Spring Fishing on Lake Mitchell

Like most Impoundment's in Alabama, Mitchell Lake is showing its age. Mitchell lake dam was completed in 1923. Now, after 83 years of existence this small 5,850 acre lake (by most standards) should be fished out. But no so, with more and more anglers practicing the easy-to-learn art of "catch and release." Even major bass tournaments held on Mitchell Lake every week has little effect, with bass tournament anglers doing everything possible to keep tournament weighed bass alive. Besides, most bass tournament organizations penalize anglers (with a deducted weight), if they bring dead bass to the scales.

Besides being stocked after impoundment Mitchell Lake had plenty of largemouth bass already here before impoundment. Their home, along with the Coosa River Spotted bass, was just a river winding through the mid Alabama countryside. There were over 50,000 largemouth bass stocked in the lake as well in the mid-1980's.

Spring is another time of stocking. This time not by man, but stocked by the bass themselves as both male and female bass invade the shallows to create those rounded out spots on the lakes floor we call "beds," and they attempt to reproduce a new offspring. A full grown female bass can lay over 10,000 eggs. With a good spawn each spring season (for over 80 years) that comes out to a whole lot of bass. Even though statistics reveal only about a few thousand of those eggs laid by each female bass, survive.

March on Mitchell Lake is officially a prespawn situation. Water temps are gradually rising into the upper 50's triggering both male and female bass to begin their journey towards the shallows. That is, with warming trends in the 70's, like the first week of March displayed this spring. Cold fronts can still plague the South during March and its even snowed in Alabama in April in the past. So, anglers beware. You may be catching them shallow one day in March and return the next trip to see water temperatures plunge and bass very scarce.

March is also a month with spring rains, often several days of it at a time. This sudden influx of water with several inches of rain daily, can muddy the lakes headwaters and the incoming feeder creeks, that so many anglers target, and it can get down right unproductive for several days following. March is also a great time to explore main lake points, points leading into small pockets and cuts, and the first and secondary points found in major feeder creeks. These points are the first "move up spots" bass congregate in on Mitchell Lake. Often both male and female bass gather there in huge numbers. You may even catch a spotted bass on one cast and then catch a largemouth bass on the next cast, for each species favors points near deep water in early spring.

April is the month of new weed growth as the many varieties of aquatic weeds that make up Mitchell Lake's over 147 miles of shoreline, begin to bloom. Early during the first week or two of April anglers that concentrate their efforts in small pockets shielded from northerly winds and places bathed in sunshine all day, will discover not only warmer water and more active bass, but greener weeds as well.

Add to these attractions a school of baitfish seeking shelter from the elements such as wind, current, muddy water or deep water access, and you have the perfect situation for catching active bass. By the mid to latter portion of April (with normal conditions), most bass should be bedding in shallow water found from 1-3 feet of depth. Flats, both in the creeks and along the main lake and the backs of pockets and small cuts are good areas to begin your search.

By May most bass are through bedding, especially the bigger female bass, that by now are mighty hungry from weeks of practicing the spring spawn. Some smaller male bass will be guarding the beds or protecting newborn bass fry from would be predators, that is until these very small newborn bass fry can make it own their own.

Weeds are in full bloom in May and all types of weeds on Mitchell Lake attract both predator and prey. Lures that simulate weed dwelling minnows, worms, lizards, baitfish, crayfish and even bank running creatures like frogs and small mice can be deadly in May...which is by the way, topwater month. Of course this means fishing with weedless lures to avoid hang-ups, lost lures and loads of frustration.

Treble hook lures should be fished along weed edges, around weedy points and all around small isolated patches of weeds. Topwater lures featuring those weed grabbing, dangling treble hooks can be cast far back in small pockets with little or no weeds, fished slowly around logs, stumps, brush, laying trees or boulders and other rock cover. Again, casting accuracy is a must.

Make a trip to Mitchell Lake this spring and discover some of the hidden features within this small impoundment, that stretches 14 nautical miles from Mitchell Lake dam to upriver Lay Lake dam, and you will see why many anglers fish this lake, instead of other highly pressured lakes in Alabama during this spring season.

Or give me a call...first! At (205) 787-5133 for Reeds Guide Service. Mitchell Lake's oldest professional fishing guide service for bass and stripers. "Over 40 years guiding and exploring Alabama's Lakes for all species of bass and stripers." Practice Catch and Release this Spring, so future generations of anglers can have fish like we do today! See my website: www.fishingalabama.com for links and other Alabama Lakes springtime fishing tips and lake reports.

Good Fishin'

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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