There is not much room for error when navigating our low water lakes during Winter, especially on Weiss Lake. This is the first of three lakes (among six impoundment's on the Coosa River), that is dropped each Fall season (for about 6 months) during Winter pool.

Until April of next Spring, Weiss Lake can be down from 3-6 feet below normal (793.0) full pool levels. Calling the water authorities at Alabama Power Company at 1-800-LAKES-11 can tell you the lakes levels, and water generation schedules for Weiss Lake, and all other Coosa River Lakes.

This is normally a very shallow lake, even during normal full pool levels, there is lots of water less than 5 feet deep, most of which is situated along stump flats left here during impoundment. Even the lakes lower end, that is characteristically deep on most impoundment's, should be navigated with caution during the Winter months and early Spring period. Stay within the red and green river channel markers to avoid hitting any unseen underwater objects.

This especially holds true with those boaters unfamiliar with the lakes layout or first timers visiting Weiss Lake. If you fall in this category, before you fish the lake get a map and when running, always monitor your depthfinder. Even if you have fished this lake before, run the lake with extreme caution, when it is drastically down from 5-6 feet.

Fishing certain places on any of our lakes this winter, should always include a game plan to include a search for a few degrees of warmer water. These places during winter will always show active bass. During winter, a water temperature gauge will reveal these unseen features, places other anglers often overlook.

There are two dams on Weiss Lakes lower end. The lakes lower end features an area called the "power pool" with a dam of its own. Along with Weiss Lake dam, there is lots of heat holding, man made rip-rap rocks to fish this winter season.

Crayfish are always found around rocks during cold weather. Fishing with lures such as jig combos, tube baits, plastic crayfish imitations and even worms, lizards and small finesse lures all work great here. Exploring the various depths found along these rocks, with these suggested lures and other fake offerings, primarily fishing from 1-20 feet deep, an angler can discover the motherlode of bass.

When discovering these huge, wintertime schools of bass (often dozens holding in one small specific location), always thoroughly fish the area with a variety of lures, presentations and from various casting angles. Make sure to include a return trip, many times during the day, to a spot that produced beforehand.

Often the fish will quit biting or move on you when a few are caught or returned to the water. Returning to a previous hotspot, as short as just 30 minutes, can show these bass to regroup and even hit the same lures you were previously catching them on. Sometimes you have to mix it up to fool weary bass, bass that were previously caught or hooked, bass that can refuse your regular array of lures.

This can mean fishing deep diving crankbaits in various colors and with various styles and actions. Bill Lewis Rattletraps, or Rapala's Rattling Raps, Cordell's Rattling Spots and other lipless lures, in both shad and crayfish colors, are deadly lure choices during winter. Always try 1/4 ounce models in shallow to mid depths and even bigger 3/4 ounce models in deeper water.

Both suspending and floating hard bodied jerkbaits get the attention of suspended bass found holding or cruising along rip-rap rocks in winter. Heddon's new "Tim Horton" suspending series jerkbaits are great choices and come in a variety of fish catching colors. Rapala's old floating 3 hook model J-13 floaters are also good, along with Excalibur's floating and suspending minnows and Spro's floating and suspending jerkbaits as well. There are many jerkbait models and choices on today's market. Experimenting will show each outing to be different with some jerkbait models out producing others on occasions.

Even fishing shallow, with lures such as spinnerbaits and topwaters, does have its rewards during winter on Weiss Lake, especially on some cloudy days or early mornings with mild nights, while fishing these man made rip-rap rocks. Getting the boat in close to the rocks and parallel casting, straight down the rocks with long cast's, keeps these shallow lures in the strike zone 100% of the time during the entire retrieve.

If two anglers are fishing this way, one can cast very close to the bank with spinnerbaits and various topwaters, while the other angler fishes that 3-7 feet of water in mid depths along the rocks with spinnerbaits, topwaters and shallow running crankbaits, jerkbaits and rattletraps.

Not only can these rocks be found along the face of both dams, but around bridge crossings and causeways as well. This same heat holding feature, can be found all winter long along rock bluffs, old road beds in shallow water, sea walls (or block walls), and even water warming a few degrees around the heat reflecting walls of metal boat houses.

Even dark bottomed places, often flats that display a black muddy bottom or places featuring dead decaying leaves, can hold 3-4 degrees of warmer water, much better than areas with red clay banks or sandy bottoms, especially with lots of morning to midday sunshine.

These are just a few spots to keep in mind when exploring the waters of Weiss Lake (the first Lake on the Coosa River System running from eastern Georgia into Alabama), this winter. Discover a few of your own, but as said, navigate with caution. Be safe this winter. Always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. When running the boat in unfamiliar waters anything can happen. Dress warm always bring matches or a lighter, fire starting material and spare clothes, for any unseen mishaps.

Keep in mind this Winter. When fishing these rocks always make several cast's to likely looking eddy areas around rocky points, along rock walls, or along eddy areas formed where baitfish and bass bunch up out of the often swift current found here. During warming trends, the bass can be very shallow, as the rocks heat up surrounding waters and attract both predator and prey close to the banks. Midday periods to late evenings can produce several nice largemouth's and spotted bass, where you could not get a bite on an otherwise cold morning.

So often, exploring these heated areas throughout the day, is the best time to tempt these bass into feeding, simply because more bass are feeling more active in this sometimes 3-4 degrees of warmer water found here. The warmer it gets, the better it gets.

Other lures that work very well on these man made rip-rap rocks can include all types of topwater lures, especially after week long warming trends and mild nights, followed by an approaching cloudy, rainy front and a rising barometer.

Be safe this winter and always call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133, when fishing Weiss Lake or any Lake in Alabama. "Over 40 Years Guiding on all Alabama Lakes," with several professional guides and boats available year round. See my Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com and its various links, for more lake reports and wintertime fishing information.

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"Celebrating 5 Years on the Radio Jan 2004"
Sunday Morning's 9-10 A.M. Central Time
Radio Station WJOX 690 AM Birmingham, Alabama
Call Reeds Guide Service...First! (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com