Ten Alabama Lakes in Two Weeks
Capt. Reed Montgomery
July 28, 2011
Birmingham - Freshwater Fishing Report
It takes a lot of time, effort, extensive travel, gas, oil (and getting up very early) to go over 2000 miles in two weeks. I know. I just did. After traveling all over Alabama during this hot, mid-summer, mid-July period and visiting 10 lakes (some twice) while taking out clients of my guide service, Reeds Guide Service, Alabama's Oldest, Freshwater Bass Guide Service, you would think they are all the same...but their not.
* Guntersville Lake - Impounded 1939
We've been to Alabama's largest, man made impoundment Guntersville Lake, located near the town of Guntersville in North Alabama, situated along with three other lakes on the massive, Tennessee River System. For those of you that are first timers, there is a lot of grass on this lake with hydrilla and millfoil aquatic weeds spread lake wide. Thick, stringy grass that both bass and anglers that pursue them, love.
There are so many ways to catch these Guntersville lake summertime bass.
Our success on one trip came while fishing shallow with topwater lures in and around grass starting at dawn 5 a.m. Central time until 1 p.m. We used zara spooks, sammies, buzz baits, frogs, soft plastic shad imitations and swim baits, spinnerbaits and floating worms, and we fished the first 3 hours of a very cloudy summer day in the low 90's catching about 20 bass up to 4 pounds. Then it slowed at 12:30 p.m. with midday 97 degrees and we headed in.
Another trip we fished deep water (of 8 -15 feet deep) along weeds, along main river drops, and rip-rap rocks, using 10 inch Texas-rigged worms, tube baits, swim baits, lipless lures and deep diving crank baits. Variety, on two trips! We only had about 8 bass on this hot summer trip, but they were nice ones up 6 pounds!
* Wheeler lake - Impounded 1936
Wheeler lake was very different. Lows 71 highs 90. Cloudy until 1 p.m. ! Shallow bass and schoolies in weedy flats all day! Most were largemouth bass caught on various topwaters like baby torpedoes, a Spittin' Image and zara spooks. Others were fooled from mid morning until we quit at 1 p.m. Very shallow bass for mid summer water temps of 89 degrees, on nothing but Zoom white trick worms and Zoom pearl colored Flukes, both fished weightless on 3/0 hooks in and around shallow weeds, in 1-3 feet of water on the lower lake.
* Wilson Lake (Impounded 1924) and Pickwick Lake (Impounded 1938)
These two lower Tennessee River lakes have been very good. Not for big small mouth bass (although we did have one smallie, about a 4 pounder), like most anglers are seeking, but for big stripers and largemouth bass! (See the recent pictures link on my website: www.fishingalabama.com at the top page are some big stripers we had this last Thursday on Wilson lake and you will see other big stripers, spotted bass and largemouth bass, some from Coosa River lake's Lay lake and Logan Martin lakes near Birmingham.) Like Wheeler, we caught both species of these bass in water less than 5 feet deep on topwater lures!
* Coosa River Lake's - Logan Martin Lake (Impounded 1964) and Lay Lake (Impounded 1914)
These two lakes only 40 miles from Birmingham, are at full pool, unlike some past summer's when mid-summer drought had both lakes down several feet. This high water holds largemouth bass shallow in the summer months. They live and feed along aquatic weeds on the lake's shorelines both during the day and at night. When coupled with cloudy, rainy weather and cooler temperatures in the upper 80's to low 90's, its topwater time! Although the lake's spotted bass will call for fishing a little deeper along the lake' s deeper wood and rock cover with finesse worms, crank baits, rattling lipless lures and spinnerbaits.
* Smith Lake - Impounded 1961
Yes, its a deep lake. Over 100 feet deep along some banks you fish. Even water as deep as 300 feet exists. Deep, clear water. Tough, summertime conditions most of the time right? Well not all bass go real deep on Alabama's deepest impoundment, Smith lake, home of the last few world record spotted bass.
We fished the lower lake's dam area, Dismal Creek and far back up in Clear Creek. Striped bass(10 pounds) and 2-3 pound spotted bass hit topwater lures, swim baits and suspending jerk baits until 10 a.m. We fished rock bluffs with jigging spoons and small Texas-rigged worms and lizards in depths of only 10-20 feet deep, catching about 20 spotted bass, some up to 3 pounds. Then clouds moved in and we fished laydown trees with white spinnerbaits, with two 4 pound largemouth's bass caught at 11 a.m.!
So as you can see on these often hot, summertime trips (and the majority of other mid-summer daytime trips to other lakes like Jordan lake, Lake Martin and Lake Wedowee, during this two week period) traveling to 10 Alabama lakes, we fooled a lot of bass on topwater lures and other tempting lures while fishing in and around these lake's shallow weeds, wood cover and rock cover! So keep in mind during the next 8 weeks there will be shallow bass and deep bass to be discovered, while fishing these Alabama lakes.
Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
Reeds Guide Service
Only one guide service in Alabama can lay claim to, "Alabama's Oldest, Professional Guide Service." Reeds Guide Service for over 40 years. Taking anglers from all over the globe to fish for Alabama's large mouth bass, small mouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass, available year round. Discounts available. Company trips, family outings, parent and child trips, both the novice and tournament angler are welcome! See my website guide service link at www.fishingalabama.com for more info. There you will find loads of fishing information, fishing reports, fishing tips for all seasons on all lakes, fishing links, pictures and more!
Fox 6 WBRC Television
See Reed Montgomery on "Good Day Alabama" morning show with his "Ask the Angler" question and answer session on Alabama's Fox 6 WBRC TV station. Answering all your fishing questions for over 6 years! Call in with your fishing questions! Reed is on every last Tuesday of each month. His next appearance will be Tuesday, July 26 on just after 8 a.m. Central time!
Thanks and Good Fishin' !
Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
"Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass"
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
Alabama's Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
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