Spotted Bass Action this Fall on Lake Jordan

By Eileen Davis 

Jordan, the last lake in the fertile Coosa River chain of lakes, has a reputation as a spotted bass factory. When biologists sample this impoundment, they report seeing more 5-plus-pound spots than anywhere else. Like the other lakes on the Coosa, Jordan also has a good largemouth bass fisheries.

Veteran guide and winning tournament angler John Pollard  of Eclectic says that as the water cools on Jordan anglers can expect to catch good numbers of spotted bass weighing 2 to 3 pounds, several 3 to 4 pounders and an occasional 5 pounder.

“When water temperatures fall into the lower 70s,” Pollard said, “shad begin to leave deepwater, and you will start seeing pods on the surface. Soon after that, they will start migrating into the creeks and sloughs between the dam and Blackwell Slough. Of course, spotted bass follow them.

“Every day is different. The schools of bass busting shad can be large, and other times, it will be a wolf pack of two or three spotted bass. Often, these fish are easier to catch than the big schools you see in the pockets that are hitting everywhere. Anglers will catch bigger spots fishing the wolf packs instead of huge schools.”

When fishing is exceptional, Pollard says the topwater action can last all day. Most days, though, it’s best in the morning and evening. Pollard won many of his fall tournaments by catching schooling fish in the first 90 minutes of the day.

Pollard’s lure selection includes a Pointer 78 jerkbait, a Lucky Craft Sammy walking bait, a 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap and an Alabama Rig, which he dresses with 3.8-inch Keitech Sexy Shad on 3/8-ounce jig heads. Pollard fishes the rig on a flipping stick with 50-pound-test braided line.

To target largemouth, the guide moves to fish the grass in the same creeks and sloughs where he is catching spotted bass.

“When you find active largemouth,” Pollard said, “they are usually in the front edge of the grass. Parallel the grass looking for shad activity and you will catch largemouth and spots in the same area. Throw either a belly rigged swimbait or a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait into the grass.”

To book a fishing trip with Pollard visit  www.bamaspots.com.

For information on the many attractions and outdoor recrational opportunities near Wetumpka visit www.wetumpkaal.gov.

Read more about how successful anglers find and catch Bama’s fish.