Lake Weiss Fishing Report January 2012

Weiss: Level: 5.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 47-51 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Good. Warren Barnes reports, “The bass are feeding heavily on shad all over the lake. Lipless crankbaits and flat-sided crankbaits like the Jackall Bling have been producing very well. I have been finding largemouths on shallow flats and grouped up in thick schools before a cold front. The key is to have a channel drop nearby. After the cold front passes, these fish will move to these drops and scatter just a bit but will still stay in the area. Just like last month, if there is a good wind blowing, try using a jerkbait like a Jackall Squirrel in these same areas to get those very active fish. The jig bite has begun to produce some healthy spotted bass for me lately as well. I am skipping finesse jigs under docks and around laydowns to produce some quality spots, and I am using 10-lb. Fight Line Copolymer on these baits. As we get into February, I look for the largemouths and spotted bass to be in full winter mode. Fish the river channels on the colder days and move shallow on the warmer days especially in the afternoons. Throwing crankbaits like the Jackall Muscle Deep crankbait and Flikshakes will be my main baits for catching the deeper fish. Flipping jigs and big thumping spinnerbaits are what I will use up shallow for these cold-weather fish.” Guide Mark Collins said the bass fishing is fair. “Bass have started moving to a deeper winter pattern. Some bass are being caught on rip-rap rocks on jigs. A Carolina rig is working well for the deeper fish on main-lake points and ledges.”

Crappie: “The fish are starting to bite again on the old river ledges in 8 to 16 feet of water,” Mark said. “Spider-rigging with minnows is producing, and the float-n-fly is also.”

Stripers: Poor. “The stripers are due to turn on any day,” Mark said.