Winter Fishing on Jordan Lake

Its been said, "If your looking for a true, trophy sized, Coosa River breed of spotted bass, Jordan Lake is the place to be this winter season."

Well, after over 30 years of fishing every lake on the Coosa River System (and the rest of Alabama's Lakes) in every season, under all kinds of conditions, I can honestly say..."its true!" Some of Alabama's biggest spotted bass on record have been taken during the cold months of winter and many of those tackle testing bass have come from Jordan Lake.

Memories. My personal best spotted bass caught on Jordan Lake weighed 6 pounds. It came on a cold, rainy day in late February while fishing a home made spinnerbait, in a Birmingham Bassmasters Club tournament. (As a matter of fact it earned me $600 at the end of that year, many years ago, as big spot of the year in the club.) That huge "spot" was feeding in the after flow of swift rain water coming out of a creek. It hit that 1/2 ounce, single bladed, white skirted, #5 silver willow leaf spinnerbait (just in case your wondering), like a freight train. It caught me off guard and almost jerked the rod from my hands. Luckily the 17 pound test Trilene line held. Although it was not my biggest spotted bass (My biggest Spot weighed 7.12 pounds, caught on Mitchell Lake on the 4th of July a few years back / on a Zara Super Spook, released alive) it is just one of many of those rare spotted bass exceeding 5 pounds I've seen taken from Jordan Lake. Most of which came in cold fall / winter weather or early spring.

Fooling these bass into striking your lures does not come easy. I think spotted bass are the smarter of the bass family and the older they get the wiser they get as well, including an entire school of spotted bass. I have fished this lake during clear water situations and on many occasions hooked a big spotted bass, while several other huge spots followed the hooked bass to the boat. Afterwards it seems they just disappeared after seeing the boat. They are very spooky bass and fooling them is much easier during low light conditions or while encountering feeding spotted bass during stained water conditions. Fishing early in the day, late in the evening, or all day when its cloudy or raining, is the best time to fool the bigger spotted bass that roam this lake in schools. Its possible to fool them on these days and catch 5 bass weighing close to 20 pounds, in less than 30 minutes.

Places to look and what lures to use? This is what most anglers want to know, when it comes to targeting spotted bass in winter. It can show many answers. Jordan lake is a little over 18 miles long. Although the upper 10 miles of the lake is merely a river, it does show over 6,900 acres of surface water for anglers to explore. There are big spotted bass lake wide.

Fishing just below Mitchell Lake dam in Jordan Lakes headwaters is a good place to start. The water is swift and spotted bass are right at home in the rocky, boulder strewn tailrace waters found here. Rock bluffs line both sides of the lake for miles. Standing timber and the many points lead into small cuts and pockets all show excellent spotted bass habitat. River ledges, drop-offs, humps, ridges, saddles and submerged islands, can all be found with a little map study and lots of lake navigating.

From the dam upriver, to the many bluff lined banks 10 miles downstream, many lures fool spotted bass this winter. During winter warming trends these spotted bass can be shallow, often hitting topwaters, spinnerbaits and shallow running lures. When its cold and bright bluebird days show tough conditions, spotted bass may become picky on what they will hit. This may call for the use of deep diving crankbaits, rattletraps, suspending jerkbaits or an array of lures fished slowly on bottom. Jigs and jig combos fool some of Jordan Lakes trophy spotted each winter. Colors can vary, but black and blue or brown on brown are proven favorites. Anglers that use small finesse lures such as 4-6 inch worms on jig heads also have huge success on this lake. The only problem is getting a good hookset and landing these tackle testing spots on light line around all the line scraping wood and rock cover.

Jordan Lake has two dams. Jordan Lake dam was put into service in 1923. Another dam that supports the lower lake power pool section is known as Walter F. Bouldin dam, it was constructed in 1964. In this lower lake area spotted bass live out their lives in generally clearer water situations. Some big spotted bass are caught shallow on cloudy days or during early light and in the late evening. Many anglers fish deep here during winter, with huge success. Old underwater roadbeds, house foundations and other bottom irregularities can be fished in this lower lake region with lures like deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged and Texas rigged lures, jigging spoons, tailspinners, blade baits, heavy spinnerbaits, suspending jerkbaits and 1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce Cordell Rattling Spots or Bill Lewis Rattletraps.

There are many places and many ways to attempt to catch these spotted bass this winter on Jordan Lake. But a few words of advice, come prepared. Sharp hooks, a smooth reel drag, a good dependable rod and reel and a good landing net, are a must. Or you can go home talking about the trophy spotted bass that got away, like a lot of unprepared anglers do.

Always call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133. Over 30 years fishing Jordan Lake for spotted bass, largemouth bass and striped bass. Be careful this winter, dress warm and always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. It might just save your life!

Thanks and Good Fishing! 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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