Fishing Report For Wilson Lake, AL

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Spring was an excellent time to catch smallmouth bass here, especially in the tailwaters of the Wheeler Dam. With water temperatures now in the low to mid 70's, smallies have finished the spawning rituals and are feeding aggressively. Anglers are finding smallmouth just outside spawning areas, on points and drop-offs. Mid-range crankbaits, jerkbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits are popular smallie lures here. The average fish is around 1 1/2 pound, but plenty of 3 to 6 pound smallies are being caught. Smallmouth fishing can be very good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days. Early and late in the day topwater can be effective throughout the Summer months.

Current Report: Good

While the prime crappie season of Spring is over, there are still plenty of crappie being caught. Expect to find them in 10 to 15 feet of water. Docks, brush, wood and the edges of steep banks below drop-offs are good places to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Anglers using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, are finding and catching many of the bigger slabs.

Current Report: Good

The lake is best known for smallmouth, but there are plenty of quality largemouth being caught as well, including bragging size over 7 pounds. Bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. The largemouth have also spawned, and are feeding heavily outside spawning bays. They are holding on points and ledges 10 to 15 feet deep, and moving shallow for short periods to feed. Most anglers are catching bass on rocky shores and around boulders. Soon, they will move deeper as the water warms, and feed on shad 20 to 30 feet deep. Several lures are catching nice largemouth bass here, with small swimbaits working at all depths, vibrating jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are effective shallow. Jigs and wacky-rigged stick worms are catching wary bass from shallow to 25 feet.