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Mitchell Lake Fishing
Report
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
Impounded 1923
Lake Level: Down 2 1/2 feet
Winter on Mitchell Lake
As waters begin to cool on all of Alabama's lakes, many would-be anglers are
finding their duties elsewhere are keeping them off the water. Holidays,
deer season and hunting in general, past times such as watching football and
for some, just trying to stay warm - like when chopping wood for the winter
becomes a real necessity. That leaves a lot of water on Alabama's 5,850 acre
Mitchell lake for wintertime anglers to fish - in somewhat of a solitude
setting.
Although Mitchell Lake (the fifth lake in a series of six Coosa River
Impoundment's), is unseasonably low for winter pool (it is usually close to
full pool year round) and Mitchell lake is somewhat of small lake when
compared to other Alabama impoundments, there is still plenty of water to
explore this winter. Even major feeder creeks (at full pool displaying 20
foot depths), still have plenty of both spotted bass and largemouth bass
that can be very cooperative. That is, when you are fishing during the right
conditions on the right days. Like any impoundment Mitchell lake has its
good days and its bad days.
Often and more times than not, the weather dictates the way your fishing day
is going to be. Most of the time (very cold nights in the upper teens and
low twenties) coupled with daytime highs not even reaching 50 degrees can be
downright miserable and staying home is smarter. Including, it can be a day
when only a few scattered bites make up an entire day of searching for bass
out of the high winds and often it can be a cold, cloudy day. Tournament
days on Mitchell lake go even faster and before you know it your fishing day
is at an end usually around 3 p.m. So making the best of your day, being in
the right place at the right time and making the correct fish catching
decision is very important to your fish catching success.
Most of these online fishing reports consist of, (for instance) Well, we
went out this week on Lake-What-a-Hog and we were fishing some "big bass
lures" in such and such water depths and we just literally slayed em' on
what just happens to be my favorite sponsors lures and ironically their best
selling colors! Of course you have got to have the new $1000.00 rods I use
and the new, one and only $1000.00 reel as well. These are made by my
sponsors too!
And that's OK. But it does you no good.
Conditions change daily. That gets us back to the weather, fishing locations
and most importantly whether your fishing on a week day or a weekend on
Mitchell lake. So here's one likely location you can explore all throughout
this winter season on Mitchell Lake; Mitchell Lakes Headwaters. When being
in the right place, at the right time, fishing the right lures during the
right conditions...is what it takes to fool Mitchell Lake's bass.
Mitchell Lakes Headwaters
Low water. That is not good for any angler, whether or not an angler is in a
shallow draft aluminum boat or when one is navigating a shiny, new $50,000
bass boat. Extreme caution must be used in these Mitchell lake headwaters,
which is situated just below upper reservoir, Lay Lake dam. During low water
(wintertime pool levels), these rocks are just under the waters surface.
Boulders that are normally just a few feet under the waters surface are
reasonably safe to idle your boat around, that is when the lake is at full
pool.
But with Mitchell lake now down anywhere from 2-3 feet, a lot of these
previously submerged rocks and boulders are now either protruding above the
waters surface near the dam, or some rocks are now dangerously hidden just
inches under the waters surface. Just waiting for some unfortunate angler to
bang a boat into, causing boat damage, motor damage or worst yet putting
lives at stake. So having said that, if you have ever fished Mitchell lakes
headwaters then you know about idling down your boat at the last island,
right before seeing the dam.
Gilchrist Island (Airport island) sits right below a bridge in Mitchell
lakes headwaters. You will see Lay Lake dam about a half mile ahead. As for
you experienced anglers (a reminder), or for anglers new to navigating their
boats in Mitchell Lakes headwaters, this means running the boat up the left
side of this island as usual. Upon seeing the bridge slow down to an idle
and stay close to the left side of the lake, close to the middle of the
bridge, but away from the long, upper Airplane island point, it runs way out
towards the bridge pilings.
Just above this bridge, using the trolling motor is suggested, as you near
the main lake point obviously sticking out on your left, just below the
mouth of Yellowleaf creek. From here to the dam (excluding the dam discharge
area and a few deep holes), the water is only 1-3 feet deep. The current can
be swift at times in these lake headwaters, so bringing an anchor is highly
suggested. There are very few places where an angler can escape the current
and the batteries on most of today's boats, no matter how new they are,
could be drained by mid day, especially if the current is evident all day.
Anchoring down the boat does have its good points and its drawbacks.
Anchoring down a tournament boat with the trolling motor in the "stowed
position" is a good way to claim a spot. Most tournament rules specify an
angler can claim a spot when fishing in this manner. It is common courtesy
for other tournament anglers to stay at least 50 yards away or anchor down
and claim their own spot! Some anglers may not like it, but as they say,
"that's the rules." I always carry an anchor and a long 50 foot rope for
anchoring down. You never know when you are going to need it!
