In the sport of bass fishing, temperatures in the 20’s are considered pretty frigid digits. Those kind of nighttime temperatures lead to other frigid digits – frozen fingers.
Wednesday morning, when the 2nd FLW Tour event on Lake Wheeler blasts off, there will be plenty of frigid digits – about 3,500 of them, all trying to operate frozen reels to cast for cash.
The passage of a cold front on Sunday brought sub-freezing air temperatures into the North Alabama region by Monday night. The water temperatures on Lake Wheeler are currently 43 to 47 degrees. Even with beaming sunshine during the day, portions of the lake are struggling to reach the 50-degree mark.
According to FLW Tour angler Gerald Swindle from nearby Hayden, Alabama, 50 degrees is still a far cry from the 54 degrees needed to get Wheeler’s bass moving. “The magic threshold temperature for Lake Wheeler is about 54 degrees,” says Swindle. “At 54 or 55 degrees the bite picks up drastically. And right now (Monday 2:00 p.m.) we have about 46 degrees. We need 10 more degrees and these bass will thaw out.”
Along with water temperature Swindle adds that water level also plays a huge role in bass behavior on Wheeler. The TVA can raise or lower the lake level by a few feet over a couple of days. “A single foot of rising or falling water really moves these fish around,” reveals Swindle. “If the lake comes up full or over pool, the bass will make a move for the bank. But if they (TVA) drop it a foot, the fish will move out for deeper water.”
During the heavy rains several weeks ago, Wheeler came up a few feet over full pool. Late last week the lake was pulled back down several feet below pool level. As of Monday, the lake was rising again.
Anglers may have a legitimate gripe about water temperatures or water levels, but no angler can claim that Lake Wheeler does not fit their fishing style. Unlike the previous FLW Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee, which offered few alternatives outside of fishing shallow grass; Lake Wheeler can accommodate any bass fishing technique.
For starters, Wheeler contains three different types of bass: largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth. Additionally, the 67,000 acre impoundment has an ample supply of structure and cover: grass, rocks, stumps, docks, laydowns, bluff banks, shallow flats, rip-rap, bridge pilings, and even industrial thermal discharges.
Spread three different species of bass over so much cover and the fishing options are endless. “The biggest problem with this lake is knowing too many ways to catch fish,” says Swindle. “It is real easy to get too many things going on and spend the tournament day looking for greener pastures instead of just fishing.”
Because of Wheeler’s boundless options, Swindle says that anglers that commit to one technique or pattern will do well. Of the options, Swindle looks for three primary patterns to emerge during the tournament. The three patterns are based largely on the differing habits of the three bass species found in Wheeler.
Fishing suspending jerkbaits and slow rolling big spinnerbaits along steep, main lake bluff banks are known techniques for taking big smallmouth bass on the Tennessee River chain of lakes. Swindle believes that the big bass of the day is likely to be a big `brownie’ since this is the time of year that produces big smallmouth on Wheeler.
Light line and finesse fishing specialists will find a healthy population of spotted bass in the river portion of the lake, above the Decatur Bridge. Carolina rigs, lead heads tipped with finesse worms, and even the drop shot rig are consistent spot catching techniques on Wheeler.
The most popular pattern among the contestants this week, however, is likely to be targeting largemouths on Lake Wheeler’s Decatur Flats. The Decatur Flats are expansive river flats on the North Side of Wheeler near the city of Decatur.
The area features flats and ditches in 3 to 7 feet of water. The flats are loaded with stumps and vegetation (millfoil) and provide haven for bass year round. The Decatur Flats are recognized as the most consistent bass fishing place on Wheeler and has accounted for many Wheeler tournament victories.
Swindle thinks the Decatur Flats will play a big role in this week’s FLW. “A strong south wind is about the only thing that messes the flats up,” he says. “If the weather stays stable, and the water keeps warming, there will be some good limits toted off of those flats,” says Swindle.
Rattling lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, and small diving crankbaits are popular lures for covering water on the Decatur Flats.
The last time the FLW visited Wheeler was in 1998. Randy Howell won with 9 pounds, 11 ounces. During that event, 20th place after two days was 18 pounds, 11 ounces.
This year Swindle believes it will take between 18 and 20 pounds to make the initial cut, about 8 to 9 for the final cut, and 13 to 14 pounds to win.
Despite frigid digits during the nights, the forecast calls for sunny skies and daytime highs climbing into the 50’s over the next few days. At least the sun will help the anglers’ frigid digits thaw out.