Lake Weiss Fishing Report – June 2006

Level: .5 feet below full pool. Temp: 71-75 degrees. Clarity: The main lake is clear.

Bass: The bass were up in the grass and shallow in mid May, but when the lake dropped about five inches, the bass pulled out to shallow brush and stumps. “They weren’t in the grass, but they hit lizards or worm around any stick or worm,” said Kevin Randall. Fishing guide Mark Collins was on the lake May 22 and catching fish by pulling a junebug Zoom Big Dead Ringer off the first drop in front of spawning areas.

Stripers: Fishing guide Jerry Sims has been doing well catching stripers up the Coosa around Brushy Branch on live bait. “Most people are anchoring down over deep holes and fishing live bait on the bottom,” said Jerry. “I use live shad and drop them down just off the bottom and let the current carry me down the river. If I get going too fast I will use the trolling motor to slow the boat down.” Jerry said he had heard of catches of 30 to 40 fish a day in the downtown Rome area.

Crappie: There are still come crappie being caught, said Mark. “The fish are on the ledges in the Chattooga and Little rivers, they haven’t made it out to the Coosa ledges yet.” Your best bet is a bottom-bumping rig — a bell sinker at the end of your line, and a dropper about a foot above it with a minnow hook. Drop the rig onto river ledges 14- or 15-feet deep.