Though this is the fishing report, it may also be of interest to outdoorsmen that the Birmingham chapter of Quail Forever has announced their annual banquet and auction will be Sept. 12, at Avondale Brewing Company, 201 41st Street South in Birmingham.
Quail Forever is to quail hunters what Ducks Unlimited is to waterfowlers, an organization dedicated to preserving and improving quail habitat and quail numbers through fundraising efforts paid for by hunters and quail conservation fans, as well as companies tied to the hunting gear industry.
The annual banquet includes a large auction of sporting art, guided hunts, shotguns, camo gear and accessories used in all aspects of quail hunting. It’s a good chance to gear up for the coming season, sometimes with some surprising bargains. There’s also the chance to enjoy some camaraderie with fellow quail hunting fans, and maybe line up a few hunts for fall. All hunters are welcome.
Tickets are $60 in advance or $65 at the door, while couples tickets costing $80 in advance and $90 at the door.
Call or text organizer Jimmy Mitchell at 256-794-2387 for details. For more on the organization, visit www.quailforever.org.
On to the fishing report:
From Lake Guntersville, Captain Mike Carter continues to whack jumbo bass with the jumbo Wake Shad lure, fishing it over scattered grass in 2 to 4 foot depths in the first hours of daylight—a recent lunker went close to 7 pounds. Carter has also been running some night trips out of Goose Pond with good results, finding bass in the 5-pound class for his clients on large dark-colored spinnerbaits. Carter says cooler temperatures and less traffic on the lake after sundown greatly improves the bite; www.anglingadventures.info.
Also from Guntersville, Captain Mike Gerry reports continued good fishing, for August, during the first hours of daylight and on days when clouds and wind create better conditions for a bite. He said most action has been over scattered grass at depths to 10 feet, with good topwater action on the Picasso Buzzbait and the Pop-R, and on bottom with a jumbo plastic worm later in the day. He said minimal current has been flowing in the lake on most days, slowing the bite after the early hours; www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com.
From Pickwick, Captain Brian Barton reports the heat has chased a lot of anglers off the water, but there’s still a very good bite on eating size catfish on cut shad or skipjack in the fast water below Wilson Dam most days, and both largemouths and white bass are schooling in this area just before sundown—topwater lures get them. During the heat of the day, the bass are mostly at 20 feet and more on the shell bars and ledges—jigs and flutter spoons will catch some of them, says Barton; www.brianoutdoors.com.
From Weiss Lake, guide Mark Collins reports bass have gone deep and the bite is fair for those who work submerged road beds, ledges and main lake points with crankbaits and jigs. He said crappie fishing is fair with fish mostly on deep water brush during the day. Some crappies are being caught under lights at night, as well, on live minnows; www.markcollinsguideservice.com.
From Smith Lake, night fishing is also a good bet for both spotted bass, on main lake points and around the herring schools on swimbaits and crankbaits, and for stripers, around lighted boat docks with live minnows or shad, or white bucktail jigs. Despite the heat, trout continue to bite in the cold water coming out of the bottom of the dam—catch them on worms or Berkley Trout Bait on size 10 hooks under a bubble float. Fishing piers off the dam access road make it easy to get to the water here, just above the S.R. 69 bridge; www.riversideflyshop.com.
From the coast, best bet is to fish around the bait schools in lower Mobile Bay, behind Dauphin Island and in Mississippi Sound. Live shrimp under a popping cork is a sure thing for trout when you find a slick or diving birds. Spanish and kings remain active off the beach and from the piers, and a few tarpon are still prowling the surf, as well; www.ateamfishing.com.