Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
WINTER ON NEELY HENRY LAKE
Lake
level; full pool
It
has been 42 years since Alabama Power Company impounded Neely
Henry Lake, situated near the city of Gadsden in north Alabama.
This 11,200 acre lake is the second of six man made impoundments
on the Coosa River System. It stretches 77 nautical miles, from
the lakes headwaters that start below Weiss lake dam, all the
way to the lower Neely Henry lake dam.
From dam to dam there are a lot of places for anglers to fish this
winter season. Largemouth bass are found lake wide, included as
a bonus is the Coosa River spotted bass. A ball of fighting fury
not found on all Alabama lakes...a bass that any angler would enjoy
doing battle with.
With 339 miles of shoreline (at full pool), Neely Henry Lake displays
a lot of terrain for these bass to spread out in during the cold,
winter months. But not all bass on this lake go deep during the
winter months, like bass traditionally do on other Alabama reservoirs.
Warming trends often occur in the winter season throughout north
Alabama and this can suddenly show these bass feeding for weeks
at a time, often in the shallows of this lake all day. Or just
the opposite can take place. Severe cold fronts, followed by bright
bluebird skies, can slow the feeding process and make catching
these bass hard at times.
Regardless of the often times very severe wintertime conditions,
these bass have got to eat on a daily basis. There are always some
catchable bass to be found lake wide by the angler with a lot of
patience, a little knowledge of the lake and plenty of time to
explore Neely Henry Lake. With low water (winter pool down 2-3
feet), exploring the lake calls for extreme caution.
Navigating out of the main river channel or in unknown shallow
waters can be very dangerous to lives and costly in the means of
both boat and motor repairs. Always use your depthfinder when navigating,
study your map and always talk to the locals or boat dock owners
before heading out on any lake you are not familiar with.
This especially holds true when navigating and fishing above the
two bridges near Gadsden city launch, all the way to the lakes
headwaters over 20 miles north. When heading up the lake from here,
after passing a mid lake island (about 10 miles above Gadsden city
launch), then going under another bridge (about 10 more miles up
the lake), extreme caution is advised. There is a lot of mid river
water less than 10 feet deep in these lake headwaters. All loaded
with stumps, logs, boulders and a sudden shallow bottom. All of
which can leave you stranded far up the lake with breakdowns and
boat damage...with no help in sight.
Fishing Neely Henry lakes headwaters calls for either targeting
the mouths of creeks, fishing rock buffs or fishing in and around
the many forms of wood cover such as stumps, laying logs, fallen
trees and logjams, all of which are very evident throughout the
winter months, with the lake drawn down a few feet exposing this
wood and rock cover. The lake has been down a few feet since spring
and no weeds now grow in this upper lake region.
Drought, coupled with hot, 100 plus degree air temperatures this
past summer season and the lack of rain on into the fall season,
created clear water conditions. These adverse conditions have an
effect on the way these bass feed all throughout the winter months.
Normally, there is plenty of current from fall rains in these lake
headwaters, the water is usually stained from these heavy rains
and the lake is closer to full pool, until winter arrives. The
use of big, gaudy type lures or lures that emit noise, flash and
vibrations have fooled a lot of big bass in these lake headwaters.
With clear water conditions, little or no current daily, the lake
down 2-3 feet and lots of exposed wood and rock cover, anglers
may have to downsize their offerings to even get bit this winter
season while fishing this river type terrain in Neely Henry lake's
upper lake region.
Neely Henry's mid lake region is more safer to navigate, it displays
many main lake flats and the mid to lower lake has plenty of major
feeder creeks. Plus during the winter months you can generally
see a lot more action from feeding fish and schools of baitfish
are more evident. Clear water clarity is common in this lower lake,
so most anglers (and the bass they target) are used to these conditions,
conditions that will last for 3-4 months of cold, winter weather
ahead.
The same lures you usually use during winter will fool these bass
this winter. If not getting any bites, simply downsizing your lures
will work. Lures like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless lures and
finesse lures like small jig heads adorned with small 4 inch worms
may be needed.
Want to learn more about fishing Neely Henry Lake? Or fishing any
Alabama lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! "Over
40 years guiding and exploring every lake in Alabama." Several
guides and boats available year round for multiple parties and
corporate guided trips. Tournament anglers welcome!
* Winter is a good time to experiment, for there are many lures
that will fool these bass. But only if you tie them on and give
them a try. These lures will not work when they are collecting
dust in your tackle box.
Give Neely Henry Lake a try this summer season. Or call on Reeds
Guide Service (205) 787-5133 to book a trip to this lake or any
Alabama lake, year round. Several guides and boats available year
round. Discounts available.
* Guide Service,
lake reports, links and fishing tips. See www.fishingalabama.com
* Looking to buy a new or used boat of any kind? Always call on:
www.airportmarine.com for the best deal in Alabama!
* Fishing bass tournaments this spring? Check out: www.airportmarineteamtrail.com the best paying bass tournaments in Alabama.
* Looking for the worlds best bass boat? Go to: www.rangerboats.com.
*
Fishing tackle and hunting supplies? Check out www.marksoutdoors.com
Practice catch and release year-round especially this Spring.
You won't regret it!
Reed Montgomery
/ Outdoor Writer
"Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over 10 Years"
Owner / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
Email: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
"Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama for
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Some Huge, Striped Bass."
