MITCHELL MAY 2002

MITCHELL LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Impounded 1923
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Upper 70's

May / Topwater

Its been said, that the month of May, is the best month for bass fishing here in Alabama. True. That is very evident, when fishing Mitchell Lake in mid May. Especially with topwater lures.

By now, most bass have completed the rituals of spawning. On Mitchell Lake, you have largemouth bass and the Coosa River Spotted bass. Both species are hungry, recuperating from the spawn, and will viciously attack a topwater lure this month.

Spots, that Mitchell Lake is so noted for, seem like they never slow down. They also show little sign of having laid eggs. They look fat all the time! Many spots recuperate and fatten up so fast, that there is only a very short period, in which they are difficult to catch.

With varied water temperatures, in so many of Mitchell Lakes locations (coupled with two full moon periods during spring), both spotted bass and largemouth's can be found in any stage of spawning at one time.

If these bass live out their lives near the lakes headwaters, or far back up in the many tributaries feeding this lake, then they are conditioned by the water temperature and many will be late spawners. This is due to cool, running water, not heating up as fast as other slack water areas of the lake.

This can occur, especially when coupled with incoming cold fronts, usually showing the majority of these bass spawning in late April to late May period. On the other hand (thoughts to consider), are the bass that bed in spawning flats, out of the swift, main lake current, early in the season.

These bass are conditioned by warming waters. Waters that have been bathed in constant sunshine, for several weeks at a time. Usually flats or small pockets. This recently took place on Mitchell Lake, in early May, and many of Mitchell's bass population, have been exposed to some very warm days and nights this spring.

So those bass, for the majority, have spawned by late April. What this means to the angler, is seeking and finding the most active bass. Post Spawn bass, feeding in reckless fashion.

Spotted bass are very active right now throughout Mitchell Lake, with some schooling going on. This mean topwaters and some spotted bass, weighing 5 pounds, can be fooled.

Being rigged and ready, for this fast and furious feeding action, means having several lures tied on, to cover water from top to the mid water column. Long rods, in lengths of 6 to 7 1/2 feet, coupled with big, heavy topwaters, can show these heavy lures, to be cast quite some distance. This lure choice also goes for rattletraps, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spoons.

These rods should be rigged with wide spooled reels, with 14-20 pound test monofilament line. I prefer ABU Garcia wide-spooled 6500 series reels, coupled with Trilene Big Game 20 pound test line. Every angler has his/her on preference.

These outfits are needed for schooling fish, that always seem to explode a good casting distance away. Smaller topwaters, can be cast quite some distance, especially in open water situations, utilizing smaller tackle outfits and fishing with lighter line. But be forewarned, there are some big, tackle-testing bass and stripers in this lake.

The largemouth's of Mitchell Lake are an entirely different bass species. Much bigger in size, many of Mitchell's largemouth bass (some exceeding 5 pounds), can be had on any outing here during the late spring, early summer period.

Although like the spotted bass (some largemouth's can be found schooling this month), many largemouth's are just resident bass. They either cruise the shallows, or take up residence around the many cover choices found lake wide.

This of course, means targeting weeds, of which Mitchell Lake is loaded with. Also they can be found around stumps, brush, laying trees, logs, along rocky shorelines or even around huge boulders. Even an uneven bottom contour, or a slight bottom irregularity, can hold bass. A different bottom composition can hold recuperating bass as well, during the post spawn period.

Best Lures? Many, many choices. As previously mentioned topwaters. Models that can be cast long distances, such as when targeting schooling bass, would have to include the Excalibur Zara Super Spook.

These three hook lures, made by Pradco Lure Company, labeled "the Jimmy Houston signature series," come with rattles. They are big and heavy and can be cast for hundreds of feet.

Super Spooks create a lot of noise and water disturbance, and can easily be located by schooling bass, a lot easier than smaller offerings. This especially holds true on windy days or when the waters showing as slight chop on the surface.

For light line enthusiasts or when its very calm, there is the Baby Super Spook. This smaller, two hook model, is still quite heavy and has rattles as well, for times when a little finessing is needed. Many color choices are offered on both of these topwaters. Shad look-a-likes are best choices.

Around the wood, weed and rock cover, always try various topwaters in May. Buzzbaits are notorious for fooling the bigger bass species. Trailer hooks should be included for short strikes.

Frog and mice imitations are deadly this month (and on into summer) and are very weedless. Use long rods to aid you in making long casts far back in weedy flats. Heavy, 20 pound test line and sharp hooks are a must, for there are some big bass fooled into striking these lures.

When an explosion occurs, you must condition yourself to take a one-two count, then set the hook. Many bass are lost due to over anxious, frog and rat, hook-setting anglers. Again, there are many lure choices. Two rubber bodied models are the Scum Frog and the Bassin' Rat. They come in all sizes and colors. Sizmic's new, Sassy Toad, can be rigged on a 5/0 hook and is a very effective and weedless imitation.

Floating worms in bright colors are needed for the slightly stained waters of Mitchell Lake. Zoom's 'trick worm' is the most popular, with colors of white, pink, lime, chartreuse or yellow most visibly seen color choices.

Soft jerkbaits are very weedless and models in shad colors are great fish locators. Bass Assassins, Flukes, Sizmic's Flu-Go and Mann's Shadow, are just a few models. Use 12-17 pound test line and a 3/0 to 5/0 hook. These are thick bodied lures, and many anglers miss fish, due to using to small of a hook.

These are just a few of the many topwater lure choices to consider when fishing Mitchell Lake this May,"Topwater Month."
Practice Catch and Release, the bass you save, may just be your next bite, when you return.

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.