Lake Weiss Fishing Report – July 2006

Weiss: Level: 1.1 feet below full. Temp: 82 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair. Weiss guide Mark Collins says the fish have mostly pulled back to deeper areas, which at Weiss means the ledges. He recommends a junebug Dead Ringer on a Carolina rig dragged off the ledges. A 1/2-oz. Oldham spinnerbait in chartreuse and white slow-rolled on the ledges will also catch fish. If you are fishing boat docks, tie on a 3/8-oz. brown jig with a Zoom chunk in pumpkin seed.

Stripers: Slow. There are still fish out on the river channel below the causeway, but many fish are starting to move up the Little River looking for cooler, moving water. Live bream in the deep holes will catch fish. On the main lake, schooling activity has been spotty, but keep a Sassy Shad ready to cast.

Crappie: Bottom-bumping minnows on the river-channel ledges is the best pattern, particularly in Little River and the Chattooga. Mark says to tie a 3/4-oz. bell sinker to the end of your line. Then come up the line 16 inches or so and tie in a dropper and a gold bait hook. Bait the hook with a crappie minnow, and drop it on ledges in the 12 to 16 foot range.