Report Updated April 7, 2008

Report By Reed Montgomery       Fall Report / Winter Report / Spring / Summer Report

Summer on Weiss Lake

Mid May on Weiss Lake showed bass in a post spawn period. It continues on into early summer as well. An excellent time for targeting big bass in shallow water. Early summer is also a time for changes. Weiss lake was returned to full pool this past spring season, after being lowered for winter pool, as low as 6 feet below normal full pool levels (Full pool is 564.0), this past winter season. It was unseasonably low this past summer season due to drought.

* If interested in Weiss Lake's current lake level and daily water generation schedules call 1-800-lakes-11 and then press #2 for Coosa River lakes.

The rising lake levels this past spring (currently back to full pool) was a welcome sight, especially for boaters that frequent Weiss lake. Many of which were just getting their boats out due to low water dangers keeping them shore bound. Or for some anglers / boaters just getting their boats out of winter storage, spring meant biting fish. In some cases, some wintertime anglers...were just getting their boat out of the fiberglass repair shop.

* This is a very dangerous lake for navigating when it is below normal, full pool level. So if another drought occurs this summer be careful when navigating Weiss Lake during this low water period.

When Weiss was down (until about late April) something occurred (now hidden underwater) many anglers fail to think about now. Aquatic weeds now seen along the lakes shorelines, began growing in early spring along low lake level banks. When the lake was returned to full pool, it rose several feet covering this now hidden, underwater aquatic weed line.

So as summer progresses, not only do the weeds growing along the lakes shoreline grow thick, in a very visible appearance, but so do the hidden underwater weeds, that continue to flourish in the summer sun, often growing far out from the visible weed lines. Also keep in mind, these are deep water weeds, where big, summertime bass lay in wait for unsuspecting prey. Deep weeds are always places where Big Bass are more comfortable and less hindered by passing anglers.

* So keep this in mind this summer; Always probe your lures out from the more visible weeds found along Weiss lakes shorelines. The lake's shorelines are places everybody fishes.

As summer progresses the bass you were fooling (when air temps were more tolerable in the spring) on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and loads of lures fished on bottom, will still bite. Only be prepared for less numerous bites on those 90 plus degree days. Bright, bluebird days are always tough conditions for fishing. So to remedy this problem some anglers fish deeper water, or some anglers continue fishing the same places they caught them in this past spring season, where there are still plenty of shallow, summertime bass as well.

* There are always some bass shallow and some bass deep. Its just in some seasons, you can find them really bunched up in both shallow and deep water, like during summer.

Although Weiss lake's bass have plenty of food choices on the menu when it comes to eating and dining in the lakes shallow, weedy waters (found lake wide), they do have to rest at times. Often, deep offshore bass (although numbering in the dozens), may not be feeding. But any bass can be made to strike a well presented lure! So if given the choice some anglers will fish deep or some will fish shallow. Others choose night fishing and they do both. Even at night bass are found both in both shallow water and in deep water.

So successful, summertime bass fishing on Weiss Lake can come down to various lure choices for; shallow daytime fishing, deep daytime fishing, shallow nighttime fishing or deep nighttime fishing. Too many choices to list for now. But like most anglers, I like to fish shallow during the summer months, if given a choice. So here's some of my choices for lures fished in shallow water, this summer season on Weiss Lake.

Daytime Fishing in Shallow Water
Weiss Lake has miles and miles of aquatic weeds, various types of brush, laydown trees, logs, stumps and other wood cover, and loads of man made rip-rap lined rocky banks, boulders, rock bluffs and rocky, irregular bottom features, including plenty of man made attractions like bridges, culverts, causeways, dams (Weiss has two dams) piers, boat houses and marinas - Weiss lakes bass have no reason to leave shallow water.

In and around all this "prey and predator attracting cover" are the many meals these bass dine on. These bass are constantly attacking a variety of meals ranging from top to bottom! So tailoring your lures to imitate or "mimic" these potential meals and get in their face in the strike zone, is what it takes to actually get those big bass bites! Then you have got to land them and get them in the boat! So lets start with small lures.

