Winter Fishing On Neely Henry Lake

Just like upper Coosa River Impoundment Weiss Lake, this Lake is dropped for winter pool. Navigation can be hazardous for first time boaters, so use extreme caution when running the lake. Neely Henry Lake is located near the town of Gadsden and is the second of 6 lakes running from north to south Alabama on the Coosa River. Like most Coosa River Impoundments it is more of a river in its upper reaches. Fishing the upper 25-30 miles of Neely Henry Lake calls for targeting creek mouths, rock bluffs, the mouths of small cuts and pockets and especially all the evident wood cover. Laying trees, stumps, laying logs and logjams filled with washed in debris, all hold bass and baitfish this winter. Anglers can find success this winter fishing with lures along the bottom or crankbaits in the mid water column or topwaters and spinnerbaits fished around all the cover.

The mid to lower lake region spreads out with features similar to a lake. This can mean fishing piers, boat houses and around marinas and tournament release sites. There is also an abundance of under water cover and irregular bottom features to be fished on this mid to lower lake region. Old house foundations and roadbeds left here during impoundment, still hold schools of bass during winter. (See Fishing Hotspots Maps at: www.fishinghotspots.com for waterproof, tearproof GPS marked maps of Neely Henry Lake, with my fishing tips included.) With the lake down for another 4-5 months weeds are obsolete.

Look for schools of baitfish and evident fish activity along main lake flats and places out of the current and high winds. Lures such as rattling lipless lures (models such as Bill Lewis rattletraps, Cordell rattling spots and Spro's Viv series), shallow to deep diving crankbaits and both floating and suspending model jerkbaits can cover water fast and find that feeding school of winter time bass, a lot faster than other lures. When a few are caught rework the area with bottom lures, topwaters and spinnerbaits.

Plan on fishing Neely Henry Lake this winter. It does have some great fishing for spotted bass, largemouth bass and some big striped bass, for the winter time angler to enjoy. Or call on Reeds Guide Service...first!

Thanks and Good Fishing!

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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