need advice on some N. Bama lakes please

[BaSsFiShEr20]

I have signed up with a boater for the N.Bama BASS Weekend series tournaments. The first one is on Guntersville in March. The others are on Weiss, and Wheeler. I have never fished these lakes, or even seen these lakes. My boater has givin me quite a bit of info, but anything you guys can tell me will hwelp. I hate to ask, but just plain need to know.

Avg. Depth and clarity,
Seasonal patterns(avg)
Which species is most abundnat, LM, SM, KY/Spot
Structure and cover.

Thanks,

Maybe i can bring home the money with yalls help.

Charles

[zman]

Guntersville - The depth can vary greatly from shallow flats to 50 ft plus water in some areas. Guntersville is loaded with hydrilla and some pads. Largemouth are by far the most abundant, but there are spots and smallies in limited supply. Seasonal patterns - I have no clue for the dead of winter, but by march rattle traps around emerging grass (hyrdrilla, milfoil) is a good one. Later in the year, say by july and august rats and scum frogs come into play. In fact, rats were invented for guntersville by a fellow from Huntsville who sadly passed away very recently.

Wheeler - Can be divided into really 3 lakes because it varies greatly.

From G'ville dam till close to decatur it is a riverine reservoir that has very little in the way of creeks. Largemouth and spots dominate here and there is a lot of fishing done around laydowns and there are some large rock bluffs. Current also plays a big factor because the river isn't very wide and you are still close to the dam.

From Decatur to near Browns ferry nuclear plant the area is called the "decatur flats". I don't fish here, but I know about it - lots of flats, stumps, grass - lots of tournaments are won here. Largemouth, some spots and occasional smallmouth can be caught in this area.

From Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant to Wheeler dam the reservoir gets deeper and wider. This is where Bama's best smallmouth fishing starts. The one time world record smallmouth came from this area. I concentrate more on the creeks and tributaries here - Spring creek, 1rst and Second Creeks and most importantly the Elk River. The Elk is a pretty large tributary and it fishes much like lower wheeler, not too much grass, lots of laydowns and stickups. Rattle traps, spinnerbaits, flukes - take your pick. There are some nice bluffs and rock walls on the main lake, on the south side from the paper mill to near the wheeler state park cabins there is some good chunk rock and smallmouth habitat. I also like the point on the west side of the mouth of first creek.

I don't fish Weiss, its a crappie lake - no smallmouth - can be muddy thats about all I know.

[Infisherman1]

talk to larry. http://www.alabamalakes.com he's a guide on those particular lakes up there.

[macgyver]

[quote author=WTL link=board=news;num=1104088845;start=0#1 date=12/26/04 at 20:55:26]Guntersville - The depth can vary greatly from shallow flats to 50 ft plus water in some areas. Guntersville is loaded with hydrilla and some pads. Largemouth are by far the most abundant, but there are spots and smallies in limited supply. Seasonal patterns - I have no clue for the dead of winter, but by march rattle traps around emerging grass (hyrdrilla, milfoil) is a good one. Later in the year, say by july and august rats and scum frogs come into play. In fact, rats were invented for guntersville by a fellow from Huntsville who sadly passed away very recently.

Wheeler - Can be divided into really 3 lakes because it varies greatly.

From G'ville dam till close to decatur it is a riverine reservoir that has very little in the way of creeks. Largemouth and spots dominate here and there is a lot of fishing done around laydowns and there are some large rock bluffs. Current also plays a big factor because the river isn't very wide and you are still close to the dam.

From Decatur to near Browns ferry nuclear plant the area is called the "decatur flats". I don't fish here, but I know about it - lots of flats, stumps, grass - lots of tournaments are won here. Largemouth, some spots and occasional smallmouth can be caught in this area.

From Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant to Wheeler dam the reservoir gets deeper and wider. This is where Bama's best smallmouth fishing starts. The one time world record smallmouth came from this area. I concentrate more on the creeks and tributaries here - Spring creek, 1rst and Second Creeks and most importantly the Elk River. The Elk is a pretty large tributary and it fishes much like lower wheeler, not too much grass, lots of laydowns and stickups. Rattle traps, spinnerbaits, flukes - take your pick. There are some nice bluffs and rock walls on the main lake, on the south side from the paper mill to near the wheeler state park cabins there is some good chunk rock and smallmouth habitat. I also like the point on the west side of the mouth of first creek.

I don't fish Weiss, its a crappie lake - no smallmouth - can be muddy thats about all I know. [/quote]


WTL,

This epitomizes what this site should be 8) 8) 8) Helping out when you can, and how you can. It obviouslly took some thought and time to type out the response, and I appreciate all of the times you have tried, and succeeded in helping me. Thanks for your help on all the things you do. Even if your going to school for POLITICS

Lizards

[BaSsFiShEr20]

Thanks for the help guys.

Charles

[lil_bill_dance]

Give me a call before you go or now for that matter. I will help all I can

Larry Rosser 205-640-3159 Also have some maps

[zman]

Even if your going to school for POLITICS

Thats funny lizards, I was under the impression I was going to school for booze and broads. But you are right, it sounds better (more PC) to say I am studying politics.