Fisheries biologists across the country work to implement restrictive … Bass anglers can expect better than average catch rates of bass up to lengths of 15 inches or 1 - 1.5 pounds, but anglers will have to work hard to find larger fish. The milfoil is no longer covering the Decatur Flats, but the fish are still abundant. The past few Southern Challenge tournaments were held on nearby Lake Guntersville. When the Forrest Wood Cup heads to Huntsville, Ala., Aug.4-7, the competitors will have a lot to explore. The Alabama Bass Trail is 13 premier bass fishing lakes throughout Alabama. 19.11 Outboard Motor Size A… 19.12 Skiing On Lakes Prohi… 19.13 Compliance With ... except Bull Shoals, Beaver, Greers Ferry, Table Rock, and Norfork lakes (see Ex. In the summer, Tour Grade Football Jigs with Rage Lobster trailers are my favorite bait, followed by Series 6XD crankbaits. WHEELER LAKE By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service Website: www.fishingalabama.com Impounded 1936 Lake Level: Down until April Water Temperature: Late March 60 degrees, April 70 plus degrees, May 80 degrees and above Spring on Wheeler Lake . Douglas Lake gets new smallmouth size and creel limits half the year, and will keep the current ones the other half. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and catfish are targeted most often by anglers on Wilson Lake. State laws apply to non-Native Americans fishing on the Menominee Reservation. Thanks in advance for any info!! March 26, 2018 Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win. Minimum Size Limits for Shore Caught Fish. ATHENS, Ala. – Donny Beck of Florence, AL won the American Bass Anglers Open Series AL North tournament, held March. Largemouth bass in the 2-to 3-pound range are quite common with larger fish up to 9 pounds caught annually. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. Wheeler offers just about every type of fishing possible, shallow, deep, finesse, power, you name it and you can do it and catch fish on Wheeler. Spinnerbaits are also good choices until the fish move into the bushes to spawn. During the spring and fall, smallmouth bass congregate in the tailwaters of Wheeler Dam. DECATUR, Ala. – Boater Kip Carter of Mansfield, Georgia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at Wheeler Lake tournament in Decatur, Alabama. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. Slight fluctuations are normal and usually represent strong age classes within the fishery. Lake draw down shows Wheeler Lake lacking the weeds that upper Guntersville lake is so noted for. No length limit on stripe with the exception that you may only keep 6 stripe over 16 inches and only 2 of those may be saltwater stripe. Local Pro, Bill Huntley, the originator of the Bumble Bee spinner bait, made this area of Wheeler Lake famous, with numerous limits of giant bass. Wheeler Lake size limit [ Follow Ups] [ Post Followup] [ North Alabama Fishing Forum] [ FAQ] Posted by scott on May 24, 2005 at 14:34:26: What is the minimum length requirement for each species of bass on Wheeler Lake? Smallmouth bass. Many big female bass are caught flipping bushes with Heavy Cover Hack Attack jigs or Rage Space Monkeys and Rodents on a Hack Attack Flipping hook. Wheeler is a full of largemouth, Smallmouth and spotted bass, and catches are possible of all three in a trip. Now it’s also producing the heavyweights. Wheeler Lake Impounded 1936 North Alabama. Greers Ferry Lake – smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches, daily limit 6. Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Angling Opportunities. 12 inches min. Sauger must be at least 14 inches, although up to 3 sauger less than 14 inches may be kept. • Lake Martin- it is illegal to possess more than two white bass, yellow bass, saltwater striped bass and hybrids or combinations over 16 inches in total length in the daily creel limit… Note: Although the news release below notes that size restrictions and daily limits for bass, walleye, and channel catfish are lifted in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds statewide, certain waters that are often considered "rivers" are managed under lake rules. No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids. Wheeler Lake has no length limit on any black bass. ABA Ram Open Tournaments Wheeler Lake . The lower portion of Alabama’s Wheeler lake is a anglers paradise for both of these bass species, especially during cooler weather and low wintertime lake levels. The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office. In the fall, spinnerbaits and Sexy Dawg topwaters are my favorites to catch Wheeler bass. Now, 5-pounders are as common as in the early 1990s when Wheeler was in its heyday. A combination of restrictive harvest regulations, stocking of Florida strain largemouth, and abundant habitat has contributed to Lake Fork's development as one of the country's premier trophy bass lakes. Numbers of bass above 15 inches are below the Alabama reservoir average. The table below is therefore for guidance only. Menominee County is a Native American reservation. Wilson Reservoir and its Tributaries of Big Nance and Town Creeks – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Largemouth bass is the most popular sportfish in this reservoir. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. Wheeler Lake in Decatur, AL has a glorious history as a bass fishing destination. The lower section of the lake is fed by The Elk River. Please note: We endeavor to keep this list of minimum fish retention sizes as accurate and up to date as possible. Wheeler Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. Alabama's second largest lake can be downright tough when bass come off the beds in May. During the latter portion of Fall and even all throughout the Winter season (on lower Wheeler lake), is when these bass relate more to wood cover, rock cover, bottom irregularities or a sudden bottom change. NOTE: Regulations listed below may not reflect fish species actually found in the lake. Wheeler 26 pound limit, May 2013 Wheeler Lake Fishing Guide As a Wheeler lake bass guide, I can be on the water in 10 minutes and have fished this lake for over 30 years. See bag and size limits for this lake. Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) Largemouth bass. Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Weiss Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Lay Lake, Lake Martin, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta In this video fellow Chris Souders of Slunger Cat Outdoors as he is preparing to fish the Cabelas King Kat tournament on Wheeler Lake in Decatur Alabama. "It should take 65 pounds to win, no more than that," he said. This will be the first BASS event on Wheeler since 2003. Searching out all 68,300 surface acres on Wheeler lake for summertime bass can be awful intimidating on such a huge impoundment. Wheeler lake, the second largest impoundment in Alabama, makes up for this very little greenery with wood and rock cover lake wide. On Smith Lake, it is illegal to possess a black bass that measures 13-15 inches in length. Size Limit Possession Limit; Statewide except the water bodies listed below: Smallmouth Bass: 12 inches: No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye, or their hybrids. Beck Dominates at Wheeler Lake . Minimum Size Limit: Daily Creel Limit : Crappie: 8″ 20 ... 14-inch minimum, except that 2 may be less than 14 inches: 5. including only 2 less than 14 inches: Striped Bass & Bodie Bass: 16-inch minimum. Winter Fishing Wheeler Lake. White Bass: 15 a day; Yellow Bass: 15 a day; Striped Bass: 15 limit/ No more than five can be over 22 inches; Crappie: 30 a day combined black and white/ No crappie can be taken under 9 inches; https://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing-creel-and-size-limits; … See Wheeler Lake's WDNR Lake Page for more information on this lake's characteristics. In fact, it’s one of the most diverse reservoirs on the Tennessee River chain and contains a wide range of cover and structure options. Diving crank plugs, in the Tennessee Shad finish, and purple plastic worms have proven best. For questions on fishing regulations in general or on specific waters: Fishing Regulation Questions, http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/index.html, Inland Fishing Regulation Website Questions. Wheeler lake shines in the spring and summer with so many types of structure available. As a Wheeler lake bass guide, I can be on the water in 10 minutes and have fished this lake for over 30 years. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and crappie are this lake's most abundant species. The ABT will adhere to the specified slot limit on Smith Lake. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass do feed during the daylight hours throughout Wheeler Lake. Wheeler Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. May 2, 2020 to June 19, 2020. Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). 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