Wheeler Lake’s bass fishing has surprised everyone this week. After Day 1’s “best weigh-in in the history of Wheeler Lake,” as judged by David Walker, Day 2 was almost as good, There were 95 five-bass limits weighed-in, slightly down from 100 on Day 1.
But today could be even better. Wheeler Lake’s level continues to rise. It was 555.60 on Wednesday, 555.81 today at 6 a.m.and is predicted to be 556.02 at midnight. The weather forecast calls for clouds most of the day with a strong south wind building up to 20 mph this afternoon. There still won’t be much current in the lake, as only one of Wheeler Dam’s 11 generators is running, and that isn’t forecast to change.
However, it’s that water level that seems to be magic this time of year at Wheeler. There’s a theory by longtime observers of this fishery that the bass don’t spawn according to the water temperature here as much as they do the water level.
“I’m confused by it,” said Dave Lefebre, who leads after two days with 39-15. “I feel like things are pre-spawn. I might have even said in an interview before the tournament that they’ve got the post-spawn blues. That’s what it seemed like as far as the fishing.
“But really I think they’re pre-spawn. I haven’t seen one ball of fry. I’m eagle-eye up there. I can see the bottom in places, and I don’t see any beds, even though the water temperature was 77 degrees (Friday). I think they’re waiting for the water to come up. I’ve heard about that in these Alabama lakes in the past, where they wait for it to come up before they move in.
“I’m sure a lot of fish have spawned, but in the area I’m in, I don’t think they have. I think they’re coming to me.”
And Lefebre has noticed the rising water level at Wheeler, saying, “I couldn’t even get my boat in Monday where I’m catching ’em now.”