Lake Weiss Fishing Report January 2013

Weiss: Level: 5.8 feet below full. Temp: 46-52 degrees. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Good. Tournament angler Warren Barnes reports, “Both largemouths and spotted bass on Lake Weiss are in the winter mode right now on main-lake ledges and points. IMA crankbaits and Revenge jigs are working best for me right now on these areas. On warmer days, the IMA Rockin Vibe lipless crankbait has been my favorite choice. On colder days I will slow down and get a bit deeper. The baitfish are grouped up right now and so are the fish, so it’s very important to pay attention to your electronics. On calm days I am using a small Revenge jig or a Tackle Doctor shaky head topped with a Reins Swamp Mover worm. A Zappu Flick Shake Rig is another bait that has been working as well. On windy days I am using IMA crankbaits and a Flit jerkbait and always using my Humminbird electronics to look for those areas with hard bottoms. As we move into February, I would look for the bass to still be on these winter patterns, although you should always be prepared for those warm spells as February can really an exciting month for bass fishing on Weiss.” Guide Mark Collins reports, “Most bass have moved to a deeper winter pattern in the main lake. Carolina-rigged plastics and drop shots are working well. The bass in the upper Coosa River, from Riverside Campground up into Georgia, are out on the main river channel 4 to 8 feet deep on the log jams. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms and jigs are all producing some great bass. The spotted bass have started turning on in Little River. Fishing live shad downlined near the bottom in the middle of the old river channel is producing best, they can also be caught on a drop shot rig.

Crappie: Good. “The crappie are still out on the river and creek channel ledges in 12 to 16 feet of water on brush and stumps,” said Mark. “The crappie are holding very tight to the cover and the bottom. Spider-rigging with live minnow and Jiffy Jigs is the way to catch the fall crappie. A lot of crappie have started to suspend 10 to 14 feet deep in the middle of the old Coosa River channel. Long-line trolling with Jiffy Jigs is the way to catch these suspended crappie. The upper Coosa River is really starting to turn on. Spider-rigging, tight lining a jig and a float-n-fly are all catching fish in the upper river.”

Striper: Fair. “They are starting to show up on the river and creek channel ledges in 8 to 16 feet of water,” Mark said. “Slow-trolling live shad is always a good way to catch these fish. Trolling a 1/4 -oz. jig with a white 3- to 4-inch Sassy Shad body is also a good way to catch these winter stripers. Look for them to pick up over the next few weeks.”

Catfish: “They are biting good in the flats 8 to 15 feet deep on cut shad,” said Mark.