From Lake Guntersville, Captain Mike Carter reports bass action was brisk during the warm spell, slowed during the freezing nights, and should pick up once again with the warmer, wetter weather this week.
Top producers have been ¾- to 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps and Bill Lewis MR6 Crankbaits on deeper grass lines and ledges. Carter also said late January and early February is prime time for catching one of those giant Guntersville “hawgs” over 10 pounds. Carter caught one weighing 12 pounds a few years back during late winter. He likes Choo Choo Rocker Jigs, Shakers and swimjigs around stump flats and creek ledges for these jumbo’s.
Carter also guides on Lake Weiss and said best bets there have been ½-ounce Rat-L-Traps and MR6 Crankbaits on rocky points and stump ledges. Best colors are red and also chartreuse. He cautions Weiss is at low winter pool, which means there are lots of rocks just under the surface in the upper lake. Follow channels carefully; www.anglingadventures.info.
Also from Weiss Lake, well-known crappie expert Mark Collins reports water temperature is a chilly 44 degrees and water level is down about 5 feet, but the crappie bite is very good along the channels in 8 to 14 feet trolling Jiffy Jigs or drifting live minnows. He says spotted bass continue to bite well upriver on crankbaits around rock ledges, riprap and points; www.markcollinsguideservice.com.
Captain Mike Gerry also reported fast action in the warmup and a slowdown on the chill. This week is likely to be somewhere in between. Gerry likes SPRO Aruku Shads, Picasso chatter baits and spinner baits, Tight-Line swim jigs and Missile bait “48” stick baits. He says as usual, finding grass with baitfish at the right depth is key—keep looking and casting until you find action. He says on sunny days during winter the fish are likely to move up into shallower grass, while at dawn and on cloudy days they’re more on the edges; www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com.
At Lewis Smith, the cold and rain will have less of an impact than in TVA lakes due to the heavily wooded headwaters and less mud getting into the water. Spotted bass and stripers are also more cold-tolerant than largemouths, so fishing may be good this weekend for both species. Spots hang near blue herring schools in the lower lake, often found at channel swings and near bluff walls.
Big screen sonar is a must to locate the bait—vertical jigging with a Hopkins spoon is one way to get the spots. Stripers are moving towards the feeder rivers as they begin spawning migrations—live shad is the best bet, but they hit big topwaters and swimbaits as they move into the river, as well. Below the dam, strong flows will slow the trout bite, but it will be good as soon as flow returns to normal; www.riversideflyshop.com.
From the coast, more rain likely will depress angling opportunities in the Mobile Delta with excessive mud and fresh water pushing reds and trout south of the I-10 bridge. The rivers on the west shore of Mobile Bay will be good for trout on topwaters early, and on jigs and Slick lures in the brighter hours. There are plenty of reds in the marsh creeks north and west of Dauphin Island—live shrimp or jigs gets them. Sheepshead are biting well around riprap, artificial reefs and gas wells all around Mobile Bay; www.ateamfishing.com.