Impounded 1923
Lake level down 1/2 foot
Water Temperature Mid-to-upper 80′s
Water Clarity - Clear / Some stain in creeks from recent rain
NIGHT FISHING FOR SPOTTED BASS AND LARGEMOUTH BASS ON MITCHELL LAKE
With daytime air temperatures predicted to be near 100 degrees this weekend many
anglers are planning a night time bass fishing trip to Mitchell lake, to escape the
hot sweltering heat. Sure, it will still be warm and muggy and with nighttime lows
in the mid-70′s and a little more cooler. But how do you fool these bass into biting
after the sun goes down and with what? And if so, where do you begin your search for
targeting spotted bass and largemouth bass, that seem to be very scarce during the
hot, daytime hours?
This is how.
WHERE TO FISH
Mitchell lakes headwaters is a very popular spot during the daytime hours. But at
night many anglers abandon this spot situated right below upstream Lay lake dam, for
better fishing holes down the lake. Current means fish. Without water generation at
the dam fishing is often very slow both during the day or night. Always call
1-800-lakes-11 for the current, up-to-date lake level and scheduled, water
generation schedules. (Always check both Lay lake and Mitchell lake dams water
generation schedules)
Mitchell lake’s mid-to-lower section is well lighted at night meaning anglers can
target bass hanging around piers, boat houses, marinas, Higgins Ferry public boat
launch and the Mitchell lake dam area, featuring some very, well-lighted man made
rip-rap rocks to fish as well.
Even the darker, more unlit places anglers can explore like major feeder creeks,
small cuts and pockets and both creek and main lake flats, all hold bass lingering,
holding or cruising around the lakes many varieties of aquatic weeds, wood cover,
and rocks or rock bluffs. Places these bass call home…all summer long!
[ * NOTE - Anglers should always plan on scouting the lake during the daylight
hours if at all possible, prior to any pre-planned nighttime fishing trip to
Mitchell Lake. This helps boaters become more familiar with the lake for navigation
purposes, when returning at night, when obstacles are less likely to be seen.
It also helps anglers spot bait fish or any kind of constant feeding activity that
always lasts on into the nocturnal hours for targeting those big bass bites. You can
also avoid muddy water or very heavily stained waters, like the mid-to-far back ends
of major feeder creeks, that is if you explore these places during the day and take
notes of the ones to avoid at night. Muddy water is the worse condition for any
fishing trip, always try to fish the clearest water available at night.]
* LURES FOR NIGHT FISHING MITCHELL LAKE
Lures to help you fool Mitchell lake’s bass are a matter of each anglers preference.
Each lure selection for each target you choose to fish, must be selected carefully
to avoid hang-ups and possibly losing costly and often precious lures. You do not
throw a topwater lure (like one with three dangling treble hooks) into the weeds or
all up in any type of wood cover at night and expect to get it back. So arm yourself
with several rods rigged with various types of lures for each fishing situation.
Fishing aquatic weeds any where on Mitchell lake calls for the use of plastic or
rubber bodied frogs. (See: Article - “Fun with Frogs and Rats” on my website
www.fishingalabama.com ) These are very weedless lures and these largemouth bass eat
a lot of frogs on any Alabama lake at night. The use of long, stought rods coupled
with either 20-25 pound test monofilament line or braided line in the 50 pound test
category is suggested. Also a good net, net man and a light! Always sharpen all
hooks!
Big largemouth bass eat frogs but they also eat snakes, worms, eels, lizards or
water dogs. That’s why lure manufactures make so many soft plastic lure imitations!
Think big, and you target mostly largemouth bass. Black or purple ten inch worms are
still great lures at night! Although some spotted bass will hit oversized lures.
Think small, and you may catch smaller spotted bass, but both big spots and big
largemouth’s will hit smaller 4-6 inch plastics.
Around weeds, wood cover and rocks try using other topwater lures, like buzz baits
that cover water fast and are somewhat weedless lures. Or slow down and use walking
type topwaters like zara spooks and Sammies. Or try older topwaters like pop-r’s,
jitterbugs and even old devils horses and hula poppers…they all still fool old
bass!
Spinnerbaits too! They can be dropped along weed lines or fished around wood cover
like trees, brush piles, piers or stumps. Or slow rolled into deeper water along
drops, rock bluffs and ledges. Or spinnerbaits can be fished fast just beneath
waters surface, creating a wake when retrieved, like a fleeing shad.
* REEDS GUIDE SERVICE
Explore Mitchell lake this summer season or you can always call on Reeds Guide
Service…first! Whether you are planning a day or night fishing trip to any lake in
Alabama, plan to call on Alabama’s oldest, professional fishing guide service! Full
day trips (SUMMER 8 HOURS - dawn until 1 p.m. due to the heat), and half day trips
(SUMMER 4 HOURS - dawn until 9 a.m.) or full night trips or half night time trips
(you pick the hours) are available. For the next 3 months its hot right on up into
September in Alabama!
Call today (205) 663-1504 or E-mail me alabassgyd@aol.com for guided fishing trip
rates and hours to any Alabama lake. Remember, “A guided fishing trip to any lake in
Alabama year round, makes a great gift for those loved ones that love to fish!”
Call today to reserve your fishing trip gift for Birthdays, Holidays (like Fathers
day, Christmas, Valentines day, etc.) or any occasion! Gift certificates are
available to be printed out via e-mail. Parent and child learning trips,
professional anglers or novice anglers welcome, corporate guided trips, and two-day
discounted fishing trips targeting any bass species, are available year round to any
Alabama lake!
* FOX 6 TV “ASK THE ANGLER” - Reed Montgomery, Owner of Reeds Guide Service,
Birmingham, Alabama, next scheduled appearance on WBRC Fox 6 Television’s “Good Day
Alabama” morning show will be on the last Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, July 26 is
Reed’s next scheduled appearance to answer your fishing questions on his “Ask the
Angler” question and answer session, on this very popular show seen state wide on
Fox 6 TV.
Call in with your fishing questions! (Reeds on around 8 a.m. or just a few minutes
after the hour!)
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!
