WEISS LAKE By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504
Birmingham, Alabama
Website www.fishingalabama.com
“Alabama’s Oldest, Professional Freshwater Fishing Guide Service. Guiding on all of Alabama’s Lakes For Over 40 Years”
Impounded 1961
Lake Level: Down One Foot
Water Temperature: Mid-70′s
Water Clarity: Main lake Clear / Rivers, Lake Headwaters and Major Feeder Creeks-lightly stained
This Week’s Predicted Weather: Lows near 50 daytime Highs mid-to-upper 70′s / Partly cloudy to sunny all week (no rain all week, on into the first week of October)
SEVEN LAKES IN TWO WEEKS - WEISS LAKE’S BIG BASS!
Although my early fall season travels took me to the lower Coosa River Lake’s Jordan Lake, Mitchell Lake and Lay lake, enjoying the topwater bites with out of town clients of Reeds Guide Service (tackling those vicious Coosa River spotted bass), just recently I have guided on upper Coosa River lake’s in north Alabama like Weiss Lake, Neely Henry Lake and Logan Martin Lake.
This includes trips to north Alabama’s Tennessee River impoundment’s Wheeler lake, Wilson Lake and Pickwick lakes (the latter two lakes produced two smallmouth bass over 5 pounds!). Including a trip to Bankhead lake located on the Warrior River System near Birmingham, with two very energetic and young teenage boys (one’s birthday gift!) fooling spotted bass, largemouth bass and striped bass!
* Look for more info on these lakes and other Alabama lakes I fish often, take guided trips with clients of Reeds Guide Service to, and when I just enjoy some friendly competition in some of Alabama’s tournament trails like www.airportmarinetrails.com on a year round basis. You can see seasonal fishing info, fishing articles, pictures and my lake reports posted weekly on my website www.fishingalabama.com or see more about Alabama’s lakes on the many websites I write for, all found on the Internet links seen on my website!
A RECENT GUIDED TRIP TO WEISS LAKE
Weiss Lake is noted world wide, for its phenomenal crappie population. But not all anglers come to this, “first lake on the Coosa River System - Weiss Lake”, located in northern Alabama near the town of Centre, Al., looking for those so well-noted, “paper mouth fish”. Some anglers are looking for something they can set the hook into and in return get their rod really bowed up.
Taking on bass species like big, Coosa River spotted bass, those weighing over 5 pounds, largemouth bass exceeding 10 pounds and striped bass in the 20-30 pound range (or bigger) calls for the use of heavier than normal equipment,sharp hooks and very strong fishing line.
A father and son team quickly found out that heavier line is needed at the beginning of what actually turned out to be a great day of fishing for all three of these bass species, concentrating our efforts in the mid-to-lower portion of Weiss lake. Our day began in the incoming waters of the Little River with a young man about 12 years old hooking into the, “fish of a lifetime” a big, spotted bass! But not for long.
Although I had instructed them to use heavy line of at least 14-17 pound test on early morning topwater lures like poppers, prop-baits and walking-type topwater lures, the one rod the young boy had brought along had 8 pound test line and unfortunately, he lost his new popping type topwater lure and the big spot he briefly had hooked, about as quick as he had hooked it. It had to be at least 5 pounds!
We all now know it well. For after it breaking his line, the huge spot jumped, clearing the water right at boat side, revealing a short, stocky body, that of at least a good 5 pounder, maybe even bigger. With the popper hanging out of the corner of its mouth the big spot then swam away, as we all three gazed down in the clear water of the incoming Little River, getting one last look at what could have been.
I had even offered them rods pre-rigged with heavier line before hand, of which now the young boy gladly accepted. He then, re-rigged with a popper I gave him and then he went back to fishing, thinking (I’m sure like mine and his father’s thoughts), about the one that got away.
But the day went well and the next fish (even bigger) made up for the big, lost spotted bass. A huge, striped bass!
The young angler immediately got “hooked up” again. This time with heavier line, sharper hooks, and good strong equipment including an already loosened drag on the reel, he then landed the huge fish. The striper had gave him a good, “run for the money” stripping off line and fighting for a few minutes before we netted it. It weighed 16 pounds. His dad took some pictures and we let the big striped bass go.
Afterwards we fished for largemouth bass concentrating around laying trees, stumps, brush piles and fishing around piers and boat houses using a variety of lures. Watermelon green tube baits out fished most of many bottom lures, fooling two bass going 2-3 pounds each, our biggest largemouth bass…until that evening.
The father had caught a few bass just after midday, on his only pearl white Fat Free shad crank bait. He had offered it to his son who was not having any luck after the sun had come out, while he had fished with rattle traps, jerk baits, spinnerbaits and various topwaters. But I told him to keep it. I knew I had some of these! So I found one and tied it on the young boys rod.
Then, they both fooled about a dozen spotted bass and largemouth bass, with his dad catching a good four pound largemouth bass taken on a pier brush pile, caught on the fat free shad crank bait, before we then decided to call it a day, with rain clouds then lingering in the evening sky.
A good day on Weiss lake! With over 20 bass…of all kinds! Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first!
* NOTE - Weiss lake is low during winter pool, be safe when navigating your boat on this lake when it is down!
* REEDS GUIDE SERVICE
For over 40 years Reed Montgomery owner of Reeds Guide Service has taken anglers to all of Alabama’s lakes. Catering to the professional angler, the novice, parent and child fishing teams, corporate guided fishing trips or family fishing outings, with several boats and guides available year round! Call today (205) 663-1504 or E-mail alabassgyd@aol.com to book your fall and early winter fishing trips! See my website www.fishingalabama.com for more info.
* WBRC FOX 6 TV - See Reed Montgomery with his, “Ask The Angler” question and answer session on Birmingham’s WBRC Fox 6 morning TV show, “Good Day Alabama.” Reed has been on this very popular TV show seen state wide for over 6 years making his appearance on the last Tuesday of each month, he is usally on just after 8 a.m. Central time. Call in with your fishing questions (205) 741-7474. Reeds’ next scheduled appearance is on Tuesday, October 24 2011.
* NEW ANDS USED BOATS - See www.airportmarine.com
* BASS TOURNAMENT TRAILS - See www.airportmarinetrails.com
* HUNTING AND FISHING - See www.marksoutdoors.com
* FISHING REPORTS, FISHING TIPS AND ARTICLES AND BASS TOURNAMENT INFO - See www.bamabass.com
* WORLD’S BEST BASS BOAT - See www.rangerboats.com
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!
