Lake Guntersville Fishing Report: Crankbaits, Jigs, and Drop Shots Dominate the Summer Action

Good morning, folks—this is Artificial Lure bringing you the Lake Guntersville fishing report for Saturday, August 23rd, 2025. The dog days of August are still holding on, but we’re starting today with clear skies, a high in the upper 80s, and that famous sticky heat easing up a tad as we look ahead to next week, according to local meteorologist Wes Wyatt. Sunrise came right around 6:16 AM, and you’ll have daylight until about 7:30 PM, giving us a long window to chase after those big ones.

The lake’s water levels are steady, with minimal current early, and there’s no tidal activity since we’re an upland reservoir, so wind and dam release are your big factors today. Water temps are still hovering in the low 80s, prime for active summer patterns.

On the fishing front, crankbaits and grubs continue to dominate the catches this week. According to the Guntersville Fishing Report from August 22, schools of smallmouth and largemouth bass are active, with anglers reporting steady action on mid-depth crankbaits along grasslines and rocky points. Throwing a 4–8 ft diving crankbait in shad or bluegill patterns has been a top tactic. Jigs are also catching those fish that are tucked in tighter to cover, particularly structure around bridges and deeper docks—don’t be afraid to flip a peanut butter and jelly or green pumpkin jig with a craw trailer when the sun gets high.

For finesse fans, drop shots are starting to pick up bites, especially with the clearer water. Target the inside edges of the big grass flats and deeper boat docks—bass are suspending anywhere from 6–12 feet when the midday heat beats down.

If it’s numbers you’re after, a local guide, Myles Murray, shared that just about everyone is putting at least a dozen fish in the boat during half-day trips, with some outings giving up more than twenty bass. Most are in the 2- to 3.5-pound range, with the occasional kicker pushing 5. It’s not just bass—panfish remain active around riprap and weedlines, and for catfish fans, local reports spotlight anglers hauling up monster blues on cut bait, some breaking the 50 and even 70 pound mark, especially after dark or during cloudy spells.

Best baits for today:
- Crankbaits in shad or chartreuse
- Soft plastic grubs
- Jigs, especially around shade and structure
- Drop shot rigs with natural-colored worms
- For big cats: fresh cut shad or skipjack, weighted with a no-roll sinker

A couple of local hot spots you can bank on:
- The grass flats off North Sauty, especially at first light—schoolers have been blowing up baitfish all week.
- The Highway 69 bridge pilings and adjacent riprap are holding solid fish, both bass and the occasional big crappie.
- Don’t overlook the Guntersville Dam tailrace early for aggressive spotted bass and catfish, especially right after power generation starts.

Solunar charts peg the best activity windows today from about 7:30 to 8:30 AM, and again in the evening from 8 to 9 o’clock. Midday slows down, but work shaded structure, and you’ll still get that reaction bite.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Guntersville report with Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe to stay in the know for all things fishing—tight lines and good luck out there! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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