Thread: Weiss Lake - What needs to be done to make it better ?

Enforcement of the present laws would help out alot.......we were out yesterday on wheeler and saw several boats keeping small fish. when the fish is small and the fisherman don't put it on the measureing board,,,he is not too worried about getting caught.
We as fishermen need to police ourselves also,,,,,keep what you need and release the rest. I love battered & fried just like everyone else,,but when the frezzer is full,,,,let them swim and make more!!!

I share my time between my home lake, Lake Guntersville, and Weiss Lake. I will not disagree with anyone regarding the need to give serious thought to lowering the daily limits, or perhaps increasing the slot size, but I have to really strongly agree with what has been said about enforcing the rules that Weiss already has in place. In 15 years fishing on Weiss, I have been checked a grand total of twice. I do not mind being stopped and checked because I know I am not doing anything wrong. Let's face it, if you can't abide by the slot and creel limits, fish with only three rods per person in the boat, and keep your throw cushion and life jackets accessible, you have issues.

My other big gripe is the lack of good, decent, clean accommodations. I don't profess to have visited every campground at Weiss. I have no doubt there are many who work hard to maintain their facilities and provide good service. That being said, I have been to quite a number of the campgrounds that are more readily accessible to the Leesburg/Centre areas, and I would not bathe a hog in most of the bathroom facilities. The campground sites are in extremely poor condition, water and power service in insufficient, and many of the campers that are there look like the have not been moved in a decade. I won't even get started on how badly the Coosa Corner store has gone down hill in the last five years. That place used to be great for all our food, drink, bait, tackle, etc. needs. Now you go in there and will be lucky to find a cold drink and a pack of crackers that isn't out of date.

If you are going to ask people to come spend their time and money in any town or community, especially in the current economy, it should not be too much to ask that they be supplied with accommodations and facilities that are worth it.

I apologize if I have said anything to offend anyone.

Need to get with Weiss Lake Improvment about reducing the limit. They know the folks with Alabama Game and Fish that could start the process.

Just an outsider's opinion because I have only fished there once. If the regulations are not enforced, the limit might as well be 1. We have very liberal limits here in GA, and yet they are abused regularly. I would imagine the DNR in AL has had budget set backs the same as here in GA. We have seeen less DNR patroling on the lakes and the woods. Even in FL where the fines are higher than surrounding states, the over harvesting continues. Regardless of how we feel as concerned anglers about law changes, the largest impact will be from what we do as individuals. Let the larger females go to reproduce the quality genetics, keep fewer fish all together, and report the boat numbers to the DNR of those we see over harvesting or other violations. A camera and a cell phone would be a good start. Similar to what can be done to skii boats that get to close. Most of us concerned anglers are already more than likely being more mindfull of what we do. I hope the impact on Weiss improves the fishing. I hope we can do the same over here. Sorry for the long post.....

i think everyone that places structure into the lake and has placed structure into the should have to provide all of us the gps coordinates. i think that would make it much better for the rest of us that has to work real jobs all the time.

I have been a guide on Weiss Lake for many years and have worked hard to help inprove the lake in every way possible. I DO NOT FISH with more rods than the law allows and I DO NOT KEEP SHORT FISH. Anyone that has ever fished with me will tell you the same thing. I have seen guides fish with more than 3 rods but I have also many more with out of state regeristration doing the same thing. I average about 200 days a year on the water and have only been checked 3 times (ever). I have seen people bring limits in and drop them off at a fish cleaning station and go back out fishing.
The only cure for our problem is enforcement of the law. If this is done the Limit of 30 fish will work, but until this happens a limit of any number is only in vane because the ones that are breaking the law will keep anything they catch.

Ijust want to say AMEN! to what BamaMike931 posted earlier....I agree totally with EVERYTHING he said there....especially about the coosa corner......that place was a fisherman's paradise at one time (when it was Leesburg Citgo)...I wish that they would either cook or get the heck out of the kitchen and let somebody else run the place........and I also give him a big +1 on the facilities issues

Originally Posted by BVdockshooter

Ijust want to say AMEN! to what BamaMike931 posted earlier....I agree totally with EVERYTHING he said there....especially about the coosa corner......that place was a fisherman's paradise at one time (when it was Leesburg Citgo)...I wish that they would either cook or get the heck out of the kitchen and let somebody else run the place........and I also give him a big +1 on the facilities issues

The Leesburg Citgo (aka Cossa Corner) was a great place @ one time, but the previous owner passed away a few years ago & the store has not been the same. They have built a very nice boat launch @ the end of the road beside it tho. I look for Leesburg to improve conditions since it has gone wet. When I used to guide, it was always an issue because alot of ppl like to have a cold beer when their fishing, in a dry county it's a violation of the prohibition law & the boat owner (guide) is responsable for alcohol on the boat. More than once I have had to tell ppl to take coolers back to their truck because I didn't want to go to jail.