10 January 2026
Guntersville Bass Bonanza: Crankbaits, Chatterbaits and Lipless Cranks Dominate the Winter Bite
Lake Guntersville, Alabama Fishing Report Today
About
Name’s Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Guntersville fishing report.
We’re locked in a classic North Alabama mid‑winter pattern. According to FishingReminder, first light came just after 6:30 and sunrise hit a little before 7. Sunset’s around 5 this evening, so you’ve got a short window of true daylight. The bite windows line up well with that: minor feed early, roughly 6 to 8 a.m., a strong midday major around late morning through early afternoon, then another minor push right before dark. Moon phase is near new, which usually helps the daytime bite on Guntersville.
Weather across the TVA stretch is cold and stable: crisp morning in the low 30s warming into the 40s, light north to northwest breeze, high pressure settling in. That kind of bluebird sky can make ‘em a little finicky in the grass, but it really sets up the offshore grass edges, channel swings, and shell beds. Tides don’t matter here like the Coast, but current from Guntersville Dam does. TVA’s been pulsing enough flow that the lower‑end river ledges and bends below the dam are fishing well when they’re pulling water.
Recent reports from local guides and tournament guys say numbers have been solid with a few quality fish mixed in. Folks are boating 15–20 bass on a good outing, with several in that 3–5 pound range and the occasional 6‑plus. Below the dam, anglers are catching mixed bags – largemouth, spots, a few smallmouth, plus stripers and hybrids when the current’s rolling.
Best producers right now are no surprise for January Guntersville. Local sticks and national pros alike have been leaning on:
- **Red lipless crankbaits** (½ to ¾ ounce) burned and yo‑yoed over dying grass – think Rayburn Red, craw patterns, anything with orange in it. Major League Fishing coverage has been hammering on how Guntersville in winter is famous for that lipless bite.
- **Shad‑pattern ChatterBaits and vibrating jigs** slow‑rolled through submerged grass and along the edges.
- **Shallow to mid‑running crankbaits** in craw and shad colors on rock, riprap, and transition banks.
- For pressured fish, **forward‑facing sonar baits**: small swimbaits, Damiki‑style jighead minnows, and jerkbaits over bait balls hanging off the grass and on deeper breaks.
If you’re more of a confidence‑bait angler, a green pumpkin or Junebug **finesse worm on a shaky head** around docks, rocky points, and creek channel bends will still put fish in the boat. Below the dam, guys are doing well with swimbaits on jigheads, heavy spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks in the current seams.
Live bait isn’t the main deal for bass, but for kids or meat runs, minnows under a float around marinas and bridges are taking crappie and the occasional spotted bass.
Couple of hot spots to keep in mind:
- **Spring Creek and Buck Island**: classic winter grass and staging areas. Focus on the outside grass lines, subtle points, and any scattered rock mixed with grass. Red lipless and ChatterBait all day here.
- **Guntersville Dam tailrace and the river down to Honeycomb**: when TVA’s pushing current, work eddies, seams, and bluff ends with swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks. You’ll sort through stripes and drum, but the bass are right there with ‘em.
If you’re launching out of Guntersville Marina or Alred, start on nearby grass flats at first light with a lipless. Once the sun gets up and the fish slide off, back out to the first break and chase them with a jerkbait or small swimbait you can watch on your electronics.
That’s your Lake Guntersville rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s report.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
We’re locked in a classic North Alabama mid‑winter pattern. According to FishingReminder, first light came just after 6:30 and sunrise hit a little before 7. Sunset’s around 5 this evening, so you’ve got a short window of true daylight. The bite windows line up well with that: minor feed early, roughly 6 to 8 a.m., a strong midday major around late morning through early afternoon, then another minor push right before dark. Moon phase is near new, which usually helps the daytime bite on Guntersville.
Weather across the TVA stretch is cold and stable: crisp morning in the low 30s warming into the 40s, light north to northwest breeze, high pressure settling in. That kind of bluebird sky can make ‘em a little finicky in the grass, but it really sets up the offshore grass edges, channel swings, and shell beds. Tides don’t matter here like the Coast, but current from Guntersville Dam does. TVA’s been pulsing enough flow that the lower‑end river ledges and bends below the dam are fishing well when they’re pulling water.
Recent reports from local guides and tournament guys say numbers have been solid with a few quality fish mixed in. Folks are boating 15–20 bass on a good outing, with several in that 3–5 pound range and the occasional 6‑plus. Below the dam, anglers are catching mixed bags – largemouth, spots, a few smallmouth, plus stripers and hybrids when the current’s rolling.
Best producers right now are no surprise for January Guntersville. Local sticks and national pros alike have been leaning on:
- **Red lipless crankbaits** (½ to ¾ ounce) burned and yo‑yoed over dying grass – think Rayburn Red, craw patterns, anything with orange in it. Major League Fishing coverage has been hammering on how Guntersville in winter is famous for that lipless bite.
- **Shad‑pattern ChatterBaits and vibrating jigs** slow‑rolled through submerged grass and along the edges.
- **Shallow to mid‑running crankbaits** in craw and shad colors on rock, riprap, and transition banks.
- For pressured fish, **forward‑facing sonar baits**: small swimbaits, Damiki‑style jighead minnows, and jerkbaits over bait balls hanging off the grass and on deeper breaks.
If you’re more of a confidence‑bait angler, a green pumpkin or Junebug **finesse worm on a shaky head** around docks, rocky points, and creek channel bends will still put fish in the boat. Below the dam, guys are doing well with swimbaits on jigheads, heavy spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks in the current seams.
Live bait isn’t the main deal for bass, but for kids or meat runs, minnows under a float around marinas and bridges are taking crappie and the occasional spotted bass.
Couple of hot spots to keep in mind:
- **Spring Creek and Buck Island**: classic winter grass and staging areas. Focus on the outside grass lines, subtle points, and any scattered rock mixed with grass. Red lipless and ChatterBait all day here.
- **Guntersville Dam tailrace and the river down to Honeycomb**: when TVA’s pushing current, work eddies, seams, and bluff ends with swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks. You’ll sort through stripes and drum, but the bass are right there with ‘em.
If you’re launching out of Guntersville Marina or Alred, start on nearby grass flats at first light with a lipless. Once the sun gets up and the fish slide off, back out to the first break and chase them with a jerkbait or small swimbait you can watch on your electronics.
That’s your Lake Guntersville rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s report.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI