Patterns for Early Spring
Guntersville can fish different during the early spring depending on where you are on the lake as the upper river can be quite different than the lower end or mid river. When I hit the water in early spring, I start the day out cutting the lake up into different depths; Guntersville has many tales to tell in early spring and there is a good reason for it! Guntersville can be completely different depending on where you are fishing and results from different depths are not the same all up and down the river.
If you are upriver above BB Comer Bridge in early spring there is truly little deep water, so fish that might be deep are not any deeper than 10 to 12 ft. because the upper river is so shallow. If your mid river or around the lower end the lake widens, and the depth can be as deep as 45 ft. so the bass can stage in 20 to 25 ft. of water. There are also some differences in water temperature, which being the shallow water warms quicker than deeper water so the fish movement can be completely different. The upper river warming earlier than the mid and lower end, generally allows the fish to go into pre spawn and the spawn sometimes 3 to 4 weeks early as water temperatures can get into the 60’s much quicker upriver.
I will work deep crank baits off staging drops first to either eliminate deep water or find feeding fish. I then get to the next drops at about 10 to 12 ft., and I work several baits at this depth, rattle baits, square bill crank baits and jigs. Lastly if that has not produced some good fish I then get into the shallows, and I always look for cover at this depth. Boat house, lay downs, rock, or just odd objects sticking up out of the water and of course the grass. My favorite bait in shallow water for massive fish is always a jig it is a catching machine in shallow water for me.
I like starting out toward the middle of the river working into the shallow water this time of year, as it allows you to locate a pattern quickly.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@Comcast.net
Phone: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