Besides anchoring down your boat in these swift, lake headwaters claiming a
spot during bass tournaments, there are other advantages to having an
anchor. For one, it does make you thoroughly fish a spot, not getting off
course when trolling all around in the current and concentrating on your
lure presentation. It also keeps the boat stationary and you can easily cast
upstream bringing your lures with the current in the right manner, while not
having to deal with the wind, current and trolling motor.
All fish face into the current, they are looking for an easy to catch meal
in these current laden, Mitchell Lake headwaters. Usually these meals are
washed their way as they stay hidden down below in ambush spots just out of
the current. Minnows, shad of all sizes, bream, crayfish, worms, fresh water
eels and other prey all live in these lake headwaters. They are all
susceptible to being ate by Mitchell Lakes predator fish such as spotted
bass, largemouth bass, white bass and striped bass. So your lures should
simulate these prey in shape, size, color and even lure action.
The disadvantages of anchoring down the boat is hanging up lures fished on
or near bottom. Hanging up costly lures means either breaking them off or
pulling up the anchor and having to go after them. Remember time is money in
bass tournaments. Doing this 5 - 6 times alone means at least 30 minutes of
your tournament day is gone wasted on retrieving hung lures, instead of
enticing bass to bite. So beforehand, whether your in a bass tournament or
just plain fishing discuss hanging up your lures with your partner to avoid
this problem to start with.
Lures that will not hang up can be many when fishing in 1-3 feet of water.
Although winter is not thought of as topwater lure season ask any angler and
most will exclaim they have seen schooling bass in these Mitchell lake
headwaters and most anglers have managed to fool a few bass even in low 50
degree water temperatures. So always have two rods rigged, one with a large
topwater lure and another rod rigged with a smaller topwater offering.
The same goes for your fishing partner, who may be experimenting with
various topwaters, different colors or even topwaters with qualities such as
prop-baits, cup-faced topwaters or walking type topwaters. You can fish most
topwaters with 14-20 pound test line in these lake headwaters. Long rods and
wide spooled reels allow for longer casts with less frustration. Sharp hooks
are a must, for many bass just slap at the lure missing it, if it is not
sporting very sharp or newly replaced hooks.
Another topwater lure or one that can be fished weightless is a soft
jerkbait. Line test of 10-14 pound test is suggested to get these
not-so-wind resistant weightless lures out there. Adding nails or rattles to
the center, head or tail of a soft jerkbait, will cause these soft jerkbaits
to slowly sink and allow for better casting distance with more weight. Going
to a bigger hook or fishing a thick-shanked hook, also adds needed weight to
soft jerkbaits.
You can also fish these lures with a sharp jerking motion keeping it on or
near the water's surface. Or you can dead stick them or allow them to slowly
sink while feeling for a strike. Other lures in this weightless category are
slowly sinking plastics like Gary Yamamoto's Senkos or Zoom's trick worms.
Even wacky rigging soft plastics fools bass that may ignore all other lures
and presentations in these oftentimes very crowded lake headwaters.
To avoid hanging up in these lake headwaters calls for the use of many other
types of lures. Spinnerbaits will not hang as much if you pay attention on
every cast and choose your spinnerbait weights according to the swiftness of
the current. You can slow the spinnerbaits fall using bigger blades, gaudy
trailers, or heavier line. Long rods and heavy 17-20 pound test line are
suggested.
Shallow running crankbaits, especially square billed crankbaits are great
for fooling bass, bass that other anglers fail to entice. Many meals in
these lake headwaters look like a crankbait. Keeping your rod held high and
giving a slight jerk when your crankbait careens off of a rock can avoid
hang-ups. Floating or suspending jerkbaits are also weedless and really help
avoid hang-ups while fishing in Mitchell lakes 1-3 foot of rocky,
boulder-strewn lake head waters.
Rattletraps or other rattling, lipless lures can be fished fast to avoid
hang-ups or they can slowly be fished in a lift and drop fashion. Paying
attention to what your lures are doing is a big part of either hanging up or
learning to fish Mitchell lakes headwaters with less frustration. If you are
just casting out your lures and allowing them to sink to the rocky bottom,
then you can expect to hang up all day. If fishing lures along the bottom
and planning on anchoring down, start with cheaper lures like small worms,
lizards, grubs, shad imitations and crayfish plastics rigged on jig heads.
Breaking off these lures is less costly and can be afforded by most anglers.
Planning a trip to Mitchell Lake this winter season? Always call on Reeds
Guide Service...first! "Over 30 years exploring, tournament fishing and
guiding on Mitchell Lake and other Alabama Lakes" Several guides available,
year round, for multiple parties and corporate guided trips. Discounts
available. Tournament anglers welcome!
* See my website: www.fishingalabama.com for more articles, fishing tips and
guide service info.
* Looking for a new or used boat? Check out: www.airportmarine.com See their
tournament trail link there. The best paying bass tournament trail in
Alabama!
* Looking for the world's best bass boat? See www.rangerboats.com
Good Fishin'
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
" Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over 10 Years "
Owner / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
Email: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama for
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Some Huge, Striped Bass
."
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