MITCHELL LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
Impounded 1923
Lake Level: Full Pool (call 1-800-lakes-11)
Fall on Mitchell Lake
If I had to choose an impoundment on the Coosa River Chain of Lakes (Mitchell Lake is the fifth lake of six lakes on the Coosa River System), that is void of many anglers as Fall progresses, Mitchell Lake would have to be my choice. The colder it gets, the less the fishing pressure exists on this small, 14 mile long impoundment situated in mid Alabama. It is a small lake when compared to other Alabama Lakes, but with 147 miles of shoreline, anglers have a variety of fishing situations and loads of aquatic weeds, rocky habitat and all kinds of wood cover to explore this Fall season. So here's some bass fishing info, lure suggestions and a month by month look at Mitchell Lake's upcoming conditions for the three months of Fall...before it really gets cold.
September
Around the first week of September, anglers start counting down the days of Fall. Although its still warm with temperatures in the mid to upper 80's, it sure feels a lot better than the 100 degree days we experienced in August. This slight, cooling trend during the early Fall period, also cools the water temperatures of Mitchell Lake. To the Coosa River breed of spotted bass and the largemouth bass that inhibit this entire 5,850 acre reservoir, this means its time to eat. Although most bass eat daily or at least every couple of days, cooling water means its time to double their intake.
While it was very hot this Summer, most bass had the need to conserve energy, especially when it came to chasing down the days next meal. Spotted bass were actually the least affected by the heat. "Spots" as they are called, are going to be quite comfortable no matter what the conditions. Wherever they find a place to feed and live out their lives, they are going to be comfortable in their surroundings. Below Lay Lake dam (in Mitchell's upper lake headwaters), cool water and constant current from water generation at the dam, keep them comfortable all summer long. Feeder creeks, main lake drop-offs, rock bluff banks, creek and river channel ledges, around islands, submerged humps and ridges and other deep water habitat found throughout Mitchell Lake, are the spotted bass late summertime hangouts. So it makes sense to start your Fall excursion, fishing these places that hundreds of spotted bass have increasingly bunched up in for the past 3 months.
Largemouth bass on Mitchell Lake were the ones that had to adjust this summer. They are known to dwell in and around shallow cover like the many types of aquatic weeds found lake wide on Mitchell Lake. Some shallow backwaters got close to 90 degree water temps and many largemouth bass had to relocate to more comfortable surroundings. So like the spotted bass, the largemouth bass either went towards deep water for comfort, or they headed for the cooler water found in the mid to far back ends of major feeder creeks. Some decent sized largemouth bass were even caught around Lay Lake dam discharge area this past summer season. So during the month of September look for both of these breeds of bass right where you found them this past summer season.
Many of these bass are just following baitfish schools around the lake, picking off the easy meals or just feeding when the urge hits them. So lures like shallow to deep diving crankbaits, rattling lipless lures like Rattletraps or Cordell Rattling spots, both suspending and floating jerkbaits and even jigging spoons for bass close to bottom, are all excellent lure choices during this early Fall season. These bass also feed on crayfish so crayfish look a like lures such as tube baits, plastic crayfish or jig combos should be tried as well. There are so many choices when it comes to bottom fished lures, suggestions are limited. But keep in mind these are bass now accustomed to feeding on prey that show an end of the year growth. So bigger means better at times.
Snakes, worms, freshwater eels, leeches, lizards, waterdogs, minnows, baitfish, frogs and small rodents are much bigger than during early Summer. So choosing lures that simulate a variety of overgrown prey can show a certain preference on various types of cover, throughout Mitchell Lake in September. In addition to selecting all sizes of worms, lizards and crayfish imitations, consider creature type lures, grubs, twin tail plastics, tube baits, plastic shad imitations and small finesse plastics. These are just a few lure types anglers should experiment with when fishing in or near deep water or on the lakes bottom during the entire month of September.
October
As waters cool on Mitchell Lake the bass continue to feed and fatten up for the upcoming winter. Cooler water temperatures show spotted bass feeding shallower every day. Largemouth bass either return to places you could not even get a bite in this past summer (like some weeds) or they continue to follow the baitfish schools around the lake, feeding right alongside spotted bass and striped bass, that all stay on the move in October. Aquatic weeds held some largemouth bass all summer long, but the weeds were scarce of any really good concentration of some decent sized bass. This all changes as waters cool and October shows baitfish return to the security of these aquatic weeds.
