WHEELER LAKE
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website www.fishingalabama.com
Impounded 1936
Lake level; Down 3 feet (Full pool is 556.0)
Water Clarity – Stained Elk River, major feeder creeks and lake headwaters / Clear – Mid-to-lower main lake
WHEELER LAKE DURING WINTER
Although many bass tournament trails visit Wheeler lake during the spring, summer and fall seasons, during winter it gets very little fishing pressure and the recognition it deserves as an excellent wintertime bass fishery. During the months of January and February there are many places to begin your search for these wintertime largemouth bass and some big smallmouth bass, that this 68,300 acre lake has to offer.
Low water lake levels (dropped for winter pool), eliminates a lot of shallow, weedy backwaters, places normally loaded with fish that bass anglers targeted during those “other three seasons” when the lake was at full pool. It also poses problems for first time anglers attempting to navigate their boats during low water. Extreme caution is advised!
At mid lake is an area simply referred to as, “Decatur flats” it is almost void of anglers and their hordes of bass boats and crappie boats during the cold, winter months. This is mostly due to the weedy, Eurasian milfoil and hydrilla weed-covered flats, that are now exposed and “high and dry” with the lake level now down any where from 3-5 feet below normal, full pool lake levels for the winter season. Wheeler lake will remain low until about mid April.
Sandwiched between upstream Tennessee River Impoundment, Guntersville lake (Alabama’s largest, man made impoundment) a lake that gets so much recognition for its big, wintertime largemouth bass / and lower Tennessee River impoundment Wilson lake, so noted for its trophy-sized smallmouth bass Wheeler lake gets left out when it comes to recognition of such trophy-sized bass.
But Wheeler lake has produced catches of 10 pound largemouth bass and even smallmouth bass exceeding 10 pounds as well! Still, with a total of almost 900 miles of shoreline and a navigable waterway of over 70 miles in length (from Wheeler lake dam to upstream Guntersville lake dam in the lake’s headwaters) there is a lot of water to be searched and explored in winter.
Narrowing it down is possible, like when thinking of fishing only deep water and deep water structure and bass holding cover as well during the very cold months of January and February. Ledges, drop-offs, depressions, the mouths of creeks and the mouth of the incoming Elk River are great places to fish with lures like bottom-dragging lures and fishing with 1/2 ounce silver jigging spoons. But shallow water bass can be found too! Especially during week-long warming trends that may just pop up at any time!
Give Wheeler lake a try this winter season. But be forewarned if your one that likes the company of other anglers! While other anglers are fishing close by on reservoirs like Wilson lake and Guntersville lake, you may just have Wheeler Lake all to yourself! A lake that is better in the winter months…than most anglers know.
——————– FISHING NEWS ————————–
* GUIDE SERVICE
Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504…first! Wheeler lake’s oldest, professional “bass fishing only” guide service.”Guiding on Wheeler lake and all other Alabama lakes for over 40 years” Year round guide service for the novice angler, trophy bass anglers, tournament anglers, family fishing trips, parent and child learning trips, or corporate guided trips. See my website http://www.fishingalabama.com for more info!
* FISHING AND HUNTING
Go by Marks Outdoors Sports in Vestavia (near Birmingham) or go online for all your hunting and fishing needs at http://www.marksoutdoors.com
* NEW AND USED BOATS
Check out Airport Marine in Clanton, Al. or see their website http://www.airportmarine.com for some great deals on new boats, used boats of all kinds, close outs and winter sales that are going on right now! Also see their tournament trails for 2011 at http://www.airportmarinetrails.com Alabama’s best paying bass tournaments!
* WORLD’S BEST BASS BOAT – See http://www.rangerboats.com new website!
* NEW ALABAMA WEBSITES
Check out http://www.bamabass.com and http://www.bassnboat.com for new websites in Alabama! Also see http://www.fishingalabama.com for wintertime lake reports and fishing tips for all Alabama lakes!
* 2011 BIRMINGHAM BOAT SHOW
The 40 th annual Birmingham Boat Show will held January 20-23 2011 at the civic center in Birmingham. See their website http://www.birminghamboatshow.com for prices on booths and floor space and info on show events like “Reed Montgomery’s Kids Fishing Show!”
* REED MONTGOMERY’S 10TH ANNUAL KIDS FISHING SHOW SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 2011
For ten years Reed Montgomery has emceed this very popular kids fishing show held at the Birmingham Boat Show. In January, 2010 over 500 kids and thier parents attended this free event and every kid went home with some free donated prize. This year it will be held around 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 22 2010. See the http://www.birminghamboatshow.com website for more info! Please donate if your able!
* DONATIONS NEEDED FOR KIDS SHOW!
* Donations needed! – If you are interested in donating to this 10th Annual Reed Montgomery’s Kids Fishing Show just call me (205) 663-1504 or e-mail alabassgyd@aol.com for more info. Donators are welcome to come on stage and promote their products or their company, in front of a crowd of over 1000 adults! Kids are not hard to please! In 2010 donations included rods, reels, lures, shirts, hats, decals, stickers, etc! Any donations are welcome! Thanks for your help!
* REED MONTGOMERY’S “ASK THE ANGLER” ON FOX 6 TV
Tuesday, December 28 2010. Call in with your fishing questions on Alabama’s “Good Day Alabama” morning show on Birmingham’s WBRC Channel Fox 6 TV. Reed Montgomery will be answering all your fishing questions with his, “Ask the Angler” question and answer session on just after 8 a.m. Central time. Seen state wide on Fox 6 for over 5 years now! Or you can go to their Fox 6 link found on the home page of http://www.fishingalabama.com Then just click on GDA and see the archive Good Day Alabama morning shows found there!
Thanks and Good Fishin’!
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: http://www.fishingalabama.com
” Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass ”
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service…first!
Alabama’s Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
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