Lake Weiss Fishing Report November 2012

Weiss: Level: 2.9 feet below full. Temp: 62-65 degrees. Clarity: Light stain to clear.

Bass: Good. Guide Mike Carter reports, “Weiss has been very productive with the shallow bite turning on. We have been able to get some nice fish early on topwater using Spooks and small buzzbaits along seawalls that border deep water. When the topwater bite slows down, using 1.5 square-bill crankbaits and 1/2-oz. rattle baits along the many rock- and stump-filled points has been a very productive pattern. With this pattern, covering a lot of water is a must. There is not much use in staying with one point very long if it doesn’t produce fish within the first few casts, and if it doesn’t, then crank up and go to another point and get ready for some fun when you find the right point with the right depth.” Guide Mark Collins reports, “A lot of bass have moved shallow to secondary points, humps and docks and some of the rip-rap banks. Some bass are also showing up in the back of the coves and bays. Crankbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics are catching fish. Spotted bass are mostly on the points and humps, and most largemouths are being caught under docks and on rip-rap banks on jigs and tube baits.” Tournament angler Warren Barnes reports, “The bass are in the fall mode right now shallow and feeding for the colder days ahead. Just like last month, a variety of patterns are working on both ends of the lake. Revenge buzzbaits and Tackle Doctor spinnerbaits are working well around any wood cover early and throughout the day. The crankbait bite is really on fire right now as well. The IMA square bill is working best for me as the largemouths and spotted bass are feeding heavy on schools of shad. These fish are roaming a lot, so make sure you change up your presentations frequently and cover lots of water. Throughout the day I have also been flipping a jig around any type of heavy wood cover I can find to catch those very tight and sometime bigger largemouths. As we move into December and colder weather sets in, I would look for the baitfish to move out to the main river into tighter groups, and the bass will follow them. Rattle baits like the IMA Rock N’ Vibe will be my bait of choice for getting those very aggressive fish.”

Crappie: “Fishing is great,” Mark said. “The crappie are really starting to bite. Stringers of 40 to 50 keepers are being brought in, with a lot of under-sized fish being caught also. The crappie will only get better over the next few weeks. They are on creek and river-channel ledges and on the flats in 12 to 16 feet of water on brush and stumps. Spider-rigging with live minnows is the way to catch these crappie. A few are also being caught shooting docks with jigs.”

Stripe: “The smaller stripers and white bass are feeding on the surface on the flats all over the lake in the afternoons. They can be caught on small topwater baits, small spoons, jigs, Tiny Traps or a Rooster Tail spinner,” Mark said.

Catfish: “They are biting good on the flats in 8 to 15 feet of water on cut shad,” Mark said.