Highly pressured fishing areas, clearer than normal water clarity, or small baitfish in one particular spot, may call for downsizing your lures. Many anglers have solved this problem by finesse fishing with either small lightweight jig heads adorned with various types of plastics, or small Texas-rigged worms, creature baits and lizards, Carolina-rigged worms, or drop-shot rigged worms, all of which work in both shallow and deep water situations on Weiss lake.

Tube baits and jig combos, when downsized, often get bites other more gaudy type lures fail to produce. Even very small grubs, small shad imitations, small plastic crayfish and other miniscule plastics can trigger bites during these tough, summertime conditions. Slow sinking plastics like Zoom's trick worms, Gary Yamamoto's Senkos and Berkely "Gulp" line of lures can be deadly on slow reacting summertime bass in and around the shallows.

By now most anglers know when fishing with small lures comes the use of lighter line, more compact rod and reels or the use of smaller equipment. Getting a hook straightened out or your line broken can be avoided. Adjusting your reels drag, using sharp hooks and playing the bass will help tremendously in your landing these huge summertime bass of Weiss lake, when fishing with light tackle outfits.

On the other hand, when targeting Weiss lake's shallow water bass this summer season, bigger can be better. This means bigger lures, stronger line and the use of heavy, rod and reel outfits. Fishing in and around Weiss lakes weeds, wood cover and rock cover calls for the use of such equipment...that is in some situations, if you want to land the bass! Fishing shallow growing aquatic weeds on Weiss lake always calls for the use of weedless lures.

As summer progresses so does the weed growth of Weiss lakes many different types of aquatic weeds, getting greener and thicker every week. In and around these weeds are meals of all sizes, shapes and colors. Listing every lure type, name brand, lure color, lure size and lure action needed could be endless. So the basics will do for now.

Deciphering Weiss lakes weeds dictates your lure choice. Are they real thick weeds, thin sparse weeds, weeds in patches or real scummy looking weeds? Two lures that go over and through all of these types of weeds are frogs or rat imitations. You can fish them right through the thickest weeds, right in the nastiest, scummiest stuff imaginable. Or they can be made to hop around weeds, along weedy banks, weedy points and patches of weeds or hopped right on top of thick, matted weeds.

There are two upturned hooks on most hollow bodied frogs, most are adorned with trailing legs or a skirt. Or you can fish with solid rubber-bodied frogs featuring one big, upturned hook. You can swim them with a slow steady retrieve with some frogs displaying a sound similar to that of a buzzbait. Or you can hop them with short hops, stopping these frogs and rats on cover like Lilly pads or patches of weeds. You can actually determine how the bass really want them, on each occasion, by experimenting with various retrieves.

Fishing with frogs and rats gets explosive results and these lures are not for the faint hearted. Most anglers react to unexpected blow-ups by jerking back on the rod at the first sound of this explosion, often missing the bass. Others use to light of a line or the in correct rod for horsing these big bass out of thick aquatic weeds, often resulting in lost bass, broken line, broken rods or a broken heart.

Like a lot of topwater strikes, after the initial explosion, you must wait until you feel the bass, see the lure disappear or in some cases when your partner says, "set the hook'! Sharpen all hooks, retie your lures often and pay close attention on every cast, when fishing with frog and rat imitations.

Other lures for these weed dwelling bass are many. One lure always comes to mind for irritating big bass in and around these aquatic weeds is the buzzbait. You have heard the expression, "it must be something in the water"! Well, when a buzzbait is in the water a bass knows it and it can generate some of the most explosive strikes, when retrieved with a slow steady retrieve along weed lines, through small weedy lanes, weed openings and along weedy points.

Always throw your lures past your intended target. This is especially true when fishing buzzbaits around isolated targets such as stumps, brush or trees. Cast them far past small, weed patches and then bring them down both sides and in the weeds. Even retrieve your irritating buzzbaits right down the middle of thin weed patches, several times if possible. The same goes for fishing weedy points, thin weeds and weeds mixed in with rock or wood cover. Never make just one cast to cover with a buzzbait.

