Lake Weiss Fishing Report – April 2010

Weiss: Level: 1.7 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Excellent. Guide Warren Barnes reports, “Both spots and largemouths have moved up and are feeding most of the day in depths of 6 feet or less. Many baits have been catching these fish, but some of the best producers have been flat-sided, shallow-diving crankbaits like the IMA Shaker or swimbaits like the 6-inch Bull Shad. Revenge spinnerbaits are also catching fish. Fish these baits around stumps, blowdowns and docks. On slower days I have been using a shaky head with a Jackall Flickshake 5.8-inch worm in these same areas. This technique has been catching some quality fish when the bass are less aggressive. As we get into the last two weeks of April, the bass and shad spawns should be in full swing. I will start in the backs of spawning pockets covering a lot of water throwing small buzzbaits and popper baits like the Jackall SK Pop. If this is not producing, I will slow down and throw a split-shot rigged 6-inch lizard or Texas-rigged paddletail worm to catch these fish. This year I look for Weiss to have some good thick grass, and as we move into May the grass bite will start turning on. I will throw prop baits like a Jackall Dagored or topwater baits like the Jackall Mud Sucker, which are larger baits and will entice those bigger fish to strike.” Guide Mark Collins reports, “Some good largemouths are being caught in really shallow water anywhere from 1 to 4 feet deep. They are back in the creeks in the upper lake. The water in the mouths of the creeks is stained; however, as you go deeper in the pockets, the water clears and that’s where the fish are. They are hanging off submerged treetops and at confluences of submerged creek channels. Shallow-running crankbaits and jigs are catching these fish. Secondary points and shallow brush in the bays of the main lake are producing some good bass on Rat-L-Traps and shallow-running crankbaits like the new Gizz3 and Gizz4. The spotted bass are active and are showing up on gravel or rocky secondary points. Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are catching these prespawn spots.”

Crappie: Excellent. Mark said, “Some good stringers of fish are starting to be caught trolling. Little River and Little Spring Creek are producing some good trolling action on 1/24-oz. Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ08, JJ12, JJ13, JJ17, JJ20, JJ24, JJ25, JJ34 and JJ37. The Riverside area is also producing some fish trolling in the coves off the main river. Goodyear Cove in the Chattooga River is producing some fish trolling. Yellow Creek is also starting to produce some fish.”

Striper: Fair. “They have started their migration up the Chattooga River and the Coosa River,” Mark said. “Cut shad on the bottom on a Carolina rig is a great way to catch these prespawn fish. A few stripes are starting to be caught behind Plant Hammond and at the Mayo Lock and Dam below Rome.”

Catfish: Mark said catfish are biting well, and they are being caught in the flats and coves in 3 to 6 feet of water on cut shad.