the elk RiveR
WheeleR DaM
the elk River is Wheeler’s largest inflow,
and it’s where zack birge won the 2014
costa FlW series championship and bradley
Dortch found FlW series victory this past
May. the elk has an extraordinary number
of laydowns along the banks and logjams on
it flats, and it can produce all summer.
the loWeR eND
the extreme lower end of the
reservoir contains some of the better
ledges on the lake and is the most
popular stretch for ledge fishing.
there are also a few major creeks,
plenty of bluff banks and some hefty
smallmouths.
F
DecatuR Flats
the section of
Wheeler from the
interstate 65 bridge
down to about the
browns Ferry Nuclear
power plant is known as
the Decatur Flats. in the
early 2000s, when the
area was loaded with
grass, it was one of the
best places to fish on the
entire tennessee River.
though not as productive
now, it’s still one of the
best sections on the
entire lake, with vast
flats, offshore ledges and
plenty of shallow cover
along the banks.
DecatuR
WHEELER LAKE BREAKDOWN
LEARn AbOUT THE PLAYinG FiELD FOR THE 2016 CUP
or the first time ever FlW will host its pinnacle event, the Forrest Wood cup, on the tennessee River in 2016.
the host reservoir is Wheeler lake in huntsville, ala., which is likely to be a challenging, yet worthy playing
field for a late-summer championship event.
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016