GUNTERSVILLE LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Impounded 1939
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Upper 80's
Summer on Guntersville Lake
LOWER LAKE
Anglers that choose to fish Guntersville's lower lake region this summer will find plenty of company. But there is refuge, away from the maddening crowd, if exploring small tributaries is in the game plan. You can catch plenty of the lakes very healthy largemouth bass, in a variety of ways, both on the main lake and in the creeks, with a little patience.
Honeycomb Creek, Brown's Creek, Spring Creek and Town Creek, all wind far back in the scenic woods. All of these major tributaries offer rock bluffs, man made piers and boat houses, milfoil and hydrilla aquatic weeds, stumps, trees, brush and bottom irregularities.
These creeks are all "summertime haunts" of the lakes big bass population. A variety of fishing situations exists, for the versatile angler to explore. Cool, shady spots that can hold huge schools of bass, away from the recreational crowd, that constantly disturbs the main lake waters, can be found here.
There are many locations, where an angler can fool lots of bass (even some trophies in the 10 pound range or better), on the lakes lower end. Fishing can be in seclusion, at least for a few hours, if getting on the water at dawn, fishing late in the evening, or when night fishing. On the main lake, the choices are many, for summertime fishing.
Deep rock bluffs, river ledges and deep drop-offs, small, visible islands and many hidden, submerged humps, bars and ridges, including a series of main lake flats can be found here. All loaded with fish holding cover and all, that harbor huge schools of bass, when temperatures soar.
Bass spend their entire summer feeding along these main lake features and most, often go unmolested by the bank beating anglers, throughout the summer months.
MID LAKE
As mentioned, when fishing the lakes lower end, you will find hoards of water vessels, to keep you company throughout the summer months, on this very recreational lake. From Town Creek (on the lakes Eastern side) to the very popular North Sauty Creek, (on the West side of the lake), the lake continues to show a wide, lake-like appearance.
From here (Just above North Sauty Creek) northward to the lakes headwaters, the lake narrows to a more river-type situation.
But, like the lakes lower end, there still remains loads of cover for anglers to probe (both day and night), on this massive lake. Heading upriver, after going under Hwy. 79 bridge that spans the lakes lower end, you will encounter four major feeder creeks. These tributaries are all found on your right, as you navigate upstream. They are easily found on a map of the lake, situated on the Eastern side of the lake.
These creeks all offer loads of bass holding cover, shade, and often a little seclusion during the summer months. Spring Creek has several bridges, all loaded with fish holding, man made, rip-rap rocks. This includes weeds, boat houses, piers and a marina, all with fish holding shade. You will see plenty of barges tied up as you leave Spring Creek and head upriver into a small tributary, Short Creek. It too, has a bridge that spans the creek, good for day and night fishing.
Town Creek, found just above Short Creek, is bigger and will obviously be holding more fish. It also has loads of submerged humps and a winding creek channel in the mouth, and plenty of weeds, rocks and wood cover, including shallow to deep water access, up in the creek. All for bass to relate to throughout the hot, summer months.
Continuing north, anglers can see a huge main lake flat loaded with weeds, laying logs and trees, small islands and the mouth of South Sauty Creek. Just above here, the lake will begin to narrow as you head north toward the lakes headwaters. But still, the lake displays some pretty impressive creeks and smaller cuts and pockets to explore.
At the lakes mid section, heading upriver (after going under Hwy. 79 bridge), you will see the lake make a hard bend to the left. This is on the Western side of the lake, across from Town Creek and as you head upriver. Here, you will notice small cuts, pockets and creeks.
Siebold Branch is very noticeable, with red and green river channel buoys and power lines, crossing the mouth. It also has a few islands to explore. Like all the pockets and creeks on this western side of the midlake region, it is crossed in the far back end by Hwy. 79, that runs north, parallel to the lake.
Piers, boat houses, rip-rap lined causeways and weedy, scummy flats (with thick, millfoil and hydrilla weeds) all adorn these small, midlake pockets, including smaller creeks found here, like Preston Creek and Mink Creek.
The much bigger, North Sauty Creek, home of many bass tournaments held out of Goosepond Boat Launch, shows excellent bass fishing habitat during the summer months. There are hundreds of bass released here during tournaments held weekly, year round. Several bridges, all lined with rip-rap rocks, including loads of weedy flats and stumpy backwaters, all offer comfortable surroundings for these released bass to relate to.
UPPER LAKE
If getting away from the crowd is in mind, then exploring the lakes headwaters can be an all summer affair. From North Sauty Creek to the lakes headwaters (just below Nick a Jack Dam) anglers have over 40 miles of main lake flats, creek mouths, islands and ledges and drop-offs, to fish.
A summertime bonus on any lake, can be found in these lake headwaters. You will usually have less company, unlike when fishing the mid to lower lake region, when targeting fish in the upper lake region. Although the main lake offers plenty of fish holding cover, there are still many creek backwaters to explore here.
Heading upriver, just before going under Comer bridge (Hwy.35) that crosses the lake, are actually two creeks, that join together in the scenic backwaters. Roseberry Creek and Dry Creek are mostly hidden from view of the main lake, but both offer miles of fish holding cover.
Also Town Creek (the lake has two creeks named Town Creek), Mud Creek and Crow Creek, all that are crossed in the mid creek region by Hwy. 72. Bridges on this western side of the lake, up in these major feeder creeks, offer shade and lots of bass producing rip-rap rocks for bass to relate to in the summer. They are also excellent at night for fishing around well lighted areas.
The lakes headwaters, situated below NickaJack dam, like any Tennessee River impoundment, offers a variety of fish species to target. While fishing the swift water found here, in the dam tailrace area, anglers can catch bass of all species. Here, fish find seclusion in the much cooler, oxygenated waters. There is plenty to eat, with the baitfish holding waters found in Guntersville Lakes headwaters, in the upper lake region.
Explore massive Guntersville Lake this summer. Or call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 to see how. "Over 40 Years Fishing Guntersville Lake and all other Alabama Lakes"
*Note: To see more on fishing Guntersville Lake this summer, including fishing tips and lure suggestions, for both day and night fishing on Guntersville Lake, go to: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com and click on the "fishing tips" link.
This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com