I think we may be in trouble

That oil in the gulf is going to hurt the economy a lot worse than the media is letting on. spinnerbaits101

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Lake Marion is a Night Fisherman's Dream

Lake Marion means Huge Bass

Lake Marion is located in central South Carolina and is loaded with huge largemouth bass. The largemouth bass habitat consists mainly of stumps, standing timber, vegetation, and flooded swamps. Lake Marion has produced the current South Carolina state record largemouth bass at 16.2 pounds.

Sparkleberry Swamp

The upper end of Lake Marion is where I spent fishing for 2 years of my life. I probed the canals and old lakes of the Sparkleberry Swamp every weekend in the late '80s and caught many 8 pound plus bass at night. Sparkleberry Swamp is a maze of flooded timber that can turn you around if not familiar with the various canals and markers located throughout the swamp. I suggest many trips during the day before tackling the swamp after dark.

My lure of choice at night is a musky jitterbug in black. I had friends who would throw the 5/8 ounce version and would catch fish...more than me. The difference was that they NEVER caught a bigger fish than me, ever. I would get maybe 5 strikes a night, sometimes no strikes at all, but the strikes I got were usually a really big bass or a 10 pound plus yellow catfish (I caught several of those).

I would start night fishing during May and not stop until mid October. My boat was a rented 14 foot johnboat with a 15 hp Johnson from Shaw Air Force Base which was fine for the swamps. I sculled with a paddle to keep the noise down and used no lights. I really had no interest in shining flashlights and seeing all the gators around.

On a sidenote, I fished Lake Marion year round. A friend of mine caught a 12 pound largemouth on a white spinnerbait one December. This will make you sick. It was the first time he had ever been bass fishing. Luckily, I wasn't with him or I might have lost it. Me and another friend (Michael Taylor) from Tennessee once caught a 7.0 and a 7.2 pound largemouth bass within 15 minutes of each other, both on white spinnerbaits. Also, I have caught some monster grinnell in Sparkleberry swamp, up to nine pounds.

Where to Fish

I either launched at Elliots boat ramp (1) or the dirt ramp (2) in Sparkleberry Swamp. I was kind of limited with the 15 hp so I stuck to the swamps instead of the bigger water. The spots located on the map are wher I caught multiple largemouth bass over six pounds. Scout these areas before you try to fish them during the night as they are relatively shallow and can be tricky to get into. By the way, my most productive time of the year was the last two months of May after the bass had come off of their beds.

Conclusion

I love Lake Marion and the Sparkleberry Swamp. I have some of my finest bass fishing memories there and would not change them a bit. I highly suggest a trip to Lake Marion for largemouth bass fishing and maybe a night trip. Remember, if you want that trophy bass, throw a musky jitterbug (black) at night or a large spinnerbait in the day. You just might catch that big'un.

Good fishin'

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The Spotted Bass of Alabama's Mulberry Fork

Article can be found at Spinnerbaits101

The Mulberry Fork

The Mulberry Fork is a 102 mile long river located in northern Alabama that joins with the Sipsey River to form the Black Warrior River. With its proximity to Birmingham, Alabama, the Mulberry Fork can sometime draw ample crouds canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or just plain sight seeing. The river is a beautiful piece of water.

While I caught a lot of spots wade fishing as a teenager in rapids at the upper end of the Mulberry Fork, I would like to concentrate on the lower end of this fishery where a bass fisherman can find big spotted bass at times. I have caught spots up to five pounds here.

Spotted Bass Habitat

The lower end of the Mulberry Fork is prime spotted bass habitat. Fallen tree tops, small log jams and some piers are the dominate cover making a spinnerbait a good lure choice. At the mouth of the river, there are plenty of boathouses and docks to fish. With an ample current generated from the Corps of Engineers down the Black Warrior River, the spotted bass fishing can be at times intense to say the least.

The water color is usally staind a little bit making a chartruese spinnerbait or a shad colored rattle trap deadly. The Sipsey River supports tailrace rainbow trout below the Lewis Smith Reservoir dam so don't be surprised if you catch a rainbow around the mouth of the Mulberry Fork. I know I have.

Where to Fish

With the water temperature being warmer in the Mulberry Fork than the Sipsey River, I stay in the Mulberry. I usually fish the many boat docks around the mouth of the river (1) and the tree tops on the left side going upriver. I generally do not go past the County Road 61 bridge (3).

While traveling upriver, you will eventually pass under some powerlines (2). On your right side, there will be a 1/2 mile stretch of boat docks and piers that are very productive ending at a second set of powerlines. The piers are built like most are on a small river, somewhat shallow until the end where the depth drops off dramatically into the channel. When the current is flowing, you can catch the spots laying on the downriver side of these piers and really clean them up.

 

Conclusion

Fishing the Mulberry Fork is a severe change of pace from the large reservoirs found in most states. I have spent a whole day there and not seen a soul. It can be very relaxing. My favorite time to fish this place is in late September through November when the leaves are changing and the spotted bass are biting. For a change of pace, you can't find a better place.

Good fishin'

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Click here to set a title.

I'm tired. Been a long week. Hope to go fishing over the holidays. http://www.spinnerbaits101.com

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Fishing Lake Weiss

Lake Weiss

Lake Weiss is the first of several impoundments on the Coosa River and is located in northeast Alabama. The upper end toward the Georgia line is loaded with log jams and huge sprawling flats that have more than their fair share of stumps. While this provides excellent bass cover, a word of caution is needed when running that Ranger up river.

The lower end is more of what I would call a typical Coosa River impoundment. Boat houses and deeper water dominate for the most part. The entire lake produces really good bass fishing year round and excellent crappie fishing.

