Impounded 1954
Lake level full pool (may be down by mid summer due to drought)
Summer on Demopolis Lake
Guiding
on every lake in Alabama has its rewards. Especially when you have guided
and fished an impoundment on the Warrior river like Demopolis Lake most of
your life.
I grew up fishing this south Alabama impoundment and I have logged a lot of
hours exploring both the Warrior River and Tombigbee rivers, both of which
converge about one mile above Demopolis City boat launch. As a teenager we
always launched at Lock 5 boat launch near Greensboro. This was about 20 miles
from the lakes lower Demopolis dam. A long way to go when you only have a 20
H. P. motor! So it was a while before my fishing actually branched out to newer
waters, along this huge river system in south Alabama.
Later on in life I learned of Demopolis city boat launch, only one mile downstream
from the mouth of the Tombigbee river, where it meets the Warrior river. This
opened up a whole new world of fishing and I visited this lower lake region
every week in order to learn its hidden backwaters. Just like I already had
learned, while fishing "all the way to the dam" near the city of
Tuscaloosa, far upstream on the incoming Warrior River.
The backwaters of the Tombigbee River featured loads of cypress-filled sloughs,
all lined with aquatic weeds and most were full of cooperating bass. The main
river itself was a real joy to learn, for every new river bend always featured
a new logjam to explore, another main river flat, or a creek mouth nearby and
always, some deep water drop-offs to worm in seclusion. That is most of the
time, with little or no company. Not like it is today, crowded. Those were
the days.
Today Demopolis Lake receives a lot of fishing pressure. Not only by the sheer
amount of anglers on the lake fishing for bream, catfish and crappie but in
addition, a lot of very knowledgeable anglers now targeting Demopolis lake's
spotted bass and largemouth bass as well. Then there's those bass tournament
anglers. Local bass tournaments are held every week. Major bass tournament
trails like Bassmasters have also visited Demopolis lake in recent years. Its
now a given fact. These bass are getting " lure conditioned ".
Many of the lakes largemouth bass and spotted bass are fooled each week by
at least 100 anglers (or more) and eventually, " a good 5 bass limit by
days end ", is again hauled off to the nearest boat launch. Again, another
weekly bass tournament featuring dozens of anglers, has re-located hundreds
of bass taken from all over the lake. Soon each and every backwater slough,
even small pockets and cuts, or any major feeder creek has been beaten daily
by hundreds of bass-seeking anglers.
By the end of the spring season a lot of bass have been re-located to places
like Demopolis City boat launch, where most major bass tournaments are held.
By the beginning of each summer season...re-location has taken its toll in
places bass spawned in during the spring season. In addition there are some
often very picky, post-spawn bass returning to their summer homes. Sometimes,
with a seasonal change such as from spring to summer, you have many variables
that can actually re-locate a lot of the lakes bass population.
Variables of all kinds can suddenly put these bass on the move. Places you
actually, " tore em' up in " this past spring can almost be void
of bass on your next trip, due to sudden changes in things like water clarity.
Heavy evening thundershowers (that can quickly muddy up creek backwaters),
can send bass towards creek mouths or the nearest place featuring clearer water.
Or the complete opposite can occur, clear water from little or no rain can
make for some tough, summertime fishing.
Warming waters can send bass looking for cooler waters, aquatic weed growth
has the oxygen and cover, and big bass may be very selective or which weeds
they occupy. When you see hot, 90 plus degree air temperatures (or worse yet
over 100 degrees), you again get re-location. This time by the bass themselves.
Maybe to cooler, deeper water (or like some humans there are loners), you will
catch some bass that just cruise the shallows.
Or maybe even a big bass or two, those rare bass that may bury up in some very
thick weeds or wood cover, until fooled by some astute angler. An angler that
holds its fate in his hands. So as you can see practicing "catch and release" does
help keep those big bass in certain locations, for you, or some other angler
to again experience that thrill of fooling and fighting a big bass some other
day!
So is there hope? Its hard to say. After all, summer is a very tough time of
year for most anglers. Coupled with 100 degree days and today's constant fishing
pressure, its getting harder and harder to fool a good bag of bass by the days
end. But there are suggestions!
Summer is a good time to explore deep water on the main lake or go searching
for bass far up some major feeder creek. The majority of Demopolis Lake's schooling
bass will be in deep water. This can be due to the ever increasing hot days
of summer, coupled with bright, bluebird skies. Or low oxygen content in the
shallows can send bass deep.
