Lake Weiss Fishing Report October 2013

Weiss: Level: 1 foot below full pool. Temp: Low 80s. Clarity: Slight stain.

Bass: Good. Guide Warren Barnes reports, “The fish on Weiss are in the fall transition mode right now, and the bass are grouped up and feeding heavily. Revenge buzzbaits are still working well around docks early. The spinnerbait bite is really on fire right now as well. The Revenge with double willowleaf blades is working best, as the largemouths and spotted bass are feeding heavy on schools of shad. During the middle of the day, flat-sided crankbaits seem to be working best. I am using the IMA Shaker and covering a lot of water. Make sure you change up your presentations frequently. Throughout the day I have also been flipping slower-moving baits like the 6-inch Stick worm rigged wacky style around any type of heavy wood cover I can find to catch those very tight largemouths. As we move into fall and colder weather sets in, I would look for the baitfish to move out bunching up into tighter groups, and the bass will follow them. Crankbaits like the IMA Square Bill will be a great bait for getting these fish.” Guide Mark Collins reports, “Most fish are being caught on the creek and river channel ledges, 8 to 12 feet deep on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and Carolina-rigged plastics. Submerged roadbeds and deeper main-lake points are also producing some good bass. Look for the bass to start moving to shallower water when we get the first good cooling trend this month.”

Crappie: “Fishing is good,” said Mark. “They are still holding on brush, stumps and man-made cover on the flats in 10 to 14 feet of water. As the water temp has increased, the crappie have moved a little deeper. The river and creek channel ledges are now starting to produce some good crappie. Spider rigging with live minnows is the way to catch these crappie. Shooting docks with a 1/24-oz. Jiffy Jig is still producing some crappie. Crappie are still being caught around deeper docks, and the night fishing with lights over structure is really good, also.

Striper: Good. “They are at the Cave Hole in Little River and Little Spring Creek and the Chattooga River,” Mark said. “Live shad downlined 8-10 feet deep, and shad on a flatline behind the boat are the ways to catch these fish.”