Lake Weiss Fishing Report – March 2009

Weiss: Level: 3.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 48-53 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Very good. Guide Mark Collins reports: “Bass fishing is great, and the bass are starting to stage on secondary points and brush in 3 to 6 feet of water. Shallow-running crankbaits like the new GIZZ 3 from Smack Tackle are working awesome right now on these aggressive bass. Look for the baitfish in the spawning bays, and target the points and brush near where you find the bait fish. Guide Warren Barnes reports: “Bass fishing has improved due to recent warm weather. I have been catching some quality fish on swimbaits in the clearer areas of the lake. The Reaction Strike Revolution Shad in the 4- and 5-inch models has been my swimbait of choice. I have been making long casts with a medium to fast retrieve, and the hits are explosive. I have also been catching good fish on the river ledges using the Jackall TN70 crankbait in brown-craw pattern. Try to bump stumps and debris to get the bites. I have also been casting a small finesse jig or worm such as the Jackall Flickshake on a Gambler Giggy Head worked real slow to get those finicky fish. Try these baits, and you could load the boat, especially late in the day. As the water starts to warm into the 50s, look for those big females to start feeding on flats and points close to spawning areas.”

Crappie: Excellent. “The fishing is awesome,” Mark said. “The crappie are staging in the spawning bays of the mid to upper lake in 4 to 10 feet of water. Look for the crappie to be suspended near baitfish. Little Spring Creek and the bays near Riverside are producing some great fishing. Trolling Jiffy Jigs in 1/16- and 1/24-oz. are the baits of choice for these suspended crappie.”

Stripe: “Striper fishing is fair, and they are starting to move to the rivers and creeks for the spawning run,” Mark said. “Little Spring Creek is producing a lot of smaller fish. A 2 1/2- or 3-inch white Sassy Shad body on a 1/24- or 1/16-oz. jig head is producing best.”

Catfish: Very good. “Catfish are biting great and can be caught on any kind of 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,” Mark said.