GUNTERSVILLE JUNE 2002

GUNTERSVILLE LAKE
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Impounded 1939
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: 80 Degrees

Its Alabama's largest reservoir, now celebrating 63 years of impoundment. Half of those many years, I've spent fishing this massive lake. The largemouth bass population keeps me coming back for more, despite the season.

Summer is the most challenging, with some days approaching the 100 degree mark. Many anglers, that just can't beat the heat, resort to night fishing. Others time their daytime fishing trips to be on the water at dawn. Or they simply eliminate the hot, midday portions and fish during the cooler, late evening hours.

But there are some days on Guntersville Lake when the bass cooperate and you will find little company to share the adventures with. Although rare, all day rains, can turn on these shallow water bass and actually encourage them to forage shallow all day.

Cloudy days are just as productive. Being on the water at dawn, also shows very active bass and this is when the lakes waters are at their coolest. Late evenings serve the same purpose, but some bass are slow about feeding and only cooperate right before dark.

Night fishing this huge lake, means knowing where your running and knowing how to catch the nocturnal bass of Guntersville Lake. So, there are many ways to beat the heat of summer, when fishing Guntersville Lake in north Alabama.

>From shallow to deep, these bass can be found lake wide in a variety of fishing situations. Shallow water, can mean an endless search for the bass of Guntersville Lake. There are hundreds of miles of water, less than five feet deep, for exploring.

Out of these many shallow places, only a few hold any concentration of bass, meaning other spots just hold scattered bass, often living out their lives alone. Finding the hidden spots, that harbor huge schools of bass, can mean a few dependable fishing holes, throughout the rest of the summer months as well.

To complete this shallow water recipe there are many needed ingredients for success. In order for these bass to survive, they must eat. This requires living out the summer months in shallow areas of the lake that constantly provide easy-to-catch meals.

These meals can anything edible, from small minnows and frogs in creek backwaters, to baitfish and large gizzard shad found along main lake drop-offs from shallow to deep water. Where your fishing, determines your lure choice and success.

Shallow backwaters, with little or no current, can be low in oxygen content, forcing bass and baitfish out of these areas. During the heat of mid summer's doldrums, these shallows can be found with water temperatures in the low 90's. Very uncomfortable for bass and prey alike.

The only way to find out is to fish these areas for a while and find out. If there is no fish activity, baitfish movement, or you don't catch any bass, then its time for a move to more desirable locations. This can go for targeting bass among the weeds of Guntersville Lake as well.

Only certain weed varieties contain any concentration of fish during summer. Millfoil grows shallow on this lake, so do other weed types. Searching out places on the lake, with the greenest weed varieties available, will show more bass in any given area.

High in oxygen content, these weeds also attract baitfish, filter the surrounding waters, and green weeds provide a much more comfortable surrounding, than stale, scummy backwaters.

Narrowing your search in the shallows, when fishing among Guntersville's many weed types, can mean finding cover within the cover. This means targeting wood cover, within the weeds, for the more dominant big bass. Laydown trees, floated-in logs, brush piles, stumps, and even weeds found under and around piers, boat houses and marinas, all harbor bass throughout the summer months.

Although its hot, you can apply these tactics and catch bass under the scorching rays of the hot, summer sun. You can resort to night fishing to beat the heat.

Or you can call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787- 5133 for day or night fishing trips, to Guntersville Lake (or any Lake in Alabama). Same rates, for one or two people, anywhere in Alabama.

"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama's Lakes and Rivers for bass and stripers" Many memorable trips and some of the largest bass, on Guntersville Lake.

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery
Sunday Mornings 9-10 A.M.Central Time
Radio Station WJOX 690 AM Birmingham, Alabama
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA