How to Kayak Fish the Pre-Spawn at Lake Guntersville, Alabama

Jake Smith
4/22/25

Annual Pilgrimage to 'Bama (Roll Tide)

Each year, we pack up the kayaks, load the tackle boxes to the brim, and make the drive down to northern Alabama for what’s become a ritual: chasing big bass on legendary Lake Guntersville during the pre-spawn. It’s a trip we look forward to all year — the fish are fat, fired up, and feeding, and the lake is as rich in beauty as it is in bass.

What Makes Guntersville So Special?

Lake Guntersville is a jewel in the Tennessee River chain, stretching roughly 75 miles between Guntersville and Scottsboro in northeast Alabama. With an average depth of just 15 feet and miles of submerged grass flats, it's a textbook bass fishery. But what truly sets Guntersville apart is its consistency. Whether it's spring, summer, or fall, it offers legitimate chances at double-digit bass. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also deserves a ton of credit. Their proactive fishery management — including stocking, habitat conservation, and angler education — helps maintain a healthy and thriving bass population. That’s why Guntersville is a regular stop for major events like the Bassmaster Elite Series and why it remains a bucket list lake for bass anglers across the country.

What is the Pre-Spawn — and Why is it Prime Time?

Pre-spawn at Guntersville typically runs from late February into early April, depending on weather patterns. During this period, female bass move from deeper wintering holes toward shallow spawning flats, feeding aggressively to bulk up before laying eggs. Males follow too, looking to secure territory and guard beds. For anglers, this is the sweet spot. The bass are shallow enough to target from kayaks, yet fired up enough to chase reaction baits. And when you find them? You’re often into a pile of fish, not just one or two.

Fishing the Grass Flats 

Guntersville is famous for its expansive submerged grass beds — hydrilla, milfoil, and eelgrass dominate the underwater landscape. These flats serve as transition zones during the pre-spawn, providing cover and ambush points as bass move in from the channel. We focused on these zones hard. Using our sonar setups on the Feelfree Lure kayaks, we scanned for subtle contours, inside grass edges, and hard spots mixed within the weeds — all prime real estate for staging pre-spawners. We found that even a slight depth change, like 12 to 9 feet, could make all the difference. When you find scattered grass and baitfish on your graph, it’s game on.

What Worked: Lures, Colors & Cadence 

Lipless cranks (rattletraps) are tried and true on Guntersville. We leaned heavily on 1/2 oz lipless crankbaits in red and craw patterns. The key was ripping them through the grass — you’d feel it load up slightly with weeds, then give it a quick pop to clear the bait, and boom, that’s usually when they hit. The strike was violent. Chatterbaits Bladed jigs also produced really well, especially when the wind picked up. We paired them with swimbait trailers to add some bulk and used darker colors like black and blue or green pumpkin/red flake in dirtier water. Running them just over the grass line triggered some aggressive reaction bites. Color Note: Red Everything - don’t overthink it. In that cold, stained early-season water, red is king. From rattletraps to squarebills to chatterbaits, red just got bit more often. There’s something about it in the pre-spawn that bass can’t resist.

Bonus Tip: Waterfront Bay Grocery & Tackle

Right across from the Waterfront boat ramp, Waterfront Bay Grocery is a hidden gem. We came to Alabama fully loaded with gear, but every one of us still walked out of there with something new. Whether it's a hot local bait color or a must-try trailer, they’ve got it. Plus, they’ve got gas and hot food to keep you going.

Kayak Fishing Guntersville: Versatility is Everything

Over the course of the trip, we fished just about every weather condition Guntersville could throw at us — from glassy calm mornings to gusty 25 mph afternoons with rollers breaking over our bows. But the kayaks handled it all. The beauty of Guntersville lies in its layout. While the main river channel offers wide-open water and big-fish potential on calm days, there are also dozens of sheltered pockets, creeks, and bays tucked along the edges — perfect hideouts when the wind kicks up. That flexibility is huge for kayak anglers. We could launch from different access points, adapt to the weather, and stay on fish no matter the conditions. One day, Craig and I paddled deep into a shallow cove that no bass boat could’ve reached. Thick hydrilla mats, just 2-3 feet of water, and boom — Craig stuck a tank of a largemouth, hunkered down under the vegetation. These are the kind of moments that make kayak fishing so rewarding.

Tech on the Water: Sonar on the Lure

We outfitted our Lure kayaks with sonar systems that helped us locate submerged grass, bait clouds, and bottom transitions. That information was key. Without it, you’re just casting blind into a 75-mile lake. With it, you can break down water faster, fish more efficiently, and make better decisions. From side imaging to GPS mapping, having electronics on the kayak turned guesswork into a strategy.

Final Pro Tip: Toro’s Cantina, Scottsboro – Monday Bingo Night

After a long day chasing bass, we rolled into Toro’s Cantina in Scottsboro for some post-fishing tacos and margaritas. To our surprise — and eventual delight — we stumbled into their Monday night bingo game. Let’s just say it got competitive. If you find yourself in Scottsboro on a Monday night, don’t miss it.

Guntersville during the pre-spawn is a special place. Big fish, beautiful scenery, and endless grass flats to explore. With the right gear, a solid plan, and a kayak that can handle a little chop, it’s the kind of trip that keeps you counting down the days until next spring. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just getting into kayak fishing, put this lake on your list. And when you go — bring the red baits, bring your buddies, and be ready for fireworks.

Check out some video highlights from the trip below:

Words by Jake Smith, Feelfree Staff
Photos by Jake Smith and Clay Lucas