Shane Ellis Fishing Service

Guntersville FIshing Charter February 1st Guntersville bass fishing report: Weather is a tertiary factor relative to bass behavior
North Alabama is experiencing historic cold weather however the bass are biting great due to current and water color. Most anglers think weather is the primary factor that effects bass behavior but it absolutely is not. At Christmas it was 75 degrees and the fish are biting better now in freezing cold weather. Water color is a primary factor that effects bass behavior and depth year around. Current on a river system is probably the most important factor relative to the feeding activity of bass. Warm weather is in the forecast for next week and that will help but the primary factors are excellent at the moment which has yielded spectacular fishing. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 26th Guntersville bass fishing report: How to tackle an extreme cold front
At Christmas it was 70 degrees and we were fishing in shorts and T-shirts. A month later we are in a historic cold front. The fishing has been really good on the days the weather allows us to get out on the lake. The water temp was in the mid 50s a few weeks ago now it's in the 30s. Will they bite?yes. Do you have to change it up a bit?yes. The fish will not retreat to the river channel and become dormant but they will move. We had a similar situation last year and here is how I caught the them. The shallow prespawn fish moved to the outside grasslines in about 7 feet of water and I caught them on a jerkbait by pausing it near groups of bass I could see on active target. If you want to fish with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 18th Guntersville bass fishing report: Nature is protecting the bass
We have some extreme weather on the way. This weather decreases fishing pressure greatly allowing the bass to feed up for the spawn and get healthy without being fished for. Nature protects itself in many ways and this is one of them. The bass can get into their prespawn areas and add weight so they can endure a stressful spawning phase. After this weather pattern clears up I would expect phenomenal fishing. Many fish are already moving shallow positioning themselves strategically to spawn when the conditions are right. What conditions? Water temp,water level, length of day, moon phase,stable weather are all major factors that determine when they make that last move up on the beds. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 12th Guntersville bass fishing report: Bass Pro Tour week updated

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 12th Guntersville bass fishing report: Bass Pro Tour week
What to expect with the Bass Pro Tour in town and a cold front approaching. The world is about to find out guntersville is hot when the weather is cold. Recent rain has added color and current which will help immensely. I expect minnow shaking to be a great pattern as well as traditional methods like jerkbaits, crankbaits, traps and chatterbaits. If you think you have to go deep in the winter you are about to be surprised by how shallow most fish will be caught. I expect some anglers to get close to or surpass the 100 lb mark for a one day total. The best bass fishing venue in the world will be on full display this week. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 5th Guntersville bass fishing report: Fish faster updated

Guntersville FIshing Charter January 5th Guntersville bass fishing report: Fish faster
It's cold the bass are lethargic it's time to slow down. WRONG!!! The bass are preparing for the spawn by eating as much as possible to try survive a stressful spring. Be aggressive,fish fast and look for feeding fish. December was by far my best month of the year and I fish fast and aggressively. I am constantly looking for a group of big ones that bite. As we get closer to the spawn the fish will feed more often and for longer periods of time. If grandpa told you to fish slow in the winter he was wrong. Use your electronics to locate feeding fish and attack them. Don't slow down in the winter. Speed up!!!! If you would like to fish a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter December 29th Guntersville bass fishing report: Suspended fish
This week was excellent weather and fishing but adjusting to the conditions was the key. I guided almost everyday and I saw these fish change their behavior as the water warmed. With the cooler water the bass were positioned lower in the water column but as the water warmed they moved vertically and by Saturday they were just under the surface often in deep water. With todays technology catching these fish is easy but 10 years ago it would have been impossible. The best way to locate these suspended fish is by finding bait with side imaging however some of these fish were suspended 3-5 feet down in 15-20 feet of water with no presence of baitfish. Yes those are the finicky ones but they can be caught. A 5 gram jighead with a 6 inch minnow type bait allows you to keep that bait up in the water column where the bass can eat it. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter December 22nd Guntersville bass fishing report: 3 different patterns are producing
The warmer weather has us out on the lake guiding everyday. It has been productive but you must adapt to the conditions. As a fulltime guide I spend a ton of time analyzing water level,generation schedules,moon phases,weather patterns,wind direction and historical data. I script my first few hours each day then I adjust based on how the fish are positioning. At the moment we are using 3 different patterns: bluff walls, nomadic roamers following bait and prespawners. The best baits are an arig on the bluffs,a minnow type bait with scope and a jerkbait for prespawn fish. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185. 

Guntersville FIshing Charter December 15th Guntersville bass fishing report: 10 days of 65 degree weather at Christmas!!!
We are about to have extremely warm consistent weather for Christmas. The excellent fishing we have experienced all month long is about to get even better. Last week I did a guide trip where we caught so many 4lb fish our hands got tired. If you want to experience phenomenal winter bass fishing it's on the way. A warm front after a cold front is best case scenario for December and January fishing on a 70,000 acre grass flat like guntersville. The millfoil is showing up all over the lake and it's green and healthy. It doesn't float on top like eel grass. Our best baits have been minnow type baits and crankbaits. If you are interested in fishing with a USCG licensed captain call 256-744-5185.