Fishing News - 1/1/02
Lake Weiss Fishing Report
DATE: 1-1-02
LAKE LEVEL: LOW 556.9
NORMAL FULL POOL: 564.0
SURFACE TEMP: 44.1 in am - 44.2 pm
WATER CLARITY: Good
Before I get started on the fishing report, anybody that might like to come down and talk to me personally. I will be at the Cincinnati Travel & Fishing Show downtown from January 4th - 13th. I will have some pretty good crappie on ice, not as good as I would like to have because Harry had to catch them while I was on vacation. When Harry reads this he is going to want to punch me, just joking....he did the best anybody could do considering the weather has just been terrible, cold & windy. I am surprised he caught
anything. If you would like to see the World Record Black Crappie, I will have it with me with a lot of real nice mounts also. Hope to see you there!
To the nice folks around the Indianapolis area Mrs. Cheryl will be there February 15th - 24th, representing Weiss Lake Guide Service. She will also have some great mounts. I will be at the Jim Strader Show February 15th-17th in downtown Louisville Kentucky. Stop by to see us! At all 3 shows we will be bringing some of Mrs. Cheryl's crappie jigs. For those of you that fish the annual spring crappie rodeo for the big bucks, you can buy your entry at a reduced price at the shows. All proceeds go to Weiss Lake Improvement
Association. All monies go back into our water. Nobody is on
salary. It is all a labor of Love!
CRAPPIE: With the cold weather along with the low water, and the constant draining of the lake, crappie fishing is tough as nails. However, there is a bright side to this conversation. They stopped pulling water today and they will let the lake come slowly back up. If you live close enough to the lake, leave your fishing tackle at home, bring your camcorder or your camera, and get a look at some things that are normally underwater that you will not see any other
time. A little bit of time in the boat this time of year, will improve your spring and fall fishing
tremendously. Not just crappie, you bass fishermen will benefit also.
BASS: Bass fishing has quit! Cold water and cold wind does not make for good fishing. Neither for the fish or the
fisherman. I am a woos! I don't like cold weather! But it will be spring before you know it.
STRIPE: Stripe are the only bright side of the whole deal. The birds have been totally unreliable but with the cold surface temps are driving the shad deeper which means when the stripe get on them they will run them to the
top. I have been on vacation but my nervous, can't stay at home, partner Harry tells me he is starting to see a little of this activity now. 3/4 oz chrome/blue Rat'l Trap is doing the
job. A modified Rat'l Trap seems to work better. What we are doing is taking the rear hooks off and adding a spinner blade to the rear of the Rat'l
Trap. They are hitting it on a pumping motion. Always seem to hit it on the fall. And it won't be much of a "tic" either so you better set the hook quick. Harry has caught a 38 and a 42 this week. This is not normal for us. Our fish generally average 5 - 18 lbs. Our limit here is very liberal. We do not have a size limit and you are allowed 30 per day per person. ( I would hope that no-one would keep that amount of fish) Keep what you want to eat and please put the rest back and we will still have this resource for our grandchildren.
CATFISH: I am not much of a catfish fishermen, but I know some avid catfishermen who do not mind sharing info with
me. Because of the low water, they are catching huge catfish on the deep drops off the points. Also on the old river channel edge, right on the bottom where she breaks
flat. They tell me the best bait is cut shad. I really don't
know. You may have a better bait to use. I do know that I like them pretty good fried golden brown.
A word to the wise!!! If you are coming to Weiss Lake in the near future, be VERY CAREFUL!! If you are unfamiliar with the lake I would strongly recommend idle speed only except in the old river channel which is well marked or we may have a 1/3 off prop sale! If you missed the last fishing report I strongly suggest that you get a lake map and look at it a little taste before you come down here. Also, as the fishing gets better, I will be talking about specific locations. If you fish with me or you have fished where I recommended fishing, you will know I tell it pretty straight. And I know a lot of you are afraid to ask some questions because you are afraid the question will appear
stupid. That's not the case. The only dumb question that I can think of that anybody would ask is which way do you reel the reel
in .If you get a chance go to the chat board and you can ask some questions there and get more than one
answer. If we can be of help holler!
If you want a lake map contact: Centre Motel 256-927-5156
Riverside: 256-779-6117
They will be happy to help you purchase a map.
As always if we can be of any assistance in any way just let us know. We are always GLAD to help! Happy New Year!!
Thanks, Steve
www.lakeweissguideservice.com
256-927-6617
