When its cold, bass anglers must admit they do not get many bites, no matter what man-made reservoir (or small body of water) they are fishing. So to me, you might as well be fishing for just one, trophy-sized largemouth bass!
There are many ponds,natural lakes, man-made impoundments,and rivers to be found all throughoutAlabama to consider fishing for a really good chance at fooling that TROPHY bass of a life time.
Butwhere can an angler make about any cast with his / her favorite offering and still expect to have a really good chance at fooling a true, trophy-sized largemouth bass to -- first accept -- and then bite -- a variety of tempting lures?
Anglers have many choices, especially when it comes to fishing over a dozen man made impoundments to be found on major river systems located from north to south Alabama.
The Tennessee River System, The Coosa River System, The Warrior River System, The Tallapoosa River System and the Chattahoochee River System would consist of fivelakes that would be my choice.
That is,if I was looking to fool a huge, largemouth bass, one exceeding that seemingly, almost magical weight of ten pounds!
Even when looking within these River Systems (some of which feature at least a half dozen lakes to choose from), there are still some lakes you can immediatlyeliminate. So one may ask, "How does this author know which ones to choose?"
As owner of Alabama's oldest, professional "bass fishing only" freshwater guide servcie, Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504 Website: www.fishingalabama.com I should know.
I have logged many, manyyears of experience while fishing for largemouth bass (including spotted bass, striped bass and smallmouth bass), while fishingall of Alabama's man made impoundments.
After fishing, guiding and tournament fishing on all of Alabama's lakes for over 40 years (that's over 40 winter seasons) it kinda grows on you.
You soon learn from your years of experience what lake you can expect to havea really good chance at fooling that largemouth bass of a life time.
One bass exceeding ten pounds.
HERE AREFIVE OF ALABAMA'S BEST MAN MADE IMPOUNDMENTS FOR TARGETING TROPHY, LARGEMOUTH BASS THIS WINTER SEASON! STARTING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ALABAMA.
LAKE #1 - The Tennessee River System -GUNTERSVILLE LAKE
There are four lakes on the Tennessee River System that runs from north Alabama to northwest Alabama. Guntersville Lake, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake andPickwick Lake.
Although there have been some big largemouth bass exceeding ten pounds caughtout of each of these Tennessee River System Impoundments, Guntersville Lake is the first lake on this trophy largemouth bass list I would choose to target.
Guntersville Lake, impounded in 1939- isAlabama's biggest, man made impoundment (at over69,100 surface acres of water) and it has given up more trophy- sizedlargemouth bass (those exceeding ten pounds) in recent years than any other Alabama man-made impoundment.
LAKE #2- The Coosa River System - WEISS LAKE
There are six lakes on the Coosa River System that runs from Northeast Alabama to lower mid-Alabama. Weiss Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lay Lake, Mitchell Lakeand Jordan Lake.
Of these six reservoirs I have only seen a few lakes that have even given up a ten pound plus largemouth bass during each of my 40 years of experience while fishing during the winter seasons. Weiss Lake is one of them.
Weiss Lake is one lake that exceeds them all, in terms of having a really good chance at fooling a largemouth bassexceeding ten pounds into biting this winter season.
Weiss Lake - Impounded in 1962 (at over 30,200 surface acres of water), has given up many largemouth bass exceeding ten pounds in winter's past. This flatland lake is drawn down 3-6 feet for winter pool and caution is advised for boaters when navigating out of the main river channel.
LAKE #3- The Warrior River System - BANKHEAD LAKE
The Warrior River System runs from northern Alabamaat upstream Smith Lake dam stretching over 77 nautical miles to Bankhead Lake Lock and Dam.
Then the Warrior River headstosouth Alabama, to Demopolis Lake where an angler can fool a big largemouth bass into biting this winter season.
Its a hard choice, but of these two impoundment's Bankhead Lake - Impounded in 1916 (almost 100 years old and its only 18 miles from Birmingham's city limits), would be my choice.
Besides, I grew up renting a small wooden boat on "the Warrior" as known by the locals, and I have seen many ten pound plus largemouth bass fooled out of its very river-like waters.
Although rather small, Bankhead Lake displaysover 9,200 surface acres of watersconsisting of a variety of aquatic weeds, wood cover, rock cover and two incoming rivers The Little Warrior River and The Big Warrior River. Plenty of places for a big, trophy size largemouth bass to hide.
LAKE #4 - The Chattahoochee River System - LAKE EUFAULA
Lake Eufaula (Or as its officially called,Walter F. George Reservoir ) sits on the Alabama / Georgia State line. It was Impounded in 1964 and features 45,181 surface acres of water.
This lake hasover 87 nautical milesof water by boat and Lake Eufaula a southern Alabama flatland lake, has given up dozens of trophy largemouth bass exceeding ten pounds.
It is also a southern Alabama impoundment that is much warmer than other northern Alabama lakes during the winter months, featuring a longer growing season, neccesary for producing some big, trophy largemouth bass.
LAKE #5 - The Tallapoosa River System - LAKE WEDOWEE
TheTallapoosa RiverSystem in mid eastern Alabama consists of two man made impoundments Lake Harris and Lake Martin. Of these two lakes I can only choose one.
That one Lake is called, LakeWedowee by the locals in the nearby town of Wedowee, Alabama. It was impounded in 1983 and is officially called Lake Harris. It consists of over 10,600 surface acres of water at about 27 nautical miles in length.
Of all the lakes in Alabama Lake Wedowee (Alabama's youngest reservoir) has given up more BIG, trophy-sized largemouth bass. (Yes, I said the same about Guntersville Lake. But it has not given up many truly bigtrophy largemouth bass in the 15 & 16 pound plus catagory).
Lake Wedowee residents can boast of having a lake nearby that is capable of producing a new state record largemouth bass, justlike the one largemouth bass found deceased that weighing over 17 pounds found years ago floating in Lake Wedowee.
Of which that bass would have been a new Alabama state record largemouth bass, that is if it had been caught by some very lucky angler. The next state record largemouth bass could easily come out of Lake Wedowee on the Tallapoosa River System.
Or for that matter the new Alabama state record largemouth bass (that must surpass the current state record largemouth bass weight of 16 1/2 pounds), could come from any of those and other Alabama lakes. But these five lakes are my choice for the best chance at a huge bass weighing in the teens!
Could that very fortunant angler be you? Only if your out there braving the cold this winter season. Looking for just that one bite. Hopefully that bite will come for you...from the biggest largemouth bass of a lifetime! But only if your out there trying.
Or you can call on Reeds Guide Service...first! And see how!Professionally Guiding "For Bass Only" on all of Alabama's Lakes for Over 40 Years" Call (205) 663-1504 or you can E-mail me: alabassgyd@aol.com Website: www.fishingalabama.com for info on discount wintertime guided fishing trips!
Thanks and Good Fishin'!
Reed Montgomery / Owner of Reeds Guide Service
Birmingham Alabama, Website www.fishingalabama.com