This is usually what it takes to irritate them into striking, that is if they do not explode on this big bass lure on the first cast. Experimenting with various retrieves, different retrieve angles and a variety of different types of buzzbaits, maybe even trying different sizes of buzzbaits, may be what it takes to generate strikes. Missed strikes can be avoided by attaching a trailer hook to your buzzbaits. Always have a follow up lure ready to cast back to the spot where the bass missed the buzzbait, for missed bass, that refuse to hit the buzzbait a second time.

Fishing suggestions for Weiss lakes weeds, wood cover and even rock bluffs could not go without mentioning spinnerbaits. They work in all situations and spinnerbaits fool big bass year round on Weiss lake. Clear water may call for downsizing your spinnerbaits and even the lures trailers. More natural colors on both the skirt and its trailer may fool bass that avoid bigger, more gaudy-type spinnerbaits. Encountering any dirty water or heavily stained water, calls for using bigger spinnerbaits with bigger blades and big trailers.

These are just a few suggestions for fishing Weiss lakes shallow water this summer. Develop a few of your own and discover a lake loaded with largemouth bass, spotted bass and an
occasional striped bass. Or call on Reeds Guide Service. " Over 40 Years Fishing all of Alabama's Lakes "
 

Lake level (Late Feb) 3 feet down (Usually Full pool by mid April.)
Water Temperature (Late Feb) mid-50's
Water Temps / March mid-60's
Water Temps / April-May mid-to-upper 70's

SPRING ON WEISS LAKE

Like most Alabama impoundments Weiss lake has been down mostly due to drought. Although traditionally the lake is lowered each fall season for winter pool, it was already down for summer and fall of last year. If we continue to get rain (like seen earlier this year), the lake should be returned to full pool by mid April. Each month during the spawning season the lake and its inhabitants such as the Coosa River spotted bass and largemouth bass go through some changes.

March / Pre spawn Bass
Like many lakes in Alabama Weiss lake will still be down from 3-5 feet below normal, full pool levels until mid April. March is the time for prespawn bass to begin their travels towards shallow water spawning grounds. Upper Weiss lake can be downright muddy from the heavy rains of March, creating a run-off or stained-to-muddy water look coming out of Georgia, Weiss lakes Coosa River headwaters.

Not only can heavy rain muddy the lakes headwaters, but Weiss lakes major feeder creeks can become downright muddy as well during the early spring season. Even Weiss lakes two major river systems, the Chatooga River and the Little River, that meet at mid lake, can be affected by this constant rain run-off. Of these two rivers the Little River System always clears up first. So keep this is mind if fishing these areas for bass in early spring. Or you can head down the lake for more clearer water conditions.

Although March can display a very heavily stained look to the water clarity, its a sure fact that Weiss lake's upriver flats and its many small cuts and pockets, places that feature off colored water, does heat up a lot faster than deep, clear water - like seen on the mid to lower lake. So if you are fishing either portion of the lake, a switch to another boat launch or a ride up or down the lake, can prove to be a very good game plan during these adverse conditions.

During March a search for these bass along main lake points, around islands, rock bluffs, flats, rip-rap lined rocky banks and around bridges and causeways are places to explore. Drop-offs, ledges and even fishing submerged ridges, humps and sand bars are other attractive spots for Weiss lake's big, prespawn bass.

By the end of March most spotted bass and largemouth bass can be found shallow, or very near shallow water, usually they are in less than 5 feet of water, getting ready to find a mate and beginning their bed making duties. This means these bass are very susceptible to a whole range of lures, those fished from top to bottom. As waters warm close to 70 degrees, these male and female bass will move towards the shallow spawning grounds in early April.

April / Spawning Bass
By April many changes take place on Weiss Lake. For one, the lake should be on the rise and by mid-to-late April it can be back to full pool. As lake levels rise, so do the bass, right into very shallow water ranging from 1-2 feet deep. Water temperature is very important for the spawn. So is the moon faze. Usually around the full moon of March or even as late as April's full moon, the majority of Weiss lake's bass will be bedding. Its all according to the weather.

