Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report

Nick Williams
  • 4.8 (24)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

Nick Williams brings you the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report; a local, no-nonsense fishing report built for anglers who fish one of the most unique river systems in the country. Covering everything from the marshes along the Causeway to the quiet backwaters around Miller’s Ferry, the show breaks down what’s biting, where it’s happening, and how people are catching fish right now. From bass, crappie, and bream in muddy backwaters to specks and reds pushing upriver with the tides, this podcast delivers honest, on-the-water insight for anglers who know the line between salt and freshwater is always moving.

  1. 1d ago

    Ribbit Frogs, Lotus Blooms, and Life in the Delta

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers summertime bass tactics, topwater frog fishing, and the natural side of the Delta as June settles in. Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren kicks things off with a report on high water, stained conditions, and how the bream and bass have been adjusting. Darren explains why bream have been tighter to the bank, how he’s been catching quality Delta bass on Ribbit frogs and swim jigs, and why shade, low-hanging limbs, palmettos, off-bank trees, and repeated passes through productive water can all matter once the summer heat sets in. He also gets into frog color, rod setup, braid size, hook choice, and why bass may bite better later in the morning than many anglers expect. Then John-Michael Chappelle of Chappelle Excursions joins the show to talk about the Delta’s summer wildlife, from blooming American lotus, pickerelweed, water lilies, spatterdock, buttonbush, and spider lilies to whistling ducks, alligators, lizards, and the bird life around Gailliard Island. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    47 min
  2. High-Water Crappie and Summer Grinnel Tactics

    Jun 12

    High-Water Crappie and Summer Grinnel Tactics

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers high-water crappie tactics on the Mobile River side of the Delta and a deep dive into one of the Delta’s most underrated sport fish: the bowfin, or grinnel. Josh Gunter checks in live from the water while pre-fishing for the Delta Crappie Trail tournament out of Mount Vernon, explaining how high water changes the game, why current is the biggest thing to avoid, and how white crappie can still be caught in stained water if anglers find slack areas with bait, depth, and structure. Then Dave Middleton, also known through his YouTube channel basscatlildave, joins the show to talk about a lifetime of fishing the Delta and why he’s become a fan of targeting grinnel on purpose. Dave breaks down where he finds them, why hot, still summer days can be prime time, how he fishes worms and big spinnerbaits, why bright colors and bottom disturbance matter in muddy water, and how to target grinnel around laydowns, first drops, grass lines, and backwater areas. It’s a fun mix of tournament crappie talk, muddy-water strategy, local Delta experience, and a reminder that sometimes the so-called “trash fish” are some of the hardest-fighting fish in the system.  SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    39 min
  3. Finding Bream Beds, Goggle-Eye, and Deep-Water Crappie

    Jun 4

    Finding Bream Beds, Goggle-Eye, and Deep-Water Crappie

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers two very different but timely patterns: hot-weather panfish in the Delta and deep-water crappie on Big Creek Lake. Shannon Wood kicks things off with a report on the bluegill and goggle-eye bite as the Delta settles out from heavy rain and high water. He talks through how water level, bank height, Mayfly hatches, and full-moon timing may affect the bream bite, plus why he’s been finding goggle-eye tight to the bank on black Beetle Spins. Shannon also previews the upcoming panfish tournament out of Cliff’s Landing and explains why local bait shops like Boutwell’s Bait & Tackle and Steel Creek Bait & Tackle matter so much to the fishing community. Then Matt Frazier joins the show with a Big Creek Lake report, breaking down how he’s been catching crappie and spotted bass from a kayak since the lake partially reopened. Matt explains how he fishes deep structure in 30 to 40 feet of clear water, how he pours his own soft plastics, why Big Creek is still a strong option when the rivers are muddy, and what anglers need to know about the current access situation, rental boats, kayak use, bank fishing, and the ongoing push to reopen more of the lake. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Eastern Metal Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    1h 4m

  4. May 28

    Flounder in the Flooded Grass and Oysters in the Bay

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report starts with Justin Dunham breaking down a timely flounder pattern for anglers dealing with rain, high water, and blown-out freshwater systems. Instead of fighting muddy rivers, Justin explains how he’s been sliding into smaller coastal bayous and protected creeks where the rain has less impact, then targeting flounder along flooded marsh grass, grassy points, current seams, and subtle drop-offs. He gets into lure choice, jighead size, hook sharpness, hookup tips, why flounder often group up in small areas, and how kayak anglers can use quiet positioning and parallel casts to work high-percentage grass lines. The second half of the show shifts from fishing tactics to habitat with Dr. Kayla Boyd of Mobile Baykeeper, who explains why oysters matter far beyond the dinner plate. Kayla walks through the decline of Mobile Bay’s oyster population, how oysters filter water, protect marsh shorelines, create fish habitat, support species like sheepshead, and help stabilize the whole estuary. She also explains Mobile Baykeeper’s Oyster Keeper program, how citizen science and local knowledge are helping guide restoration work, and how anglers, waterfront homeowners, and volunteers can help rebuild oyster reefs across the bay. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Eastern Metal Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    1h 17m
  5. Muddy Water Crappie, Bream Beds, and the Future of the Tensaw

