Originally published in the December 2011 issue of AON
Guntersville: Level: 1.7 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 60s. Clarity: Clear.
Bass: Good. The story on Guntersville has been the Alabama rig and grouped up shad. Ever since the late October FLW produced 20-lb. sacks for top anglers, every angler on the lake has been throwing an A-rig. The ticket to scoring with the bait is to find bunched up shad, and they should be in the backs of the creeks. However, as water temps continue to drop, the fishing will get tougher, and fish will be holding deep or around whatever grass is still holding to the bottom. Guide Mike Gerry reports, “December fishing on Guntersville will transition from fall shallow water to deeper fishing patterns. The bass will suspend for most of the cold-water months, and the average fishermen will struggle to get bites. The thing I do in the winter is go small and go deep and fish with patience. If you do this, you can have a pretty good winter fishing on Guntersville. The water temps will fall to the 40s from the mid 60s, where they are today, and maybe lower. Getting bites will be tough all winter. A key on Guntersville is to look for the birds, as the small ducks called coots will bring you to the hidden grass, and the seagulls will bring you to the bait. These areas will hold fish.” Once you find them, fishing slow and small with baits like shaky heads and drop shots will get bites.