Although weather conditions stabilize in April and the weather always gets better as May approaches, cold fronts can stall the spawning activities of these bass. Water temperatures have to be around 70-72 degrees and stable and the lake level stable as well. Weather conditions warming each day, will show beds in the shallows and most male and female bass bedding.

April also shows new aquatic weed growth in the shallows of Weiss lake. Early April these new growing weeds are thin and sparse in some areas. But the adept anglers concentrating their efforts while fishing around the greenest weeds available, can often get in on an early spring, "big bass bite" that other anglers fail to discover. Look for the clearest water, the warmest water and above all the most baitfish infested waters available, around any new growing aquatic weeds for consistent success.

May / Post Spawn Bass
Topwater time! Yes, its been said May is an excellent time to be fishing Weiss lake with lures retrieved across the waters surface. Post spawn bass can get very hungry after the rigors of the spring spawn. Some of these bass have not eaten in weeks and they will blast an obvious, easy looking meal struggling on the waters surface. Topwater lures like buzzbaits, walking type topwaters like zara spooks and popping topwaters or prop bait lures, can get the job done. Spinnerbaits are excellent shallow water lures in and around wood and weed cover.

So as you can see there is actually three phases for targeting these bass of spring. Prespawn bass are predictable and can bunch up in the aforementioned areas. Spawning bass can be tough to get to bite, but keep in mind, not all bass bed at the same time. Post spawn bass can be anywhere as waters begin to warm and they start hanging around shady places like piers and boat houses. They also seek out current in the backs of creeks on the main lake and in the lakes headwaters just before summer sets in

Thanks and Good Fishin'
 

Winter Report for Weiss Lake
Lake level: down (winter pool) 5 feet

Weiss Lake is the first of six impoundments on Alabama's Coosa River System. Its headwaters (the origin of the Coosa River System) begin in the northwest section of Georgia. The lower portion of Weiss Lake has two dams. Weiss Lake dam and the lakes power pool dam both drain the lake into Neely Henry Lake downstream. Weiss Lake is a huge, 30,200 acre lake with over 447 miles of shoreline. From the lakes headwaters at the Georgia state line to Weiss Lake dam is 34 nautical miles. The lake is 47 years old.

Anglers visiting Weiss lake have three species of bass to target. Largemouth bass, many of which weigh over 10 pounds have been taken in recent years. It is not uncommon in the spring to see it take 5 bass weighing over 20 pounds to win any major bass tournament. Weiss Lake also has a good population of Coosa River spotted bass, a fighting adversary in any anglers book. Striped bass, many weighing in excess of 30 pounds have been taken on Weiss Lake recently. Weiss Lake is also herald as the " Crappie Capitol of the World," and most anglers will agree after a trip to the lake to sample some of its fine paper mouth crappie. Some crappie weighing over 4 pounds have been taken in recent years.

Drought this past summer season showed Weiss Lake displaying lower lake levels than ever been in summer's past. This low water lake level has now existed since late spring, drastically slowing the lakes aquatic weed growth, some weeds of which just withered and died in the 100 degree hot, summer sun. Even during the fall season very little rain showed the lake still down several feet and little or no weed growth.

Like any Alabama lake that displays lower than normal lake levels, navigation can be very hazardous for boaters. With the lake currently down 5 feet extreme caution should be exercised especially when navigating away from the well marked river channel or the lakes many creek channels. The lake has a lot of stumps left here during impoundment, including other wood debris such as laying trees or floating logs. It also has rock piles, most of which are normally submerged during full pool, but now visible or a boating hazard, just beneath the waters surface.

Traditionally, during the winter season most anglers targeting the lake's largemouth and spotted bass species avoid fishing the lakes headwaters. With good reason too. The lakes headwaters can display clear to lightly stained water clarity one day and be downright muddy, often just a few days later following winter's heavy rains. Current is increased in these narrow, lake headwaters and winter's very cold days and nights can drop the water temperatures into the 40's. Cold, muddy water is the worst condition an angler can face during the winter months.

Again, there is boat navigation. There have been many boats damaged and lower units on outboard motors destroyed by inexperienced anglers attempting to navigate these lake headwaters during low water conditions. So to avoid these mishaps and many other problems associated with fishing or navigating Weiss lakes headwaters, most anglers just stick with fishing and learning to navigate the boat in the lakes mid to lower portion.

