Summer on Jordan Lake

Daytime Bass Fishing Tips

After fishing Jordan Lake (the last lake of the 6 impounded lakes of the Coosa River System) for over 30 years, it kinda grows on you. Its a varied fishery, especially when targeting largemouth bass and the now famous (Bassmasters) Coosa River Spotted Bass, that are both found in abundance lake wide. Any angler that has fished this lake a few times immediately notices that both bass species can be found mingling together.

Although the mid-to-upper 90 degree midday heat of summer can be hard to take, catching bass always helps you momentarily forget the heat. There are many ways to combine both of these ups and downs of summer to aid your in your goal, staying cool and catching bass.

Targeting weeds, can show mostly largemouth bass bites. It also shows places displaying cooler shade, for both you and the bass to relate to when it gets hot. Fishing eastern banks on the main lake, as late as midday, will always show a few small pockets displaying towering, shade producing trees and plenty of overhanging bushes and thick, matted weeds for the bass to hide in.

Wood cover and rocks or bluff banks will enhance these places. Look for irregular banks or broken off banks along main lake rock bluffs. Current, produced by water generation at upper and lower lake dams, will show points leading into these small cuts, pockets, creek mouths and bluffs, holding both largemouth bass and spotted bass.

Lure selection categories for fishing in and around these out-of-the-current hideouts include; Crankbaits from shallow to deep diving models in various colors and actions, rattling lipless lures, both floating and suspending hard bodied jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and topwaters. These lures and various lures fished on bottom, can all be fan cast along these upper and lower points for active bass.

This pattern especially holds true when fishing here during evident current / water generation or during early morning hours and late evenings. You should plan to fish these spots and others you select, immediately when current becomes available (moving water) or after water generation scheduled times display evident current.

Check water generation schedules and lake levels for all Coosa River Lakes at 1-800-lakes-11.

Nighttime Bass Fishing Tips

Like when fishing during the day, catching both largemouth bass and spotted bass is possible during night fishing trips on Jordan Lake. Even the same lures you fish during the day such as worms, jig combos, spinnerbaits and topwaters will work when the sun goes down on Jordan Lake. Even faster moving lures, not normally associated with night fishing, such as crankbaits, rattling lipless lures and jerkbaits, fool nighttime bass on Jordan Lake.

But with night fishing on this 18 mile long lake, you will not have much company, so be prepared for a lonely night of fishing. Gone are all the wave making water vessels that hamper your fishing. Although there are a few during summer, bass tournaments on Jordan Lake, are not all that popular either, not like they are on other lakes. So most anglers are concentrating on other lakes during weekends.

Even the air temperature, often with a light breeze, is much more tolerable at night. The bass cooperate too, often better than fishing during the day, for many bass head for the shallows after sundown as shallow water cools a few degrees. Look for largemouth bass around shallow backwaters weeds, wood cover, rock banks or especially around lighted piers at night.

Spotted bass are found lakewide and like during the day, anglers fishing at night around the tailrace waters of upper Mitchell Lake dam found in Jordan Lakes headwaters, can have phenomenal success with this tackle testing bass. Some spotted from 5-7 pounds have been taken in past summers at night. Be safe and always wear your life jacket and have your outboard motor kill switch attached. Running lights must be on all night. 

Want help on Jordan Lake? Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! Over 30 years fishing and guiding on all Alabama Lakes for bass and stripers, year round, with trips available for multiple parties.

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"6 Years on the Radio  / Jan 2005"
Birmingham, Alabama
Call Reeds Guide Service...First! (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

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