Lake Weiss Fishing Report – June 2009

Weiss: Level: 0.3 feet below full pool. Temp: Low to mid 70s. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Great: Guide Warren Barnes reports, “Bass fishing has been great. The shad have started spawning all over the lake, and the bass are holding close to them. I have been catching both largemouths and spots in and around grass and seawalls. The most productive baits have been Revenge spinnerbaits, Reaction Strike swimbaits and Gambler Cane Toads. If the bite gets slow, do not abandon this pattern. Just change techniques. I have been using the Jackall Flick Shake, Trick Worms and soft stickbaits like the Gambler Ace. As we get into the month of June and the water temps rise, look for the bass to move onto the flats during the early hours, and move to the ledges and docks during the later hours. Try using topwater baits like the Gambler Cane Toad, Revenge buzzbaits or the Jackall Bonnie early. After the sun gets high, try flipping the docks with baits like the new Jackall Cover Craw or work the ledges with the Jackall Cherry crankbait. Also look for the night bite to be in full swing, as well.”

Crappie: Good. Guide Darrell Baker reported, “The crappie are now in their postspawn pattern. The fish have moved out of the shallow water, and I have been catching them in about 10 feet of water. We have had some cooler temperatures, so the water has not warmed up enough to push the crappie back out of the spawning bays to the channel ledges where they will spend the rest of the summer. These postspawn fish are suspended in about 5 to 6 feet of water, and we are catching them using two different methods. I am starting out early in the mornings trolling with the BnM Crappie Wizard Series rods that range from 7 to 12 feet in length. I’m pulling a 1/24-oz. Southern Pro Hot Grub out in front of the docks and catching some really nice fish. The best colors seem to vary each day depending on the weather, but blue/chartreuse has been really good. The lighter colors seem to work better on bright, sunny days, but when the clouds move in I have been switching to the darker colors. As the sun gets up, I switch over and start shooting or flipping jigs under the docks. I am using the 5 1/2-foot BnM SharpShooter. I am catching most of the fish under the docks using a 1/24-oz. Southern Pro Stinger Tail jig or the Lil’ Fishie from the Creme Lure Company. I will continue to use both methods until the water temps warm enough to push the crappie out on the ledges, which will probably happen by the middle of the month. Once they move out, fish live bait along the channel ledges. Use your electronics to locate brush and stumps along the ledges. The fish will be holding tight to the cover, so you need to use 10- to 12-lb. test. Start fishing in 10 to 12 feet of water, and if the fish are not there, move on out a little deeper.” Guide Mark Collins said, “Crappie fishing is fair, and the crappie are spawning in the bays in 2-4 feet of water. Trolling Jiffy Jigs in 1/24-oz. in colors JJ12, JJ13, JJ14, JJ15, JJ17, JJ26, JJ35 is the method of choice for these spawning crappie. Shooting docks with 1/24-oz. Jiffy Jigs is catching a lot of fish now, also.”

Stripers: Poor. Mark said, “They are still in the rivers and creeks for the spawning run. The upper Coosa River below Mayo’s Lock and Dam and below Plant Hammond is producing some fish on live and cut shad. The upper Chattooga River is also producing some on live shad and bream.”

Catfish: Mark said, “Catfish are biting great and can be caught on just about any cut bait in the bays. Target the bays where the marinas are located. The crappie fishermen cleaning their catch and discarding the waste really draws in the catfish to these bays.”