Fishing Weiss lakes mid to lower section during the winter months involves many tactics, various types of lures, precise lure presentations and having plenty of fishing holes located near deep water. Spring creek and Cowan creek, both of which are situated in Yancey's bend just above the Hwy. 68 causeway crossing are good places to target throughout the winter months for both largemouth bass and spotted bass. The mouths of both of these creeks have deep water drop-offs, the points leading into these creeks are lined with stumps and this area in a main river channel bend always displays plenty of washed in wood debris. There are resident planted brush piles under piers, out in front of piers and along creek flats and main lake flats, all of which are now visible with the lake down 5 feet for winter pool.

Stained water in this portion of the lake heats up faster than the much clearer water found downstream. This means much more active bass in shallow water during the midday to late evening period. Just below the Hwy. 68 crossing at mid lake there are two rivers that feed Weiss lake. Both of these rivers are a main influx of incoming waters, but these are two totally different feeder rivers during the winter months.

If your looking for big, largemouth bass, generally stained water conditions, plenty of wood cover and warmer water during the winter months - then the Chattooga River may be your choice. The mouth of the Chattooga River joins the Little River on the main lake near massive, Hog Island. Then the Chattooga River twists and turns along a marked main channel bordering a river flat, before it narrows down, flowing under a new Hwy. 68 bridge lined with rip-rap rocks. This bridge is another portion of Hwy 68 coming north out of the nearby town of Cedar Bluff.

From this Hwy. 68 bridge crossing keeping the boat at idle speed and your motor trimmed up is highly suggested. Study your map and proceed with caution. From here on up in the Chattooga River (that runs another 3-4 miles with a twisting and turning river channel), are still good, wintertime depths of 10 feet deep or deeper. Some deep winter holes, even with the lake down 5 feet, can often show more than one big bass taking up residence here for winter. You will see marked, PVC poles, wooden stakes or even steel re-barb protruding from the waters surface, showing marked underwater stumps and river channel edges. There are also deep outside river bends, and plenty of wood cover such as laying logs, log jams, trees and resident planted brush piles for anglers to probe for largemouth bass all throughout the winter season.

Another main lake feeder at mid lake is the Little River. It is totally different than the shallow, wood laden waters of the Chattooga River. For one thing, its water clarity. With this past summer's drought, not much rain during the fall season, and then little rain during the early winter months, this portion of the lake has become quite clear. Besides normally, clear water conditions during the winter months, the Little River is a cool, flowing river generally displaying colder water than the incoming Chattooga River or the main lake itself.

But these can be good, wintertime conditions for anglers seeking those trophy sized spotted bass and some big, striped bass. The Little River joins the Chattooga River just behind Hog Island. Navigating a marked river channel, you will see a twisting and turning Little River channel that lines a rocky, bluff type bank. From here on up another mile or so is a stump lined flat with laying logs, trees and stumps and a few piers close to deep water. Rock bluffs are clearly visible (as you idle your boat) in the far back end of the Little River flats. These bluffs are the last deep water in the Little River area during low winter pool.

Besides the lake's headwaters, incoming feeder creeks and these two feeder rivers... there are still plenty more places for bass anglers to explore on the Weiss Lake this winter season.
But always keep in mind, even with the lakes deepest water available on the lower lake region, navigating the boat with caution is advised.

Rip-rap rocks are found all along Weiss Lakes main lake bridges, its many rock lined causeways and all along the lakes lower dams. These rocks heat up during the sunny, winter days and they can hold bass of all species all throughout the winter months. The lakes power pool is like a small lake all in itself. During winter warming trends, several consecutive warm days and nights can show this water heat up fast, creating some fast, but short time wintertime bass action.

Want to learn more about fishing and navigating Weiss Lake this winter season? Or fishing any other Alabama lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
" Over forty years guiding and exploring every lake in Alabama." Several boats and qualified guides available year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips to any lake in Alabama.Tournament anglers welcome.