Crappie fishing is great – fall crappie fishing here on Weiss this year has been great so far and should remain good as move into early winter fishing. The dominate technique working on Weiss Lake right now is Spider Rigging the channel ledges on the old Coosa River. I have been working ledges in 12 to 14 feet of water looking for any structure in this depth range. I have been averaging around 45 to 55 good keepers per day – this technique will only get better as the water cools off even more. Area's that have been real good for the last few weeks have been Bays Springs, Yellow Creek , Sand Valley and right around the Alabama Belle Resort on the upper lake. I have been Spider Rigging with live bait using a ˝ oz. weight come up 20 inches and tie on an Eagle Claw #2 snelled hook and you are ready to go. The 8 foot B'n'M Pro Staff Troller is the rod I have been using with this technique and it works great. Also shooting shallow water docks in 2 to 4 feet of water is producing good stringers of crappie using a Southern Pro Stinger grub in Black / Blue with Chartreuse tail on a 1/24 oz lead head. Crappie are really starting to school up tight around structure and getting more and more aggressive as the water cools off. We have had a very mild fall this year and this will only prolong the Spider Rigging technique. As we move into early winter fishing look for the crappie to move up shallow and suspend, this is when I will start long line trolling and this is the best fishing that Weiss has to offer. Look for the water temps to break that magic 50 degree mark and the trolling bite will be on.
Thanks and Good Fishin…
Kelly Matthews
www.weisslakeguides.com
