Impounded 1936
Lake level; Down 3 feet (Full pool is 556.0)
Water Clarity - Stained Elk River, major feeder creeks and lake headwaters / Clear -
Mid-to-lower main lake
WHEELER LAKE DURING WINTER
Although many bass tournament trails visit Wheeler lake during the spring, summer
and fall seasons, during winter it gets very little fishing pressure and the
recognition it deserves as an excellent wintertime bass fishery. During the months
of January and February there are many places to begin your search for these
wintertime largemouth bass and some big smallmouth bass, that this 68,300 acre lake
has to offer.
Low water lake levels (dropped for winter pool), eliminates a lot of shallow, weedy
backwaters, places normally loaded with fish that bass anglers targeted during those
“other three seasons” when the lake was at full pool. It also poses problems for
first time anglers attempting to navigate their boats during low water. Extreme
caution is advised!
At mid lake is an area simply referred to as, “Decatur flats” it is almost void of
anglers and their hordes of bass boats and crappie boats during the cold, winter
months. This is mostly due to the weedy, Eurasian milfoil and hydrilla weed-covered
flats, that are now exposed and “high and dry” with the lake level now down any
where from 3-5 feet below normal, full pool lake levels for the winter season.
Wheeler lake will remain low until about mid April.
Sandwiched between upstream Tennessee River Impoundment, Guntersville lake
(Alabama’s largest, man made impoundment) a lake that gets so much recognition for
its big, wintertime largemouth bass / and lower Tennessee River impoundment Wilson
lake, so noted for its trophy-sized smallmouth bass Wheeler lake gets left out when
it comes to recognition of such trophy-sized bass.
But Wheeler lake has produced catches of 10 pound largemouth bass and even
smallmouth bass exceeding 10 pounds as well! Still, with a total of almost 900 miles
of shoreline and a navigable waterway of over 70 miles in length (from Wheeler lake
dam to upstream Guntersville lake dam in the lake’s headwaters) there is a lot of
water to be searched and explored in winter.
Narrowing it down is possible, like when thinking of fishing only deep water and
deep water structure and bass holding cover as well during the very cold months of
January and February. Ledges, drop-offs, depressions, the mouths of creeks and the
mouth of the incoming Elk River are great places to fish with lures like
bottom-dragging lures and fishing with 1/2 ounce silver jigging spoons. But shallow
water bass can be found too! Especially during week-long warming trends that may
just pop up at any time!
Give Wheeler lake a try this winter season. But be forewarned if your one that likes
the company of other anglers! While other anglers are fishing close by on reservoirs
like Wilson lake and Guntersville lake, you may just have Wheeler Lake all to
yourself! A lake that is better in the winter months…than most anglers know.
———————————————————————————————-
FISHING NEWS
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* GUIDE SERVICE
Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504…first! Wheeler
lake’s oldest, professional “bass fishing only” guide service.”Guiding on Wheeler
lake and all other Alabama lakes for over 40 years” Year round guide service for the
novice angler, trophy bass anglers, tournament anglers, family fishing trips, parent
and child learning trips, or corporate guided trips. See my website
www.fishingalabama.com for more info!
* FISHING AND HUNTING
Go by Marks Outdoors Sports in Vestavia (near Birmingham) or go online for all your
hunting and fishing needs at www.marksoutdoors.com
* NEW AND USED BOATS
Check out Airport Marine in Clanton, Al. or see their website www.airportmarine.com
for some great deals on new boats, used boats of all kinds, close outs and winter
sales that are going on right now! Also see their tournament trails for 2011 at
www.airportmarinetrails.com Alabama’s best paying bass tournaments!
* WORLD’S BEST BASS BOAT - See www.rangerboats.com new website!
* NEW ALABAMA WEBSITES
Check out www.bamabass.com and www.bassnboat.com for new websites in Alabama! Also
see www.fishingalabama.com for wintertime lake reports and fishing tips for all
Alabama lakes!
* 2011 BIRMINGHAM BOAT SHOW
The 40 th annual Birmingham Boat Show will held January 20-23 2011 at the civic
center in Birmingham. See their website www.birminghamboatshow.com for prices on
booths and floor space and info on show events like “Reed Montgomery’s Kids Fishing
Show!”
* REED MONTGOMERY’S 10TH ANNUAL KIDS FISHING SHOW SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 2011
For ten years Reed Montgomery has emceed this very popular kids fishing show held at
the Birmingham Boat Show. In January, 2010 over 500 kids and thier parents attended
this free event and every kid went home with some free donated prize. This year it
will be held around 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 22 2010. See the
www.birminghamboatshow.com website for more info! Please donate if your able!
* DONATIONS NEEDED FOR KIDS SHOW!
* Donations needed! - If you are interested in donating to this 10th Annual Reed
Montgomery’s Kids Fishing Show just call me (205) 663-1504 or e-mail
alabassgyd@aol.com for more info. Donators are welcome to come on stage and promote
their products or their company, in front of a crowd of over 1000 adults! Kids are
not hard to please! In 2010 donations included rods, reels, lures, shirts, hats,
decals, stickers, etc! Any donations are welcome! Thanks for your help!
* REED MONTGOMERY’S “ASK THE ANGLER” ON FOX 6 TV
Tuesday, December 28 2010. Call in with your fishing questions on Alabama’s “Good
Day Alabama” morning show on Birmingham’s WBRC Channel Fox 6 TV. Reed Montgomery
will be answering all your fishing questions with his, “Ask the Angler” question and
answer session on just after 8 a.m. Central time. Seen state wide on Fox 6 for over
5 years now! Or you can go to their Fox 6 link found on the home page of
www.fishingalabama.com Then just click on GDA and see the archive Good Day Alabama
morning shows found there!
Thanks and Good Fishin’!
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
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!
