Located in Cherokee County, Alabama and Floyd County, Georgia, Weiss Lake covers 30,200 acres and sits at an elevation of 564 feet above sea level. Weiss Lake gets fed by the Chattooga River, Coosa River, and Little River, but it is the impoundment of the Coosa River by the Weiss Dam that created the lake.
Weiss Lake is surrounded by numerous parks, beaches, campgrounds, cabins, and rentals that make it a popular destination for day trips or vacations. One of the most popular activities at Weiss Lake, however, is fishing. Known as the “Crappie Fishing Capital of the World,” Weiss lake has an abundance of popular sportfish, and there are often fishing tournaments that help keep up-to-date information on the population structure of these desired fishes.
There are currently four free public marinas and 37 privately run marinas at the lake as well as multiple boat ramps and fishing piers that allow for plenty of easy opportunities to spot and catch fish. Below are the most common types of fish that are found in Weiss Lake.
Weiss Lake Fish Species
1) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Black crappies are incredibly common in Weiss Lake, as they enjoy still, clear waters, and they are best caught during the months of February through April. Black crappies have compressed bodies that are darker green on the back with dark mottling on the silvery sides. They also have 7 – 8 spines on their dorsal fins, which distinguishes them from white crappies, which have 5 – 6 spines.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, so the males tend to be larger and darker than the females. Black crappies typically grow to about 8 – 12 inches and weigh 0.25 – 1 pounds, although they are often 2 – 3 pounds in Weiss Lake. These fish are able to see relatively well in the dark, so they will generally hunt during the night or early morning for small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
2) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
White crappies are another abundant fish at Weiss Lake, and the best chances of finding these fish are in highly vegetated areas near windier shorelines. This species has compressed bodies that are silvery-olive on the back and silvery-white on the belly. These fish have dark vertical bands along the sides of their bodies, and their gill covers have spines.
During breeding season, males will look slightly different than females because the males will develop a dark throat. White crappies average about 9 – 10 inches long and are around 2 pounds as adults, but it is common to find crappies in the 2 – 3 pound range at Weiss Lake. These fish generally eat smaller fishes like minnows or shad, but they will also eat insects like mayflies. The current daily creel limit for crappies is 30 fish in Alabama, and in Weiss Lake, all crappies in possession must be over 10 inches in length.
3) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth bass are highly abundant in Weiss Lake, but not many are aware of just how plentiful and large these fish are in the area. Largemouth bass get their name from their mouth, which extends past the eye, unlike smallmouth bass.
Largemouth bass have olive-green bodies with dark mottling along the back and speckles along the sides. This species typically grows to about 15 – 18 inches long in Weiss Lake, although the largest largemouth ever recorded was 22 pounds and 4 ounces. Largemouths are carnivores that primarily feed on crayfish but will also eat other fishes and insects.
4) Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
Spotted bass enjoy very clear waters, so parts of Weiss Lake are a perfect habitat for these fish. They will often be found deeper than largemouth bass in areas with rocky bottoms and steeply sloping sides. This species has an olive-green back that fades to silvery sides and a light belly. Spotted bass gets their name from the rows of small dark spots that line their belly.
These fish average around 10 – 17 inches in length, and they weigh 0.5 – 3.5 pounds. Spotted bass also have a tooth patch on their tongues, which helps them eat crayfish, insects, and smaller fishes. The daily creel limit for all black bass species combined in Alabama is 10 fish.
5) White bass (Morone chrysops)
White bass are found in Weiss Lake near channel breaks or along the dam, where the water has a slight current. These fish are a silvery white color, and they wear 6 – 8 black stripes laterally across their bodies. They have an underbite mouth, much like the largemouth bass; however, white bass are more closely related to striped bass.
White bass are mid-sized fish, and they average about 12 – 14 inches in length and weigh around two pounds. This species is highly aggressive when it comes to feeding, and schools of white bass will hunt together for items such as gizzard shad, perch, carp, and other fish species. There is a 15-fish daily creel limit for white bass in Weiss Lake.
6) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
Striped bass are an extremely popular sportfish that are stocked in the Coosa River and in Weiss Lake, and they can be found in waters that are cool, clear, and deep. Striped bass have bodies that are laterally compressed with green or blue backs and silver iridescent sides. These fish also have 6 – 9 black stripes that run horizontally across the body.
Striped bass are larger fish that can grow to about 2 – 3 feet in length and weigh between 10 – 30 pounds, although it is not uncommon to catch striped bass that weigh over 25 pounds in Weiss Lake! This species is generally piscivorous and will hunt for other fishes at night.
7) Hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops)
Striped bass hybrids, also known as wipers, are crosses between striped bass and white bass, and they are produced in hatcheries in order to be stocked in bodies of water like Weiss Lake. These fish prefer waters similar to that of true striped bass in areas that are cool, clear, and deep. Striped bass hybrids have bodies that are laterally compressed and are silver in color with broken dark horizontal lines. This hybrid also has an arched back, much like white bass, in addition to two tongue patches, which they inherit from the striped bass.
