back in the scenic woods.

Fishing Demopolis Lake - There are over 500 miles of shoreline to explore on Demopolis Lake this Fall season. Backwaters feature weeds that are now underwater due to their growth this past summer and due to drought induced low water. The lake was down 3 feet this past summer and aquatic weeds grew all along the banks, banks that are now covered with water as the lake is back to full pool. So many of those weeds are now 3 feet under water. Cyprus trees have roots that grow as far as 10 feet from the main tree trunk. Some Cyprus trees and their roots labeled "knees" can be found in water from 1-5 feet deep.

These are excellent places to target this Fall season as cooling backwaters attract the baitfish...and the bass are always nearby. Shallow to deep diving crankbaits, floating and suspending jerkbaits and rattletraps can all be fan cast around weeds, wood cover and creek mouths, all the way to the far back ends of backwaters. Weedless lures like frogs and rats are deadly in flooded weed situations. So are all sizes of spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, floating worms, soft jerkbaits, lures like inline spinners (snagless sallies) and the now famous, chatterbait. Lures that can be manipulated to stay in one spot can draw strikes from bass in flooded waters. Zara Spooks, Sammie's, Pop-R's, The Spittin' Image, the baby torpedoe and other prop baits, are all great topwaters for picky bass.

Flipping or pitching lures to the thick weeds or around Cyprus trees and other wood cover is a big bass tactic on Demopolis Lake. Especially when slowing down extremely may be needed in your presentation. Finesse fishing, like on many lakes is a good tactic as well, utilizing small plastic lures such as worms, lizards, crayfish imitations, grubs or shad imitations. Fished Texas rigged or on a jig head, coupled with light tackle outfits featuring 8-10 pound test monofilament line, during clear to lightly stained water situations, these small lures can entice bass to bite. This especially holds true while in highly pressured waters, such as during a huge bass tournament featuring 200 boats.

Big Bass? Casting, flipping, pitching or swimming lures such as tube baits in lengths of 6-8 inches, oversized 8-10 inch worms or Texas rigged lizards, big, gaudy jig combos with oversized jig trailers like plastic chunks, big crayfish or pork chunks, all get the "big bass bite" when looking for that kicker bass, especially when fishing thick cover and stained waters. These and other big bass lures aid anglers in fooling these normally skittish bass into biting with tempting over sized offerings.

Other big bass lures for Demopolis this Fall season? To many to list, but topwaters are always first on my list for tackling Demopolis big, largemouth bass and spotted bass. One, the big three hooked, Zara Super Spook (originally made by James Heddon as the Zara Spook) with internal rattles, fished on 20 pound test monofilament line and strong 6 foot rods, will always get the attention of Demopolis big largemouth bass. Spotted bass like em' too!

Fished around main river wood, rock and weed cover, in creek mouths, around mid creek Cyprus trees, creek points, small islands, weed lined banks, stumps, laying trees, logs, brush and other wood cover, these annoying walking spooks can be deadly. Especially in backwaters at dawn. Rainy periods or real cloudy days can show all day topwater action around weeds, rocky banks, Cyprus trees and other wood cover. Late evenings are good too (after the pros are off the water)! with Spooks (and noisy, clacker type buzzbaits as well). For more on fishing the Zara Super Spook go to: www.fishingalabama.com and click on the cover page link, "Everything you always wanted to know about fishing the Zara Spook," by author, Reed Montgomery. Over 30 years experience fishing the zara spook.

Not only are the creeks and backwaters of Demopolis Lake good this Fall season but the creek mouths and the main river are good as well. Stumps, laying trees, logjams in bends, wood cover, weed cover and rock bluffs all adorn this Lake. Places where the noted spotted bass lurk, along with largemouth bass that do not get pressured as much as creek and backwater bass.

Fish Demopolis Lake this Fall season and join the professional anglers as both of you enjoy some of the year's best bass fishing on this lower Alabama Lake. Or call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 and see how over 30 years of fishing Demopolis Lake (and other Alabama Lakes) will help aid you in your ever elusive search for that trophy bass.

Keep in mind our lakes are crowded, but these waters belong to all anglers. Respect other anglers and give them room to fish. Some are fishing Demopolis Lake for the first time, competing for thousands of dollars with lots at stake if they do not catch fish and get a check. Lets give them a good impression of Alabama anglers!

Be safe and dress warm during these cold, Fall and Winter seasons and always wear your life jacket and outboard kill switch...
The life you save could be your own!
 

By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service
Call: Reed Montgomery - (205) 787-5133
alabassgyd@aol.com