    May 20

    Muddy Water Crappie, Bream Beds, and the Future of the Tensaw

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers a little bit of everything happening across the Delta, from a strong crappie bite around Hubbard’s Landing to bream finally pulling up in more predictable places. Dip McMillian of Dippi Outdoors joins the show after picking up his first tournament win and explains how stained water, structure, side scan, and the “Dippi Tensaw Special” helped him find quality crappie when other anglers might have struggled. Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren checks in with a bass and bream report, including why bass may be hanging around bluegill beds and how crabs, catfish, hogs, and even horse flies all fit into life on the Delta this time of year. To close the show, Meagan Fowler of Friends of the Tensaw River gives an update on the grassroots effort to protect the Tensaw watershed and explains why proposed industrial solar developments have become such a major local issue for anglers, hunters, and river communities. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Eastern Metal Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    1h 19m
  6. Falling Water, Feeding Catfish: How to Run Limb Lines in the Delta

    May 15

    Falling Water, Feeding Catfish: How to Run Limb Lines in the Delta

    On this week’s episode of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Josh Gunter of Mt. Vernon Outdoors and Steele Creek Bait and Tackle joins the show to talk about why falling water can make this one of the best times of the year to catch catfish in the Delta. Josh explains how floodwater pulls bugs, bait, and fish out of the woods and concentrates catfish around ditches, creek mouths, current breaks, and bank lines. He also breaks down the practical side of running limb lines, bank poles, jugs, and vertical trot lines, including where to set them, how much weight to use, what baits work best, and why fresh shad, bluegill, goldfish, crawfish, shrimp, and even beef heart all have their place. The conversation also gets into trotline safety, running lines at night, dealing with boat traffic, avoiding wasps and wildlife trouble, and why wearing a life jacket and using a kill switch matter when you’re working the river after dark. For anglers looking to fill a freezer, introduce kids to fishing, or better understand how catfish use the Delta when the water falls, this episode is a hands-on guide to one of the region’s most traditional and effective ways to fish. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Eastern Metal Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    58 min
  7. Bluegill, Bass, and the Lost Art of the Jigger Pole

    May 8

    Bluegill, Bass, and the Lost Art of the Jigger Pole

    This week on the Mobile Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Nick Williams talks with Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren about rainy-day fishing, the current bluegill bite, and why a little rough weather does not have to ruin a trip in the Delta. Darren explains how he fishes through scattered showers, what makes certain rainy days productive, and why bream, shellcracker, bass, and goggle-eye can still be caught when most folks stay home. The episode also turns into a great discussion of old-school Delta fishing tactics, especially jigger pole fishing for bass. Darren breaks down what a jigger pole is, how he rigs it, where he fishes it, and why topwater bites around cypress trees, deadfalls, and bank cover can be so violent when the conditions line up. Along the way, Nick and Darren talk fish fries, cleaning bream, fishing traditions, fly rods, splatting bugs, and why the best fishing methods are often the ones that are simply fun. SPONSORS Dixie Building Supply Eastern Metal Supply Black Buffalo SlipSki

    49 min
  8. Bluegill on Bed and the Mayfly Hatch Ahead

    May 1

    Bluegill on Bed and the Mayfly Hatch Ahead

    This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report is all about that spring window when the Delta starts to feel almost too good to be true. Peter Jordan joins the show to help unpack a memorable backwater canoe trip where the bluegill bite was so strong it shut down the original plan of chasing bowfin, and the conversation turns into a bigger look at fishing pressure, overlooked backwaters, fly rod setups, popper-dropper rigs, canoes, alligator gar, and why small, hard-to-reach places can show what the Delta is really capable of. Shannon Woods keeps the bluegill theme rolling with a report from the bream tournament scene, including fish on bed, the role of rain, worms versus crickets, where to look for shellcracker, and why the upcoming mayfly hatch could be the next big thing to watch. Then John-Michael Chappelle of Chappelle Excursions rounds out the episode with a wider look at the Delta’s plants, birds, wildlife, and natural history, reminding anglers that the same habitat producing great fishing also supports everything from brown pelicans and wild rice to manatees, dolphins, and alligator snapping turtles.

    2h 5m
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4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Nick Williams brings you the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report; a local, no-nonsense fishing report built for anglers who fish one of the most unique river systems in the country. Covering everything from the marshes along the Causeway to the quiet backwaters around Miller’s Ferry, the show breaks down what’s biting, where it’s happening, and how people are catching fish right now. From bass, crappie, and bream in muddy backwaters to specks and reds pushing upriver with the tides, this podcast delivers honest, on-the-water insight for anglers who know the line between salt and freshwater is always moving.

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