So looking at the conditions such as the weather, the lake level, how much
available current is present on each outing and especially finding places with
less " fishing pressure " helps avoid the hordes of anglers, and
it keeps you one step ahead of those anglers that do not do their homework
prior to their planned fishing trip to Demopolis lake.
FISHING THE MAIN LAKE
When I first started fishing Demopolis Lake, it had more cover. Along the main
river were stump rows, lay down trees and washed in debris, like logjams and
brush. Today constant barge traffic, flooded waters and even dredging the mouths
of cuts and creeks has removed a lot of the wood cover. Many creek mouths and
the small entrances to hidden backwater sloughs are now silted in from these
constant variables. Some places you cannot even enter during drought or low
water conditions.
The mouths of creeks, small pockets and cuts or other refuges, are still good
today and they do hold schools of summertime bass, that can move up on any
day. So exploring several of these types of spots all in a days time, can eventually
put you on a school of cooperating bass. You could be on a spot that did not
even produce a bite when you fished it earlier in the day! Having a dozen of
these types of main river spots can keep you moving all day and it also helps
you cool off, while running and gunning from spot to spot!
Deep outside river bends, feature immediate drop-offs right into deep, main
river channels and ledges. They always have rocks, ledges and washed in debris
like logs and trees. These are places where schools of bass can congregate
during the summer months for weeks at a time, due to certain conditions or
the availability of food.
Islands and main lake points are places baitfish seek shelter out of the swift,
current on the main lake. Rock bluffs have first and secondary ledges and often
places where the banks have broken off and huge boulders have tumbled down
into deep water. Perfect places for both spotted bass and largemouth bass to
call home during the entire summer season.
Lures for tackling these bass are many. During summer a bass will hit any lure
in the box. That is, if you are fishing it in the right place. So think deep
during the summer months if fishing on the main lake near deep water. But always
have a few lures rigged and ready, like topwaters, jerkbaits and shallow to
mid running crankbaits. Schooling bass can erupt at any time and these lures
are always good for these frantically feeding bass, hidden just under these
shad schools in mid depth waters.
DEEP WATER LURES
Here's a few lures, always good on Demopolis Lake while fishing shallow to
deep drop-offs or when dredging the deeper, main lake waters are;
* Deep Diving Crankbaits - the deeper they go the better. Fish these lures
on as light a line as possible. Some pros go as small as 6-8 pound test line
to get deep divers to go their deepest. Sharp hooks are a must.
* Worms of all sizes - try finesse worms on small 1/8 ounce to 1/4 ounce jig
heads. Or Texas rig a big 8-12 inch worm or try a big lizard for those big
bass bites in deep water.
* Jig Combos - such as the now popular football head style jig are tailor made
for Demopolis deep, summertime bass. Try various jig colors, different weights
and try all types of added trailers to determine the days preference.
* Jigging Spoons - A forgotten art among most anglers, but they still fool
bass! Especially summertime bass feeding on or near bottom, those bass that
are looking for an easy to catch, fluttering and dying-looking meal. Always
use heavy line in the 15-20 pound test. The heavier the spoon, the heavier
the line.
* Spinnerbaits - These are great deep water tools if you use them right! Always
have a 1/2 ounce to one ounce spinnerbait tied on, preferably a single bladed
model. A single, large willow leaf blade or a single, Colorado blade will put
out more flash and vibration for deep water bass to more easily locate. * NOTE
* Trailer hooks for short strikers, and no trailer plastic lures to slow the
lures fall, are suggested.
* Rattling Lipless Lures - Just like a spinnerbait you can reel these lures
fast just under the surface of the water, or you can fish them in mid depths
with a slow roll retrieve. Or allow them to flutter to the lakes bottom and
slowly retrieve them with a lift and drop presentation. Try 1/2 ounce models
fished along shallow to deep drops and always have a big 3/4 to one ounce lipless
lure tied on (like a Bill Lewis Rattletrap or Cordell Rattling Spot), for deeper
fish.
Visit Demopolis Lake this summer season. Or call on Reeds Guide Service for
a guided day or night fishing trip to any lake in Alabama. " Over 40 years
exploring, fishing and guiding on all Alabama lakes."
* Looking for a new or
used boat? See: www.airportmarine.com and
see their bass tournament trail info found there. Alabama's best paying tournament
trails and annual events! Team Trail
* Looking for the best bass boat in the world? Go to: www.rangerboats.com
* See my website: www.fishingalabama.com for
more Alabama lakes fishing tips, lake reports, fishing articles, fishing links
and info on Reeds Guide Service.
Good Fishin'
Practice catch and release year-round especially this Spring.
You won't regret it!
Good Fishin'...
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
