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| General Information |
Georgia's portion of the reservoir encompasses approximately 2,000 acres of
river and shallow backwater habitats. Angling prospects are compiled by fisheries biologists and are based on sampling efforts of the GA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), knowledge of past fishing trends, angling experience and information provided by anglers and marina owners. For more information, contact the Wildlife Resources Division, Calhoun Fisheries office at 706-629-1259.
Current lake levels are available through the AL Power Company contact info below. River levels and flow conditions on the Coosa River near the GA/AL state line can be found here. |
The Georgia DNR lake sturgeon reintroduction program began in 2002. Since then, more than 80,000 sturgeon fingerlings have been released in the Coosa River basin above Lake Weiss. Anglers that accidentally catch a lake sturgeon should immediately release the fish unharmed. Fish hooked deep often will survive if anglers cut the line near the hook and release the fish with the hook. Anglers that catch a sturgeon, should contact the Calhoun WRD office at 706-624-1161 to report the location from which the sturgeon was caught. Such information is valuable to biologists assessing the survival and dispersal of these magnificent fish.
Fish Attractors - The Brushy Branch-Weiss Lake Fish Attractor Program was initiated in 2005 as a joint project between Georgia Power's Plant Hammond Facility, the Alabama Power Co., the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) and local anglers. Locate Lake Weiss' fish attractors here by viewing available maps and heeding biologists helpful tips. |
| Boat Ramps |
| Popular GA access points include the historic Lock and Dam Park and the Montgomery Landing-Brushy Branch Park and boat ramp located on Big Cedar Creek. WRD operates one boat ramp on the Coosa River downstream of Hwy 100. |
| Best Fishing Bets |
| Crappie, White Bass, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass and Catfish |
Crappie - Known as the "crappie capital of the world," this reservoir's excellent forage base supports a robust crappie population year after year. Catches will be better than normal this year, with fish averaging 10-12 inches in length. Slab crappie greater than 2 pounds are routinely caught, and the chance at a “wall-hanger” crappie over 3 pounds is a real possibility.
Technique - Trolling small jigs or live minnows on multiple rods (spider rigging) is a favorite technique for locating schools of actively feeding fish. The same baits fished under a bobber around downed trees or sunken brush piles is another tried and true tactic for this species.
Target - Troll for schooling fish in mid to late-winter near old tributary channels. Key-in on downed shoreline trees and logs during the spawn and post-spawn period. Summer time will push crappie onto structure in deeper waters. |
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White Bass - Numbers will be down from the bumper crops of recent years, but will still remain near or above average. Males will be ½ to ¾ of a pound, while heavier females easily will be 1 1/2 pounds or larger.
Technique - Casting small, white, chartreuse or grey jigs, or ¼ to ½-ounce shad-patterned crankbaits such as rat-l-traps or other medium diving crankbaits should be an anglers top choice. Offerings of live minnows can also be effective on these spawn run fish.
Target - A prime river stretch for hunting spawn-run white bass is from the River Road boat ramp upstream to Mayo’s Lock and Dam Park. Concentrate on the inside bends of the river where water flows typically are faster. White bass also will concentrate in the tributary creek mouths entering the main stream of the Coosa River. |
Striped Bass - Persistent drought temporarily has cut down the number of 20-plus pound linesides in the fishery, but smaller striper numbers remain good. Most stripers are 5-6 pounds, but fish up to 40 pounds are available.
Technique - Fishing live or cut shad is both a popular and highly effective approach for river striper fishing. Anglers may also fool linesides with artificial lures such as bucktail jigs, shad-colored crankbaits and large jerkbaits fished in swift water near fallen trees.
Target - Catch spring-run stripers from Lock and Dam Park upriver to Rome. After the spawn, target cool waters in the larger tributary rivers of the Coosa, such as the Etowah and Chattooga River or the smaller Big Cedar Creek upstream of Brushy Branch. When cooler temperatures arrive, stripers will again move towards the main body of Lake Weiss to feed on shad. Target the area between Brushy Branch and the main body of the lake from late fall through winter. |
Largemouth Bass - The relatively shallow, nutrient-rich waters of Lake Weiss provide good numbers of largemouth bass each year. The average fish will run a little larger than a pound. Anglers can again expect 7 to 8-pound fish to be considered trophy size for this lake.
Technique - During the colder months, use black or blue finesse jigs, big spinner baits, rat-l-traps, deep diving crankbaits, carolina rigged plastic worms or shaky heads. In the warmer months, when the fish move shallow and are feeding more actively, try buzz baits, small spinner baits, floating plastic worm rigs or frog imitations. This also is a good time when “flipping” jigs can prove very effective.
Target - The Brushy Branch area is the most popular area for largemouth, but the backwater tributaries off the main Coosa River channel also are productive. Stump-laden slack-water areas like Kings Creek and Mt. Hope Creek hold plenty of largemouth. Dock fishing also is a productive pattern for these areas as well as the main lake portion in Alabama (be sure to obtain an Alabama fishing license before crossing into Alabama waters). |
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Catfish abundance is fairly consistent from year to year in Georgia’s portion of Lake Weiss. Channels, blues and flatheads all call these waters home. Channels usually are 1-2 pounds in size, with 5 to 8-pound fish fairly common. Blue catfish are just as abundant, but much larger fish are present. Blues greater than 50 pounds are pulled from these waters every year. Flatheads are the least abundant of the three species and usually fall into the 10 to 20-pound range.
Technique - Chicken livers, homebrewed or manufactured stink baits or catalpa worms are reliable approaches for catching good numbers of catfish, but most “pole bender” trophy cats will hold out for live offerings of shad or bream.
Target - Focus on the numerous undercut banks and log jams found on the main Coosa River channel for blue and flathead catfish. The smaller, yet abundant channel catfish will be found in these same areas, but also will frequent backwater locations off the main river. |
Other Fish Species - Freshwater drum and gar are abundant inhabitants of the main Coosa River channel of Weiss. Expect the average drum to run slightly larger than 12 inches, but a fair number of “bull drum,” will top 17 inches. Longnose and spotted gar generally will run 3 feet from nose to tail, but 4 to 5-foot longnose gar are not out of the question.
Technique - For drum, small white jigs fished along the bottom, crayfish, cut mussels and shrimp are best techniques. Gar will hit a number of hook type lures, but good hook penetration on this tough-mouthed species is rare. A unique but effective technique is the use of 6 to 8-inch hookless minnow imitations made from frayed rope. Such lures entangle the numerous needle-like teeth of gar, allowing them to be more consistently boated. Be sure to wear gloves when removing this type of lure from the pointed jaws of a gar.
Target - For drum, concentrate on river areas with increased flow and turbulence, such as around bridges or log jams. Sight fishing is recommended for gar - look for them hovering just under the waters’ surface near structure on the main river channel or backwaters. |
| Contact Info & Website Link |
| Alabama Power Company at 1-800-LAKES11 - AL Power Lake Weiss Website |
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