Alabama Fishing Report


02/20/03


Gulf Coast

Water temperature: Mid to high 60s. What's biting offshore: Fort Morgan Marina reports grouper and amberjack producing best. What's biting inshore: Redfish, sheephead and flounder have been consistent catches the past few days.







Guntersville

Water conditions: Low to mid 40s; main lake is stained, pockets are clear. Bass: Waterfront Grocery reports bass are in 7 to 12 feet near shallow flats. Fish the grass as water warms with a topline jig, June bug in black and blue colors, or try jerk baits. Crankbaits are also hot, along with Terminators in chartreuse and white. Crappie: Bass Assassin tiny shad in silver minnow and baby bass are producing good bites around the boathouses and bridges. Also try minnows.

Jordan

Water conditions: Low 50s; slight stain. Bass: Stoddards Bait and Tackle reports spinnerbaits doing best around piers and areas with brush. Bream: Crickets and big red worms along the banks are doing well. Catfish: Use worms, minnows or crawfish at 15 for best bites.

Lay

Water conditions: Low 50s; slight stain. Bass: Bozo's Fish Camp reports jigs doing well in the creeks. Crappie: Minnows and jigs doing well in shallow water after the middle of the day. Also doing well beyond the weeds.

Logan Martin

Water conditions: Low 50s; slight stain. Bass: Lucky's Bait and Tackle reports heavy jigs and spinnerbaits in running water producing some good catches. Chartreuse and white spinnerbaits doing well. Fish near the *** for best results. Striped bass: Up in the shallows with shad. Crappie: Try a jig head in black with chartreuse tail at 5 to 7 feet around the I-20 bridge. Minnows working well also. Catfish: Spawning soon.

Martin

Water conditions: High 40s; upper and middle area of the lake are stained, while the lower lake is clearer. Bass: Mike's Bait and Tackle reports plastic worms and jigs doing best. Crankbaits doing well, especially when presented slow. For spots, fish the lower end with dropshot rigs. Crappie: Shallow water around the trees on minnows and small jigs. Catfish: Drift fishing with live worms mid-to up river producing good bites.

Purdy

Water conditions: High 40s; stain. Bass: 5-to-8 pound largemouth are being caught in shallow water on pig and jigs. Crappie: Try Tuffie minnows or a jig rigged with a bobber for results at 8 to 10 feet.

Warrior

Water conditions: 47 degrees; stain, with creeks starting to clear. Bass: Smith's Fishing Camp reports spinnerbaits, jigs and lizards producing best results on points and in the creeks. Bream: Crickets and minnows at 2 to 4 feet around weed beds. Striped bass: Minnows and jigs in the creeks work best. Crappie: Best fishing on jigs and minnows. Still slow, though. White, pearl, chartreuse or yellow baits doing well around tree tops or boathouses. Catfish: Shiners off trot lines producing good results.

Wedowee

Water conditions: 50 degrees; stained at the *** , but muddy up both river arms. Bass: South States Fish'n reports largemouth are being caught shallow on 45-degree banks up both rivers. Look for incoming springs and use a pig and jig or a Colorado blade white spinnerbait. Striped bass: Good numbers of fish are below the *** while the turbines are running. Fish are moving up, but are at 20 feet on the main river or secondary points with Carolina rigs and crankbaits fished slow working best. Crappie: Fish deep docks leading into the creeks up both rivers with minnows and jigs. Catfish: Still holding in the winter pattern, but will soon start feeding heavy on the upstream side of deep river holes. Use live shad with the muddy conditions.

Weiss

Water conditions: High 40s; slight stain. Bass: JR's Marina reports jigs and small finesse worms doing best in shallow water from 3 to 8 feet. Crappie: Some being caught 3 to 10 feet on small jigs while trolling slow. Catfish: Use cutbaits at 8 to 12 feet. For generation schedules or lake levels for any Alabama Power lake, call 1-800-525-3711. Fishing reports compiled by News staff writer Eric Brown.