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This week on the Alabama Freshwater Fishing Report, host Nick Williams checks in with Peter Jordan for a lower Alabama / Mobile-Tensaw Delta update, then wraps up with Darren Shirah (Reel Time Outdoors With Darren) covering cold-weather bass, bream, and a little bit of everything Delta-style. Expect clear water, tide-driven opportunities, and “banker’s hours” fishing when the afternoons warm up.
Conditions Recap
A real cold snap has cleaned up a lot of lower Alabama water: fewer algae issues, clearer Delta conditions, and better oxygen throughout the system as stratification and “dead zone” problems fade. With a falling tide through midday and a more stable stretch of weather ahead, anglers can expect improved visibility for sight-fishing and more consistent bites as fish set up on predictable structure.
Lower Alabama & Mobile-Tensaw Delta Report – Peter Jordan
Peter says the cooler weather has “settled” the Delta in a good way—clearer water and better visibility, especially around the Causeway. On the right stretches, anglers can sight-fish redfish, and if you want a challenge, you can even target buffalo carp on sight.
Crappie are starting to come alive with the recent water movement and cooling temps, riding higher in the water column and becoming easier to target. Peter’s enjoying the fall crappie bite and likes keeping things simple and adjustable depending on the depth and mood of the fish.
Gear & tactics Peter mentioned (work them into your day):
For fly anglers, Peter likes a popping bug / gurgler with a very small white Woolly Bugger tied underneath—easy to fine-tune depth and effective in Delta mixed-bag situations.
When fishing with kids (or anyone who likes minnows), he’s a big believer in a bobber stopper + slip cork to quickly dial in depth without constantly re-rigging.
He’s also had success bouncing small jigs on bottom, including in smaller river systems like Fish River (especially the upper stretches). If you’re running tight water, he stresses taking it slow and staying safe around other anglers—particularly stationary crappie fishermen.
A fun night option: wait a couple hours after dark on stretches like Fish River and work small crappie jigs for a true mixed bag—crappie, trout, and specks showing up depending on the conditions.
For bass and inshore crossover opportunities in the Delta, Peter notes fish are keying hard on finger mullet. As the salt wedge pushes and stabilizes, keep an eye out for specks and flounder showing farther up than many anglers expect. He’s been most productive where salt and fresh meet around creek mouths and adjacent structure.
More Peter tactics and “what to throw” right now:
Peter likes suspended jerkbaits in cold conditions, and for fly fishing he’s leaning on 4–5 inch articulated flies to imitate bigger bait with side-to-side action. As some blackwater rivers cool, he recommends slowing down—think a small jig approach or a jig-style fly (sculpin / jig imitators) allowed to tumble naturally with the current.
For a topwater fix without the early alarm clock, Peter likes the slow, old-school cadence: let a bait float up, twitch/jerk, and pause—especially when that afternoon water creeps up in temperature and baitfish slide shallow.
Product callout (carp/buffalo on the fly):
Peter shared a helpful buffalo carp tip: they’re more insect-focused than many anglers realize. He’s had success with very small nymph-style flies (stonefly/dragonfly profiles), and he recommends carrying a second rigged rod so you can take quick shots when you find fish in open water.
Mobile-Tensaw Delta Report – Darren Shirah
Darren says this is his favorite time of year: cooler weather has the swamp feeling right, hunting is pleasant, and the fishing has been better (and more consistent) than it’s been all year. He’s been targeting a mix of species—bream on artificials and crickets, bass on jigs and worms, and scouting for hogs between fishing stops.
On the bass side, Darren says fish are starting to “gang up” on points and deeper spots for their winter setup. When water temps stay cold, those groups can stay stacked—so it’s worth rotating through known spots and checking key depth ranges.
Jig fishing Darren’s way (simple and effective):
Darren prefers a compact 1/8 oz jig style (inspired by the Strike King Bitsy series) and likes black and blue. He pairs it with trailers depending on what he wants to imitate: Zoom Swimmin Chunk for a more swimming bait profile, or a craw-style trailer when he’s hopping through brush. He fishes it mostly in 6–8 feet around wood—logs, limbs, and planted cover like old Christmas trees—then crawls it through slowly.
Darren’s reminder on jigs: bites don’t always feel like bites. If something feels “funny,” set the hook—hook sets are free. Big fish often just pick it up, and the only clue is the bait feeling different or suddenly “light.”
Cold-weather bream: still a strong bite
Darren strongly disagrees with the idea that fish “quit biting” in winter. For bream, he looks for vegetation and cover—especially grass edges and shallow cover that holds heat—but he’ll also fish deep holes when the grass patterns aren’t available. He recommends using a slip cork and, when fishing deep, a 9–10 foot crappie rod so your bobber stopper doesn’t end up buried in your reel.
His approach changes by location and structure: in shallow grass/cover, he’ll work crickets or run a Beetle Spin across the top. In deeper winter holes, he’ll set the slip cork to reach fish holding down.
Topwater in the cold (yes, it can happen)
Darren’s still catching bass on a buzzbait even on cold mornings—just slow down and be ready for flurries. He doesn’t lock himself into one species, either: multiple rods, moving around, and mixing in bottom-fishing or catfish tactics as the day unfolds.
Darren also shared his concern about forward-facing sonar and how effective technology can “burn up” wintering holes and bedding areas over time—even with catch-and-release—if anglers repeatedly pile on concentrated fish.
You can find Darren’s videos at Reel Time Outdoors With Darren.
