Lake Weiss Fishing Report – November 2010

Weiss: Level: 4.8 feet below full pool. Temp: 67-69 degrees. Clarity: Lightly stained.

Bass: Good, according to guide Mark Collins. “Some good stringers of fish are being caught chasing shad in shallow stump flats, sand bars, secondary points and humps and in the backs of some coves. As the sun gets high, look for areas with the big schools of shad on the surface, and watch for the bass chasing and feeding. The new Gizz 3 crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and the Bandit 100 Series crankbaits are working great on these aggressive feeding fish. Smaller 3- to 4-inch swimbaits are catching fish, also,” Mark said. “Most spotted bass are still out in the main lake on humps, points and river-channel ledges in 4 to 10 feet of water. A Carolina-rigged Senko worm is working great on the spotted bass. Medium-running crankbaits are also catching fish. Little River is also producing some great spotted bass fishing in the upper part on the old river ledges and the steep rock banks.”

Crappie: Good. “The crappie are starting to bite, and it will get better after this next cool front coming in this weekend,” said Mark Collins. “Crappie are being caught on structure on the drop-offs of the old Coosa River channel ledges in 10 to 14 feet of water. Spider-rigging with live minnows and Jiffy Jigs is the way to catch these fall crappie. Look for structure on the edges of the old channel with schools of fish suspended around or above the structure. Fish your baits very slowly at or near the depth you are marking the schools of fish. A lot of crappie are being caught shooting docks with a 1/24-oz. Jiffy Jig in colors JJ13 and JJ17. Docks with at least 6 to 10 feet of water or more seem to be the most productive right now. Look for bigger, well-shaded docks.”

Stripe: Fair. “They are starting to move back to the main lake on the old river ledges and main-lake flats,” Mark said. “More will show up over the next few weeks as the water cools. Slow-trolling live shad 6 to 10 feet deep will produce the best until the water cools to the low 50s and below, and that’s when they will turn on to trolled jigs.”

Catfish: Good. Mark said, “Catfish are being caught in the flats and coves in 10 to 20 feet of water on cut shad.”