Reed Montgomery

EARLY JANUARY ON GUNTERSVILLE LAKE

Cold fronts roll in and out this time of year on Alabama's massive Guntersville Lake. But no matter how cold it gets these often tempermental largemouth bass will still hit one lure, a suspending jerkbait.

Especially when the better side of this equation takes place following a severe cold front...when warm fronts move in.

A recent guided trip with Reeds Guide Service to Guntersville lake's lower end "rang in the New Year" with 3 nice big bass, all weighing over 5 pounds each (one maybe 6-7 pounds), all caught on Tim Horton's signature series Heddon suspending jerkbaits,(blue back with orange belly), in water temps ranging from 49-52 degrees!

EQUIPMENT

We used 7 foot med-action Tiger Rods (See: www.tigerodz.com) and wide-spooled ABU Garcia 5500 reels, loaded with Trilene Big Game green 15 pound test monofilament line. For casting these lures maximum distances and allowing some line stretch on the hook set.

We also had changed out the middle hook and back hook on our jerkbaits, to a # 4 Gamakatsu round bend treble hook, leaving the smaller original front hook on, to avoid three oversized hooks from hanging together.

OTHER LURES

This was the end results, especially in one spot after we had tried jig combos, spinnerbaits, small finesse plastics on jig heads, rattle traps and shallow running, flat-sided crankbaits.

All of which usually produce quality strikes during these early January conditions on most previous wintertime outings to the lower lake, which is always clearer than upriver!

LOCATIONS

In all we must have had 40 bites and caught at least 30 bass! Our five best bass that day would have easily weighed 23-24 pounds. Most bass came in that 5-6 foot drop along weed edges, along both sides of points and the ends of long, tapering main lake points, all the way to the dam.

Some of our more quality sized bass were on points in creek mouths and we had a few on secondary points in creeks fishing down on the lower end of the lake in Browns Creek, Spring Creek and Honeycomb Creek.

RETRIEVES

* Slow retrieves after cranking down the suspending jerkbait a few turns of the reel and then pausing the lure as much as 5-10 seconds triggered most of our bigger bass bites (one bass hit after a client picked out a small backlash!)

WEATHER

Look for a continuing warming trend this week

with daytime highs in the low to mid 60's, rain and partly cloudy skies all week and much more coopertive big bass in shallow water!

(Might even Spook up a few this week!)

Guided trips available!

Thanks,

Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service

Website: www.fishingalabama.com

E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com

Phone (205) 787-5133

Fish Species: Largemouth bass
Bait Used: Tim Horton Signature Series Heddon suspending jerkbaits Orange / Blue back
Tackle Used: 15 pound Trilene green big game monofilament
Method Used: Slow stop and go retrieve with long casts
Water Depth: 5 feet
Water Temperature: 52 degrees
Wind Direction: Southerly
Wind Speed: 5-10 m.p.h.
Jumpsuits and jerkbaits are needed for big bass on Guntersville lake in winter!
Jumpsuits and jerkbaits are needed for big bass on Guntersville lake in winter!


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Reed Montgomery

About The Author: Captain Reed Montgomery

Company: Reeds Guide Service

Area Reporting: All Alabama Lakes

Bio: Captain Reed Montgomery a Birmingham, Alabama native Guides on all of Alabama\'s Lakes for all species of Bass. Alabamas Oldest Professional Freshwater Guide Service For Over 40 Years. Website www.fishingalabama.com

(205) 663-1504
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Reed Montgomery