Fishing Lake Weiss

Growing up, my family had a small lot on the upper end of Lake Weiss that consisted of a small boatramp and a pier. It wasn't much, but it was fun. My father didn't see any reason to go to the lower end of Lake Weiss much. With the stringers of bass we were catching on the upper end, I didn't either.

Spinnerbaits and Mann's Razorback crankbaits were the ticket back then. We would slaughter the bass it seemed every trip (Now, we all know that you don't "slaughter" the bass every trip. However, memories of when you were nine and fishing with your dad are all good).

Seriously, spinnerbaits are the dominant lure for me up here. Just like anywhere, you have to find the fish and be on them to have success.

Where to Fish

Running upriver from the main lake, you will see a large flat develop to your right. When you see the large utility lines crossing the channel (1), take a 90 degree right and follow these power lines to the bank. DO NOT waver outside of this path! When you approach the other bank, you will see your depth increase. At this point, turn left and follow the bank up to the second pocket (2). The pocket is a MAJOR spawning area even though I have caught fish in here through July.

You will see why I like to throw a spinnerbait here, mostly a War Eagle Spinnerbait - Double Willow in chartreuse/white. Weeds and stumps dominate the cover. Start on the left side of the pocket near the island and work back and forth. I once caught 25 keeper crappie here along with a nice stringer of bass on a small spinnerbait called a Witchdoctor (the Witchdoctor spinnerbait is no longer manufactured to my knowledge. I have one left and refuse to throw it). The crappie in this lake are huge, by the way. I have not caught much in the very back.

Another place to check out is the dominant island located in the middle of the river on up the lake (3). The channel runs to the left of the island so be careful. Log jams from high water provide excellent cover and you could spend a lot of time working this cover.

Mudd Creek is a place I like to hit during the spawn (4). The right side when it opens up is where I have done my best. Again, spinnerbaits with a rattletrap every so often is what I catch my fish on here. 

Conclusion

Fishing Lake Weiss for me means fishing the Coosa River. I run up away from the crowds and have a ball. The next time you have time to practice for that Lake Weiss tournament, check these places out. You will not be sorry.

Good fishin'

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No fishin'.....again

This is really getting old. I thought I would be on Lake Martin last night throwing a blade but my partner cancelled.

I guess I'm going to go it alone.

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Looks like I'm fishing tonight

Me and a buddy are fishing Lake Martin tonight. I will let you know what we do or you can read about it in detail at spinnerbaits101 tomorrow.

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Spinnerbaits Catch Bass

Throw a blade all year to catch bass

A spinnerbait is a great lure choice to catch bass no matter what time of year it may be. This is due primarily to its versatility and the different kinds of spinnerbaits on the market. From water temperatures in the thirties all the way up to the nineties, the spinnerbait ranks as a top choice for many bass fishermen.

Why Spinnerbaits Catch Bass

Spinnerbaits create a reaction strike from both feeding and lethargic bass. The heavy and constant vibration deals their sensory system fits and I believe some bass hit the lure out of anger. Also, a spinnerbait resembles the shad found in most rivers and lakes in America. These shad are the primary food source for the bass all year. Find the shad, and you can usually catch fish on a spinnerbait.

Another reason spinnerbaits catch bass all year is the versatility of the lure. I have caught fish in 6 inches of water all the way to 35 feet deep using a spinnerbait. No matter if the time of year has most fish deep, you can still reach them with the right spinnerbait.

Winter

Fish the spinnerbait s-l-o-w. With water temperatures in the thirties, I believe the bass want one big slow meal as opposed to chasing down small shad all day. They're cold blooded which means they are moving slow themselves. I generally use a 5/8 ounce Hildebrandt Go Getter Spinnerbait with a #5 or #6 single colorado blade. Use your best judgement for color. This bait provides a large meal for the bass as it helicopters down rock bluffs or probes the depths of an underwater ledge. Work the bait just so you can feel the slow vibration of the blade.

Spring

When the water temperature hits 58 degrees, find a flat on your body of water and cast a double willowleaf spinnerbait and retrieve. It really is simple as that. The bass will be there.

Summer

Summer is a little different. Living in the southeastern United States, I tend to do the majority of my bass fishing at night. I have found that short armed spinnerbaits in dark colors such as the War Eagle Spinnerbaits - Night Baits with Single Black Nickel Colorado Blade can be deadly when fished over humps with deep water nearby. The spotted bass herd those shad up on those points and hammer them. Spinnerbaits can also be buzzed just under the surface in the early morning for some topwater action.

Autumn

Bass are gourging themselves on migrating shad and that is the ideal situation for a spinnerbait. Look for primary and secondary points in the major creeks and cast accross the points. The bass use these points to ambush the shad as the baitfish move up the creeks. Wind is crucial. A point with wind blowing into it is a recipe for a potential winning stringer in October.

Conclusion

In the coming year, try these techniques mentioned above to catch bass. You just might be surprised at how effective they can be. For the record, my favorite way to fish a spinnerbait is in the winter, the way I explained above.

Good fishing! 

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No Spinnerbait Fishing Last Night

I wanted to go fishing last night on Lake Martin, but it just wasn't in the cards. I drove 25 miles to buy 2 Booyah Moon Talker spinnerbaits and some new line and then my fishing partner had to back out. We have rescheduled for Saturday night which will probably be better anyways.

I am going to fish the Booyah Moon Talker spinnerbait for 4 straight hours and the write a review of the spinnerbait on www.spinnerbaits101.com. Hopefully, we will catch some big spotted bass. I'll keep you updated.

Jerry