Finding the greenest weeds and the most baitfish infested waters on Mitchell Lake, is now an anglers number one priority for largemouth bass in October. Not only does this increase your chances for hooking into a number of trophy sized bass all found in one location, but this tactic will show numbers of keeper sized bass as well. Weedless lures are a must, when fishing right up in the weeds. This avoids a lot of frustration when trying to retrieve hung lures. It also means not getting the boat in to close to where you are fishing, spooking the bass as well. Besides, lost lures cost money and losing a few expensive lures in a days time...can be costly.
There are a number of lures that are very weedless. Frog and mice (rats) imitations will continue to show anglers that "big bass bite" as October gets underway. Always fish these lures on stought rods with good reels and make long casts far back in the scummiest weeds the lake has to offer. Places that many anglers avoid. Buzzbaits are weedless as well, even when sporting a trailer hook needed for those short striking bass. Weedless spoons are lures of the past that many anglers fail to even fish anymore, but choosing a weedless spoon can show the bass a lure in the weeds they rarely ever see. Adding grubs, small worms or lizards, pork or plastic chunks and other plastics to these weedless spoons for that extra enticement, may get bites from skittish bass that avoid other conventional lures.
Rigging several rods with each of these lures can show the bass a variety of tempting offerings for them to choose from. There are days when a certain lure, lure action or certain lure color will increase your odds of getting a bite. Other tempting meals for Fall? To many to list for now, but some suggestions are found ahead when November shows bass cruising throughout the entire water column. So bring along plenty of lure choices when fishing Mitchell Lake this Fall season in October.
November
This is the month you can get really lonely fishing Mitchell Lake. Although there are still some bass tournaments and those die hard anglers still out on the lake, most would be anglers have either hung up their rods in exchange for guns during hunting season or they are home watching football with the boat now covered up until next spring. So bring along a friend or be prepared to see very little company when November arrives.
Its too bad, for many anglers really never experience the best part of the Fall fishing season. When cooler nights come in and cooler days only call for a light jacket, it can show some of the years best bass fishing on Mitchell Lake. Cooler water does not limit your lure choice either. Most lures these spotted bass and largemouth bass hit in early Fall will work in November as well. Before water temps reach the 50 degree mark even topwater lures will continue to entice those big bass that are always looking up for an easy meal.
Fishing feeder creeks with lures like spinnerbaits can be a one lure only day. There are times in November when stained water conditions and current (from heavy Fall rains) can show lures like spinnerbaits (that show a lot of flash and vibration in stained water conditions) can be an excellent big bass lure choice! If confronted with lightly stained water conditions usually in the mid to upper 50's, always choose smaller spinnerbaits, ones that display smaller blades, often fished right out of the package without even adding a plastic trailer. If Fall rains swell the lake and show heavily stained to muddy water conditions, going to bigger more gaudy type spinnerbaits may be needed to aid the bass in finding your offerings.
Selecting spinnerbaits in the half ounce to one ounce category sporting bigger blades (either willow leaf or Colorado type blades), and adding trailers such as grubs or twin tail plastics, will show more lure action, more flash and vibration and brighter colors for them to see when conditions are too poor for other lures. Stained water conditions are also the times when astute anglers that either pitch, flip or swim a jig combo around wood and weedy cover, really excel on Mitchell Lake. Of course long 6-7 foot flipping rods, strong monofilament line in the 20 pound test category or braided line and very sharp hooks, are all necessary for success.
Fishing Mitchell Lake this Fall season does not have to be a lonely fishless trip! Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! Website: www.fishingalabama.com For not only some good fishing company, but a chance to increase you bassing knowledge of Mitchell Lake as well. Reed Montgomery, owner of Reeds Guide Service has shown many anglers with success how to beat the bass (or their competitors) on Mitchell Lake recently, with several wins to his credit. Reed Montgomery single-handedly won the Central Alabama Buddy Tournament trail (C. A. B. T. T.) this past August, fishing solo in a buddy format tournament in scorching 97 degree heat this past Summer season, beating over 100 anglers. Many of which failed to even weigh in a fish! Go to their website: (www.fishingincentralAlabama.com) for more info, the results and pictures.
Thanks and Good Fishin'!
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