Capt. Chris Jackson

What is the secret to fishing Lake Guntersville? This is the question I hear every time I enter Mark’s Outdoors. Come to Guntersville and ask local anglers this question and you will get the answer “fish the grass”. While this is very good answer, and sure to produce fish, there are 69,000 acres of that grass and most of us don’t have that much time to kill. There is more to fishing grass than tossing your favorite lure into it and reeling it out. I want to help you determine how to eliminate the “un-productive” grass and what to do with the “good grass” when you find it.

The first thing to learn is how to not to waste time on grass lines that are counter- productive. I was lucky enough to have been taught how to fish this Guntersville grass by a great angler who lived here before ‘the lake was a lake.’ One thing I will never forget while fishing with him was seeing how he picked out productive grass areas. I asked him how he did it and he told me, “Look at that grass line like it’s a river bank”. He then backed the boat out into the river channel and had me look at the grass line. He asked me, “If that was a bank would you fish it?” While looking at it I saw a line that had no turns or cuts and was really straight.

I told him I would not fish a bank that had no contour. He said that contour was the first thing he looks for. When approaching a grass line look for turns, cuts, indentions, and changes in texture. As many of you know fishing a bank which has no changes is not going to yield many fish but, you will find a lot of fish “stacked up” on some type of small change in the contour of this bank. When talking about a change in contour you will notice if you were fishing a rock bank you will find most fish in the areas where the “chunk rock” changes to smaller rock and vise versa. Grass is the same way. There are two main types of grass at Guntersville, Eurasian milfoil and Hydrilla. If you find these to types mixed at Guntersville on a grass line it would be highly suggested to fish it. The fish “stack” here for several reasons. One is the food sources which are here year round and for the protection it offers.

Milfoil will draw in insects which in turn draw in small bait fish and brim. The famous “Big G Toads” like this mix of grass because it makes attacking their prey easier. The bait fish and brim are easy pickins’ and the grass also provides a great source or oxygen .While Hydrilla and Milfoil have some similarities, their appearance and texture are completely different. Hydrilla is a great filter for the water (as you will notice the water is clearer when Hydrilla is present) and holds huge numbers of plankton which draws in smaller pray. It also provides great concealment for bass to “lurk” in and out and set up ambush points. When you find both of these in the same area there will always be fish there.

Now, what to do when you finally find that productive grass heaven? There is only a few ways to fish this thick mat. One is the ever famous “Rat/Frog” fishing. I have trips booked months in advance from a lot of clients from other states just to frog fish. This is one of the most exciting types of grass fishing. I use the Reaction Innovation “Swamp Donkey” in 4 main colors; black, green, white, and brown. I rig them on a super stiff 7’2” rod with Suffix braid line in no less than 50lb test and I use a Shimano 5.2:1 geared reel to help winch them out of the grass when they hit. As for some of the little tweaking that I do to the baits for the grass… you will have to fish with me to find these out.

The next bait to use is “THE JIG”! This fishing is a true test of a fisherman’s patients but if you can take the time to build your confidence in this bait it will yield some of the largest bags you have ever took to the scales. Everyone knows the jig is the “big bass” bait which will not produce a large number of bites but, it will produce the fish of a lifetime. I have tossed every jig on the market in every color combo you can think of and thought I would pass along some tips to save you some time and money. I start by using a 7’6” extra heavy rod topped with a shimano 6.3:1 fast reel.

I spool it with no less than 50 pound braid. I have seen clients use less and sit in the floor of the boat with the crying towel after breaking off one of those “Big G” toads. As far as the bait of choice I only use one jig in a couple of colors. Choo-Choo Lures makes one of the best grass jigs I have ever seen. The Titan head 1.5 oz. jig will push through the grass mat and has a great fall rate.

The other thing is that is has the most consistent fall, which is one of the most important things about jig fishing. The fall must be straight down. I use a couple of colors in the jig like the camo, Black Pumpkin, Black/Blue, and Hot Tequila. I use a Net Bait Paca Chunk trailer in black, blue, green pumpkin, and watermelon. I toss it in the small open areas (or “blow Holes”) the fish have punched thru to get small insects. Drop it in and let it fall to the bottom.

Then pull it up shake it twice then let it fall again. If you don’t have a hit move to the next hole and repeat the process. I have fished miles (and miles) of grass before a getting a single bite but when you get one there will be several fish in the same section. The quality of the bite will quickly make you forget the many acres of grass you had to cover (and the bugs that come along with that grass) to find these huge Lake Guntersville Bass.

I hope this will assist you in being more productive on Guntersville and help you get that fish of a lifetime. If you would like to see these tactics used and a few other little tricks we use here be sure to contact us at Fins-N-Grins Freshwater Adventures to get your next adventure started. Good luck, good fishing and God Bless.

Capt. Chris Jackson
Fins-N-Grins
Freshwater Adventures
www.finsngrinsfishing.com