Fishing Below Wheeler Dam

Striped Bass Fishing-Wheeler Dam72
rate or flag this pageBy Fredo B.

Striped Bass Fishing-Wheeler Dam
In this post, I will explain some of the basics of fishing for striped bass beneath the tail waters of Wheeler Dam in Alabama. Some of the best weekends of my life have been in a boat beneath the tail waters of this dam. I started fishing there when I was about 18 because of hear say from a cousin of what fun it was. I shrugged it off at the time as being nothing more than gesture of good faith because I was a self proclaimed "bass-master" with nothing to show for it. Well, a few weeks passed and we decided to fire up the ole Stratos and give it a try.

The first weekend we showed up and did not know what to do. We had all this fancy gear and did not have a clue as to how to put it to use. Other people were catching boat loads as we stood like a deer in headlights watching. The first weekend we broke multiple lines,lost weights,baits, and anything else you can imagine. Needless to say, it was beginning to look like we would never get the hang of this dam fishing (no pun intended lol)

Well, after a few weeks of trial and error we started catching fish. The more fish we caught the better we got and eventually caught multiple fish that weighed over 10lbs. Here are some tips and tricks. Keep in mind my dad,brother, and I did this type of fishing for 8 years almost every weekend until we all got older and I haven't been in about 3 years now. However, here are the basics.

First, always take live bait the large "shiners" as they call them at the store. Always get 1/2 ounce weight as it seems to be the perfect amount for the swift water. Anything less and it will not sink good and anything more just seems to heavy. Tie the weight about 6-8 inches up the line with a single knot just so that it stays put like a leader. Add your hook 2/0-3/0 seems best and hook on the live bait. Drop the bait to the bottom in the swift water and drift in the boat the rest of the way. When the bait hits the bottom it will thud a little. Here is the tricky part, you must bounce the bait on the bottom so that you will not get hung up. You will get bites if you bounce it correctly kinda in a rhythm. Once you catch a fish, repeat this process.

Also take a "super spook" the medium sized one. If they are jumping or "running" as people like to say you will catch fish and I mean BIG fish. The last time my brother and I caught them running on a good day we took in 20 fish that weighed 10lbs or better. Don't get the wrong idea here, as I am a huge proponent of "catch and release." Experiment with multiple colors to see which one works best.

Finally, this is a secret I do not normally tell that I happen to adapt from a salt water magazine article I read a few years back. Take a "samurai shad" made by "yum" baits. Add him to a 1/2 ounce jig head and reel as fast as you can go. This should produce some big bites and fish. They do not bite like this quite as much but if this bait is the "hot bait" that day you will catch fish in the 5lb+ range. If they do not bite on the burn ,slow the reel down just a little and you might catch a few. I can't give away all my tips so that's all I have for now. Happy fishing and good luck! Please feel free to share you own tips in the comment section as I would love to know how to catch some bigger fish there. I have seen one boat there in the years that we went catch 3 fish in the 25+ range if you know anything about what he might have been doing please comment

How to Fish a Small Creek - wikiHow

How to Fish a Small Creek - wikiHow

Fishing Trip

Well another experience with a 1977 bass boat lead to another "interesting" fishing trip. My son and I had been fishing for about five minutes when the trolling motor stopped working. We pulled out to the main river below Wheeler Dam where we could drift fish and I started working on the boat while my son was fishing.

The trolling motor did not get repaired on the fishing trip so we spent the remainder of the trip drift fishing and were able to pick up a few bream and a catfish. It seems that fishing trips are growing more and more adventurous.

We had fun and were able to spend some quality time fishing which is the main reason we go. I love the song by Trace Atkins, "Fishing" and it pretty much sums up why I going fishing with my son. It will not be long before I take my little girl on the boat with us, and that will certainly be an adventure.

WebCast

Here is a great link to Alabama Outdoors and the Webcast they offer. I hope everyone ejoys the link. Click here for the link.