Storms swell Neely Henry Lake

The scene is the playing field for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. The gallery was shot on Wednesday, the final practice day. From Sunday evening until Tuesday afternoon, heavy rain fell across the area, creating high, muddy conditions. Take a tour of the lake and you can see for yourself. 
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<em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
The scene is the playing field for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. The gallery was shot on Wednesday, the final practice day. From Sunday evening until Tuesday afternoon, heavy rain fell across the area, creating high, muddy conditions. Take a tour of the lake and you can see for yourself.
All captions: Craig Lamb
My tour guide and narrator is Justin Elliott, a member of the Skeeter Boats demo team, and a local angler who grew up fishing the river. Our first stop is what the locals call Golf Course slough, which runs through an 18-hole golf course.
My tour guide and narrator is Justin Elliott, a member of the Skeeter Boats demo team, and a local angler who grew up fishing the river. Our first stop is what the locals call Golf Course slough, which runs through an 18-hole golf course.
Elliott told me the slough has ample area for an angler to capitalize on what could be a productive grass bite.
Elliott told me the slough has ample area for an angler to capitalize on what could be a productive grass bite.
The slough is filled with what he described as Coosa grass, which grows on the shoreline, and is not submergent vegetation like hydrilla or milfoil.
The slough is filled with what he described as Coosa grass, which grows on the shoreline, and is not submergent vegetation like hydrilla or milfoil.
Look in the background and you can see why Golf Course slough could be a player. The slough extends far away from the main river channel, and away from its muddy water.
Look in the background and you can see why Golf Course slough could be a player. The slough extends far away from the main river channel, and away from its muddy water.
The background is the outskirts of downtown Gadsden. In the foreground is the muddy river, where we dodged quite a few floaters. Elliott said the water level had gone up at least 2 feet overnight.
The background is the outskirts of downtown Gadsden. In the foreground is the muddy river, where we dodged quite a few floaters. Elliott said the water level had gone up at least 2 feet overnight.
Our next stop is Hurshburg Creek, a large, open slough located off the main river that features two arms. This is the arm to the west. There is less current, which equates to better boat control compared to the main river channel.
Our next stop is Hurshburg Creek, a large, open slough located off the main river that features two arms. This is the arm to the west. There is less current, which equates to better boat control compared to the main river channel.
On the other arm are boat docks, some of which are flooded as you can see. Elliott told me that clear water will be a high value commodity this week. “This river won’t clear up by Sunday,” he told me.
On the other arm are boat docks, some of which are flooded as you can see. Elliott told me that clear water will be a high value commodity this week. “This river won’t clear up by Sunday,” he told me.
Here is the key draw to Hurshburg Creek. The creek has an abundant growth of the Coosa grass as called by Elliott. Problem is, it grows on the shoreline and is covered up by the muddy water. He told me this grass extends far out into the slough, when the water level is more conducive for a grass bite.
Here is the key draw to Hurshburg Creek. The creek has an abundant growth of the Coosa grass as called by Elliott. Problem is, it grows on the shoreline and is covered up by the muddy water. He told me this grass extends far out into the slough, when the water level is more conducive for a grass bite.
“By the weekend, the shoreline should be visible along that treeline,” he said. “The problem now is the bass, what there are back there, are far back into the flooded area, which will make them difficult to bring out.” That means things can only get better as the water comes down, bringing with it the bait and bass.
“By the weekend, the shoreline should be visible along that treeline,” he said. “The problem now is the bass, what there are back there, are far back into the flooded area, which will make them difficult to bring out.” That means things can only get better as the water comes down, bringing with it the bait and bass.
Our next stop is the most interesting of the trip. This is Minnesota Bend.
Our next stop is the most interesting of the trip. This is Minnesota Bend.
“What happens here is all the water coming downriver gets backed up and can’t get through this pinch point in the channel,” he said. “It backs up above the bend, and it floods.” The bottom is 80 feet from the surface along the bluff, where the house is visible. To the left it’s only a few feet deep, and thus, the funnel effect.
“What happens here is all the water coming downriver gets backed up and can’t get through this pinch point in the channel,” he said. “It backs up above the bend, and it floods.” The bottom is 80 feet from the surface along the bluff, where the house is visible. To the left it’s only a few feet deep, and thus, the funnel effect.
This is the lower side of Minnesota Bend. There can be as much as a 3-foot drop between above the bend and where the water spreads back out across the wider channel.
This is the lower side of Minnesota Bend. There can be as much as a 3-foot drop between above the bend and where the water spreads back out across the wider channel.
You can also see another feature of Minnesota Bend, punctuated by the swift water. The depth varies between 70 and 40 feet on the bottom. Even at that depth, you can see where the current is smoothed out as it crosses over massive boulders on the bottom.
You can also see another feature of Minnesota Bend, punctuated by the swift water. The depth varies between 70 and 40 feet on the bottom. Even at that depth, you can see where the current is smoothed out as it crosses over massive boulders on the bottom.
Elliott told me backwater sloughs could be a main player and the reason why is clearer water and less current. You can find both in this area.
Elliott told me backwater sloughs could be a main player and the reason why is clearer water and less current. You can find both in this area.
This slough has docks and more shoreline grass. This is the aerial view.
This slough has docks and more shoreline grass. This is the aerial view.
Here is the map view of the same location. Elliott called this spot the “Sneak Hole,” for its obscure location and narrow passageway off the channel.
Here is the map view of the same location. Elliott called this spot the “Sneak Hole,” for its obscure location and narrow passageway off the channel.
This is an adjacent slough, which provides another view of the sloughs that could come into play.
This is an adjacent slough, which provides another view of the sloughs that could come into play.
This photo is a good example of what’s going on right now. The mixing of the waters, where clearer water is being drawn by the swift current, into the muddier river channel.
This photo is a good example of what’s going on right now. The mixing of the waters, where clearer water is being drawn by the swift current, into the muddier river channel.
In this photo you can definitely tell the difference in water clarity between the river channel and the sloughs.
In this photo you can definitely tell the difference in water clarity between the river channel and the sloughs.
And many of those sloughs have plenty of area to capitalize on a clear water bite with docks and grass.
And many of those sloughs have plenty of area to capitalize on a clear water bite with docks and grass.