Lake Weiss Fishing Report July 2012

Weiss: Level: 0.5 feet low. Temp: 82-84 degrees. Clarity: Ranges from clear to stained.

Bass: Good, according to guide and tournament pro Warren Barnes. “The bass are in the summer mode all over the lake. The early morning topwater bite is awesome all over the lake right now,” Warren said. “Buzzbaits and walkers like the Jackall Bonnie are working very well right now. As for the buzzbaits, I have been using the loud ones with clackers, as the noise seems to really aggravate these fish into biting. An erratic retrieve seems to be working best right now. Spotted bass are biting good as well. Finesse baits like the Jackall Flickshake or a Tackle Doctors shaky head are working best. Fish these baits on the main-lake points, roadbeds, blowdowns and docks. The spots seem to be holding on just about everything right now. As it gets hotter, I would look for these same patterns to still be producing. The baitfish should start bunching up into tighter groups, and the bass will do the same. Deep crankbaits like the Jackall Muscle Deep 15+ will be an excellent choice to catch these fish.” Guide Mark Collins also reports good fishing. “They are stacking up on the creek and river-channel ledges in 6 to 12 feet of water. Stroking a 1/2-oz. jig on the ledges in Little River and the Chattooga River is catching some great bass,” Mark said. “Also, 1/2-oz. spinnerbaits and deep-running crankbaits are catching fish. The upper Chattooga River above Cobia’s Bridge is loaded with shad, and the spotted bass are feeding on them heavily. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits and a Carolina-rigged Senko fished on the edges of the river channel near the schools of shad are producing some good spotted bass. Some bass are still being caught flipping docks with a jig or tube bait. With the rise in the water level flooding the grassbeds, some bass are being caught in the grassbeds nearer deep water.”

Crappie: Fair. “Crappie are on creek and river-channel ledges in 12 to 16 feet of water on brush and stumps,” Mark said. “Spider-rigging with live minnows is the way to catch these deep crappie. A lot of crappie are still being caught shooting docks with jigs. Crappie are being caught under lights at night in 8 to 12 feet of water on the river channel in Little River and off of docks under lights at night.”

Striper: Mark said, “They are starting to be caught at the Cave Hole in Little River on live shad downlined about 8 feet and also flatlined behind the boat. Stripers are also being caught in the Chattooga River and in the canal when they are generating power.”

Catfish: Mark said catfish are biting good on the flats 10 to 15 feet deep on cut shad.