Striped bass hybrids grow very rapidly, and they can reach 18 – 20 pounds by eight years of age. These fish travel in schools, and will hunt for items such as shad, minnows, crustaceans and insects. The daily creel limit for striped bass and hybrid striped bass is 15 fish.
8) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are a common sunfish in North America, and they can be found in shallow, vegetated areas of lakes as juveniles, but adults will tend to be in deeper waters during the day. These fish are characterized by having disk-shaped bodies with an olive-green back, an orangish-yellow belly, and a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin. Bluegills get their name from the bluish hue surrounding the gill covers.
This species averages around 7.5 inches in length and weighs around half a pound as adults. These fish have very little mouths, so they will only eat smaller prey such as zooplankton, insects, worms, and snails. Bluegills are a main source of food for many larger fish species such as largemouth bass, so they have adapted to be maneuverable. For instance, this species can make very quick stops by spreading out their pectoral fins.
9) Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
Longear sunfish like the cooler, clear waters of Weiss Lake, where there is plenty of coverings to hide in. This species closely resembles other panfish, but they have a few distinguishing characteristics. One characteristic is that they have orangey-red bodies that are covered in light blue spots. This species also has an elongated ear flap that lacks a dot, unlike pumpkinseed sunfish. Longear sunfish also have a blue streak on the top of their mouths that other panfish do not have.
These fish average about 5 – 8 inches long and weigh around six ounces. Unlike many other sunfish, longear sunfish like to feed near the surface of the water on aquatic insects, microcrustaceans, fish eggs, and juvenile fishes.
10) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Redear sunfish are found in Weiss Lake in areas where the water is warmer and has a moderate amount of cover. These fish have laterally compressed bodies that are usually green, gray, or olive, and they will sometimes have dark flecks and vertical lines along the length of them. Redear sunfish get their name from their black opercular (ear) flap that has a bright red border in males and an orange border for females.
This species can grow up to 12 inches long and generally weigh under two pounds. Redear sunfish are benthic feeders, and once they become adults and develop a strong jaw, they will almost exclusively feed on aquatic snails. These fish are slightly harder to catch than bluegills, but they are still willing to bite many kinds of bait, making sunfish a perfect starter fish for new anglers.
11) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel catfish are one of the most abundant types of catfish in the United States, and they are commonly seen in lakes and rivers. This species can be found near covered areas and the shoreline of Weiss Lake. Like all catfish, the channel catfish does not have scales and has barbels on the upper and lower jaw; however, the channel catfish can be distinguished by its deeply forked tail, silvery body, and overbite.
These fish grow to about 10 – 20 inches long and weigh anywhere from 2 – 10 pounds. Catfish tend to eat quite a bit of food, so they use their barbels covered in taste buds to sense their surroundings and find food like snails, fishes, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic plants, and possibly birds.
12) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
Blue catfish are a close relative of channel catfish, and they are commonly found in Weiss Lake. This species can be found near similar areas as the channel catfish, but they are slightly less common to find. These fish have a blueish-gray back that fades to a white belly, and they possess no spots, unlike channel catfish.
Blue catfish generally range between 20 – 60 inches in length, and have an average weight of around 20 – 50 pounds; however, they can easily reach 100 or more pounds if they are older. Blue catfish have jaws lined with tiny teeth that help them eat just about anything they can catch including insects, fish, worms, and crustaceans.
13) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Flathead catfish can be found in areas of Weiss Lake where there are plenty of rocky or woody coverings and deeper waters. Flathead catfish are generally bigger than channel catfish, and flatheads are a mottled brown color with a square tail and an underbite. This species, like the channel catfish, has barbs on their dorsal and pectoral fins, which are used to poke predators or humans that may have startled them.
This species usually averages 20 – 30 inches in length, and they can exceed 100 pounds. Flatheads are fierce carnivores, and they typically prey on a variety of fish species such as drum, shad and other catfish species including their own. There is currently no creel limit on any catfish below 34 inches in length in Alabama, but only one catfish that exceeds 34 inches can be taken.
14) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
Freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, is a fish that will most likely be found in the shallow, muddy waters of Weiss Lake. This species gets its name from the drumming or croaking noise males can make with a specific muscle in their body to attract mates. Freshwater drum are characterized by their silver bodies with a lateral line that extends all the way through their caudal fin. They also have a steeply sloping body that gives them the appearance of having a humpback.
This species averages about 10 – 14 inches long and will usually weigh up to five pounds. Drum have large teeth that help them eat a variety of prey at the bottom of the lake including snails, insects, small fish, and invasive zebra mussels.
