Summer on Mitchell Lake

Daytime Bass Fishing Tips

If you choose to fish Mitchell Lake during the day this summer, expect a lot of company. This is the smallest lake on the lower Coosa River System, consisting of 5,850 surface acres, 14 nautical miles from upriver Lay Lake dam to downriver Mitchell Lake dam and Mitchell Lake  only has 47 miles of shoreline. During the summer months it can be very crowded.

Recreational boats and jet skies and loads of anglers coming from all over Alabama, converge on this small lake every weekend of the summer. Getting on the water very early or fishing during the late evening hours, is the only way to avoid these summertime crowds. Or you can night fish.

For some anglers that choice of night fishing is not possible, so they adjust and fish during the day on weekends, often in bass tournaments with as many as 100 boats or more. Still, fishing pressure has not stopped many anglers from bringing in as much as 5 bass weighing 20 pounds to win. Mitchell lake has an excellent population of Coosa River Spotted bass and plenty of hefty sized largemouth bass for them to target.

Launching at famed Mitchell Lake public launch at midlake, anglers can simply cross the lake and have loads of weed, wood and rock cover to fish, in dozens of small cuts and pockets. Or they can head to the lakes headwaters and fish around the many towering islands, small cuts or around piers and boathouses. Or fish the rocky terrain located just below Lay Lake dam, in the lakes headwaters.

Feeder creeks downriver such as Walnut Creek, Penemotly Creek, Hatchet Creek and Weogufka are also loaded with bass holding cover to target this summer. Thick weeds hold decent largemouth bass with some bass in the 5-7 pound range are possible on any outing.

Many anglers just cast weedless lures to the weeds. Some anglers approach the thick and often matted aquatic weeds with a flipping rod and slowly probe every weedy hole to entice finicky bass (that have seen a lot of lures), to bite. Lures for this silent approach can be jig combos, tube baits, worms or lizards.

Nighttime Bass Fishing Tips

The boat traffic and the hot summer sun in the upper 90's can call for a change to night fishing. Many bass tournaments are held on Mitchell Lake at night as well, sometimes all night. Just like during the day, some skilled anglers can bring in a 20 pound sack of bass on any weekend.

Lures for fishing at night can be the same choices as during the day, but there are exceptions to the rule. So experimenting should always be included in your game plan, to determine which ones are the best. Topwaters, bottom lures and spinnerbaits are among the best choices.

Many variables can also help you decide on your location for night fishing as well. One, like daytime fishing, is water generation at upriver Lay Lake dam or at the lower end of the lake, Mitchell Lake dam. Call 1-800-lakes-11 to check water generation schedules and lake levels prior to your trip.

Need help on Mitchell Lake this summer? Always call on Reeds Guide Service ... first! Over 30 years guiding on Mitchell Lake and other Alabama Lakes for bass and stripers. See my website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com for more info.

Thanks and be safe on our very crowded lakes this summer.
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

Member Comments…