Lake Weiss Fishing Report – July 2008

Weiss: Level: .7 feet below full pool. Temp: 85 to 89 degrees. Clarity: The Coosa has a heavy stain. Most of the lake is a good fishing color.

Bass: Good, according to Weiss fishing guide Mark Collins. “Most bass are starting to show up in deeper water under docks with at least 6 feet of water and on secondary points and main-lake points. Some fish are also starting to be caught on the creek and river channels in 8 to 12 feet of water on crankbaits and spinnerbaits,” Mark said. Warren Barnes said the largemouths are biting well up the river. The fish are in the creekmouths, around blowdowns and under docks, said Warren. He has been catching fish on a Gambler Giggy Stick on a Giggy Head jig head. Free-falling a Gambler Ace, a Senko-like worm has also been catching fish, said Warren. “Bubblegum has been a productive color.” Early and late there has been a topwater bite around grass and wood on a River2Sea Bully Wa Frog. “The color of the frog doesn’t matter,” said Warren. “It’s the action they are busting — it’s a reaction bite.” Down the lake, Warren has been catching good numbers of spots up to the 4-lb. level. “The fish are up on the flats early in the morning before they head to the ledges and deeper docks,” he said. Finesse worms, like the Giggy Stick, have been catching fish. For topwater early and late have a Zara Spook ready. Warren said the nighttime bite has improved recently. “Fish any hard bank with black spinnerbait or crankbait,” he said. “The fish have been feeding aggressively at night.”

Crappie: Crappie now have pretty much set in on their summer patterns and that means going deep and moving slow, said Weiss crappie-fishing guide Kelly Matthews. “Fishing early morning and late evenings is producing the best catches,” he said. “Spider rigging channel ledges in 12 to 14 feet of water is working pretty good right now. Fish the ledges slowly looking for any structure. Work these ledges with a live bait minnow rig using a No. 2 snelled Eagle Claw hook tied into your line. Then drop down 18 inches and tie on a 1/2-oz. weight. If you are not set up to spider rig, use the same setup with one pole with the bottom-bumping technique working the same areas looking for crappie holding on river-ledge structure. This pattern will only get better as the water warms more and more pushing the crappie deeper and tighter to structure. Also, night fishing under lights around bridges is working well right now. Summertime fishing can be tough, but take your time and work deep structure slowly, and you will be rewarded.”

Stripers: Good, according to Mark. “The stripers have started moving back to the main lake in good numbers. Look for them to move to the river channel ledges in 12 to 20 feet of water. Places where the channel drops very steep, like the outside of turns of the river are always goods spots to find stripers. The upper and lower points where creek and river channels intersect are also great spots to catch these fish. Look for the shad on the edges or in the flats near the river channel. A live shad downlined on a No. 2 treble hook 8 or 10 feet deep is the preferred method, but do not forget to put out a free line behind the boat to catch the shallower fish.

Catfish: The catfish are biting great, said Mark. “Catfish are being caught all over the lake. Jug fishing the deeper flats near the river channel with cut shad is the most productive method.”