Winter Fishing on Wheeler Lake

Wheeler Lake is the second largest lake in Alabama. It is bordered to the North by Alabama's largest man made reservoir Guntersville Lake and to the South by Wilson Lake, the smallest lake on the Tennessee River System. Wheeler Lake is lowered each winter and can be down 3-4 feet until spring. Boaters should use extreme caution when navigating unfamiliar waters on this lake. It is an excellent lake during winter for bass fishing.

Bass fishing on this lake during winter can show an angler doing battle with the famed smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass and an occasional spotted bass. Although Wheeler Lake does display many types of aquatic weeds such as Lilly pads, Eurasian millfoil and Hydrilla, these bank growing weeds become dried up and dead during winter. With the lake down for winter, anglers fishing this lake have either wood cover or rock cover to target.

On the lakes lower end anglers will see plenty of this type of cover in the Elk River, evident logjams, piers, brush, laying trees and stumps left here during impoundment can be targeted this winter season. The same goes for Spring Creek, First Creek and Second Creek. The largemouth bass can be anywhere. But places that previously had weed lined banks, can show they do stick around after drawdown and relate to nearby wood or rock cover.

The smallmouth bass are nomadic and move around a lot. There preference is rocks, boulders, rip-rap or bluff type banks. But even smallmouth bass can be found around wood cover and bottom irregularities. Striped bass and spotted bass are found in the same places on occasions, but they are nomadic and move around a lot as well.

For a good waterproof, tearproof, GPS marked map of Wheeler Lake (and other Tennessee River Impoundment's) made by Fishing Hotspots Maps go to: www.fishinghotspots.com

Need a guide on this lake or any Alabama Lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! Over 30 years fishing Alabama's Lakes for bass and stripers. Be careful on our lakes this winter. Always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. It could just save your life!

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"6 Years on the Radio  / Jan 2005"
Birmingham, Alabama
Call Reeds Guide Service...First! (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

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