Lake Weiss Fishing Report October 2011

Weiss: Level: 0.7 feet below full. Temp: 75 degrees. Clarity: Light stained.

Bass: Good. Guide Warren Barnes reports, “Bass are feeding heavily all over the lake since we had the quick cool-down. The shad have started grouping up, and the bass are following them. The topwater buzzbait bite is working great early around the entire lake on any and all types of cover. On cloudy days this pattern can last last all day long, and the louder buzzbaits seem to be working better. I have also been catching both largemouths and spotted bass using Jackall MC/60 SR crankbaits in the creek channels, and the fish seem to be already keying on harder bottoms and stumps. If there is a good wind blowing, try using a jerkbait like a Jackall Squirrel in these same areas to get those very active fish. This is a pattern that has been catching some big spots for me recently. As we get into November, I look for the largemouths and spotted bass to stay shallow in the creeks feeding on large schools of shad in preparation for winter. Crankbaits like the Jackall MC/60 SR and TN 70 lipless crankbaits are excellent baits to use for catching these fish.” Guide Mark Collins said, “A lot of bass have moved shallow in the coves and bays as the water cools and the shad migrate shallow. Shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps in shad patterns are working well. Look for the bite to really get hot when the water gets below 70 degrees.”

Crappie: Good. Mark said, “The crappie are mainly under the docks that have at least 8 feet of water under them. Look for larger, older docks that create a lot of shade. Use a 1/24-oz. Jiffy Jig in colors JJ13 and JJ17. There are some fish out deep on channel ledges and more will be moving to them as the water level and the water temperature drops over the next few weeks.”

Stripe: Fair. “They are in fair numbers in Little River and the upper Chattooga River. Little Spring Creek is also producing some fish,” Mark said. “The canal and the powerhouse lake are also producing some stripes. Live shad are the key to catching these fish. Flatlines and downlines fished 8 to 10 feet deep and trolled slowly are producing some fair stripe fishing.”