February, March on Lake Guntersville
Early spring is just a brief time away and when we get there only your imagination holds you back. When I hit the water in early spring, I start the day out slicing the lake up into different depths; Guntersville has many approaches to choose from in early spring. Guntersville can be completely different depending on where you are from one end of the lake to the other.
If you are upriver above BB Comer Bridge in early spring there is truly little deep water, so fish that might be deep are not any deeper than 10 to 12 ft. because the upper river is so shallow. If your mid river or around the lower end the lake widens, and the depth can be as deep as 45 ft. so the bass can stage in 20 to 25 ft. of water. There are also some differences in water temperature, which being the shallow water warms quicker than deeper water so the fish movement can be completely different. The upper river warming earlier than the mid and lower end, generally allows the fish to go into pre spawn and the spawn sometimes 1 to 2 weeks early as water temperatures can get into the 60’s much quicker upriver.
One of the things I continually try to do is to divide the river up by choosing different baits for distinct locations on the lake. I will work deep crank baits off staging drops first to either eliminate deep water or find feeding fish. I then get to the next drops at about 10 to 12 ft., and I work several baits at this depth, rattle baits, square bill crank baits and jigs. Lastly if that has not produced some good fish I then get into the shallows, and I always look for cover at this depth. Boat house, lay downs, rock, or just odd objects sticking up out of the water and of course the grass. My favorite bait in shallow water for gigantic fish is always a jig it is a catching machine in shallow water for me.
Fishing from the drops to the mid-range water or the second drop if your will to the red clay bank, shallow water is one of the best tips I can offer in early spring!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
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Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Capt. Mike Gerry