Lake Weiss Fishing Report – March 2008

Weiss: Level: 2.6 feet below full pool. Temp: Low 50s. Clarity: The main lake is clear, the backs of the creeks and the Coosa are stained.

Bass: Bass fishing is fair and the bass have moved out to deeper water on the flats and old river channels and main-lake points. Carolina Rigs, jigging spoons, drop-shot rigs and 1/2- to 3/4-oz. double-willowleaf spinnerbaits in chartreuse and white slow-rolled are all good wintertime baits. Spotted bass can be caught in Little River on any deep rocky banks, a Senko worm in green pumpkin is working well. Always remember that in winter the colder the water the slower you should fish.

Crappie: Crappie fishing has been great in February and will be even better in March, said Weiss guide Kelly Matthews. “Limit stringers of crappie have been coming from long-line trolling shallow bays just off the main river channel on the upper and lower lake. Bay Springs and Yellow Creek on the lower lake — Trotters, Deadboy and Waterhouse on the upper lake. Pulling Southern Pro Hot Grubs on 1/24-oz. lead heads has been producing great stringers. Colors that have been real good have been popsicle, orange crush, wally world and black/blue with chartreuse tail. Also good crappies are starting to be caught fishing shallow brush and stumps with the fly-and-cork rig. Target shallow brush and stumps on the northern side of the banks. Dock shooting is also producing some big fish shooting a 1/24-oz. lead with a Southern Pro Stinger Grub in black/blue with chartreuse tail. Target docks in 6 to 8 feet of water in bays just off the main river channel.

Stripers: Fair, said Mark. The stripers are starting to move up the Coosa River for the spawning run. Fishing live shad or cut shad on or near the bottom in the main Coosa River from Poole’s Ferry to Mayo’s Lock and Dam is a great way to catch these fish as they move up river for the spawn. The warm-water discharge from Plant Hammond near the Hwy 100 bridge always holds some good fish from February through early March.