LAKE EUFAULA, ALABAMA (Walter F. George Reservoir on the Chattahoochee River System) By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service “Lake Eufaula’s oldest, professional — bass fishing only — guide service for over 40 years”
Impounded 1963
Lake level down 5 feet (for winter pool until April)
Water temperature - Mornings 51 degrees / Evenings 58 degrees
Water Clarity - Main lake heavily stained / Creeks muddy / Lower lake clearest water
Air Temperature - Mornings mid-30′s /Evenings 60 degrees
Weather - Partly Cloudy no rain, with slight warming trend this week in the low 60′s
LAKE EUFAULA SHOWS COLD, MUDDY WATER CONDITIONS
FOLLOWING LAST WEEK’S HEAVY, WINTER RAINS
Cold, muddy water is one of the worst conditions a wintertime bass angler can face. As we did, when Lake Eufaula’s conditions made a change for the worse prior to a recent guided trip to this south Alabama lake (located near the town of Eufaula, Al.) on the Chattahoochee River System.
It was not the first time I’ve had to make the decision of where to fish on this massive lake, following three to four days of continuous heavy downpours (that drenched the entire state), creating some very muddy water conditions, lake wide. But not the entire lake.
A call Friday evening to a good fishing friend of mine that lives on Lake Eufaula revealed launching at Lakepoint resort (located in massive Cowikee Creek in the northern part of Lake Eufaula), would not be a good game plan.
It was very muddy as was the lake’s headwaters, that began to narrow down to more of a river run heading north of Lakepoint Resort. From here to the mid lake area was all muddy.
So we launched the boat on the lower lake not far from the dam and soon discovered getting away from any major feeder creek was good idea, that is, if we were going to have a chance at even catching some bass and finding clear water.
Still we had our obstacles, before even reaching our planned destination, a spot out of the the now growing winds, across the lake on the Georgia side of Lake Eufaula.
It was cold as we headed out that morning at dawn. Close to 35 degrees. Coupled with 5-15 m.p.h. winds it was cold, bumpy ride across the lake. Which could have been a much worse ride in those three foot swells, in a boat smaller than the 21 foot Ranger Comanche Z with a 250 H.P. Evinrude E-tech outboard motor, we were safely in.
Like said, “cold muddy water” is to be avoided at all costs! So when we arrived at a calm bank out of the wind, displaying only a slight water color, flipping bait fish in the shallows and water temps a few degrees warmer…we were delighted!
It turned out to be a good choice. A choice, unknown to us all at that time, that would have us returning to this shallow bank several times throughout that day, as other spots failed to even produce a strike! Why?I asked myself throughout that cold, miserable morning “were these bass here and no where else we looked!”
Many variables, including our lure choice gave me the answer.
Although the lake was down 5 feet there was still plenty of bass-holding wood cover, where we fished and where we caught bass. Stumps, laying logs and even a black, mossy bottom were heat-holding objects these bass related to, holding and bathing in the sun-drenched shallows, out of the high winds that morning.
Also, these shallow bass were in 1-3 feet of water, but with deep water of 10-20 feet deep close by. It also met an approaching mud line only 100 yards down the bank. Coupled with warmer water temperatures than surrounding areas, it was an ideal spot, considering the conditions.
Our lures of choice had to be spinnerbaits. Or at least some type of flashing, vibrating, noise making lure, the bass could easily find in the off-colored water.
Sure, we tried rattle traps, red eye shads, square billed crankbaits and loads of bottom fished worms, lizards, tube baits and jig combos. All to no avail. We even tried fishing other locations often just getting blown off our location, due to the now 20 m.p.h. winds!
So back we went. With our chartreuse and white double willow leaf spinnerbaits.
Every time we let that sweet spot rest and then returned in a half hour or so, we caught bass when we returned. Then they turned off again, so we left again. Only to return later in the day, once again. It was all we had.
But any bass is better than no bass at all. So that one little 100 yard stretch of bank loaded with largemouth bass…saved the day.
As the day came to an end so did the sweet spot. By that evening, it too was muddy as the mud line engulfed our once precious hot spot, that had suddenly gone cold.
So we left, just like the bass, to return another day to do battle once again when conditions got better. Once again the elements prevailed. But still, we caught bass!
Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first!
Thanks and Good Fishin’ Reed Montgomery Owner of Reeds Guide Service “Guiding on Lake Eufaula and other Alabama lakes for over 40 years.”
