Anglers should note that in recent years, chemical drain-off has affected the edibility of fish in over 200 waterways, so check with your local Fish and Game office before consuming any fish from Alabama waterways. Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir fed by the tailwaters of the Logan Martin Dam. Captain Brian advises us about appropriate equipment. Fishing 24-7 Guide Service offers guided trips on Smith Lake, Alabama for trophy striped bass. A fisherman reported seeing a 20-foot-long creature with large fins slithering near the banks at Ball Play Creek before it slipped beneath the surface. 120 lbs.Procedures for the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish. Career highlights include introducing innovative recycling systems and achieving a point where households throw out trash just once a month. William D. Webb, B'ham The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. How do you catch striped bass on Smith Lake Alabama? Recently, he went mega-catfishing himself. Whether fishing from a boat or the shore, Yates Reservoir allows anglers to set their hooks into a myriad of species, all from one location. 7 oz. Its not like the beach where youre battling to find somewhere on the water that is quiet and calm. Wes what most people call deep is 60 ft. At Smith Lake dam you have. First, the lakes are very big and they all have a healthy food base for the big ones. Competed in international coastal rowing championships and followed Wales throughout Europe in their Rugby and Soccer endeavours. Marina: YES They cant be simply lipped and lifted into the boat. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Also referred to as R.E. How do you fish for blueback herring lakes? Your Guide to Quintessential AL Foods. So is Catzilla real? (now protected, Some of the best locations to find flatheads at Bankhead Lake include the fork of White Oak and Little White Oak Creek, the shoreline north of Heards Bend, and the cut-off of Henderson Camp Road. With over 500 miles of shoreline everyone can wet a line and know there is that chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. April and May are the prime time. They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. Amenities. One of the better locations is the channel that leads into the Big Creek Dam. eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod, Choosing the Best Lithium Marine Batteries for 2023. Parker Creek Marina also features several fishing piers that put anglers on open deep water without leaving shore. The Sacramento River system starts to fill up with stripers as they migrate up to Knights Landing and Colusa to start the spawn. Anglers best bet for catching these big, hungry ambush predators by boat is to work the shoreline around Lost Creek Boat Ramp, including Hester Branch, Smelser Spring Branch, and Dudley Hollow with a deep cork. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Get a reliable, big landing net. A study performed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences showed that striped bass see yellow and chartreuse better than other colors as they are smack dab in the middle of the striped basss visual range. Fishing can be done by boat or along the banks of the 6,272 hectare lake. What is the best time of year to catch striped bass? How many rods can you fish with in Alabama? She has worked in some of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. These locations usually have a current and are best angled with a bottom rig, such as a Carolina or Texas rig baited with the cut bait or liver. The best size hook for catching small stripers is a size 2/0 hook, while the best size hook for catching big stripers is a size 7/0 hook. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. The commercial pond catfish culture supplies the demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing in the lakes is a lost art. Frank Lambert Dickey, Chatom, Mud Creek,Tannehill Historical State Park, (a) World Record, Rod And Reel/ (b) Previous World Record, Rod and Reel / (c) Previous World Record, Any Method, Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2023 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130, Physically Disabled Hunting and Fishing Trail, https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=467475161060988&ev=PageView&noscript=1. This means gorgeous, blissful privacy and stunning natural scenery. Lewis Smith Lake was created in 1961 by the Alabama Power Company as a result of the company's construction of Lewis Smith Dam to produce hydroelectric power. RV Hookups: YES Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. No matter what species of catfish you hope to catch at Lake Martin, your best bet is to stick with a bottom rig baited with live shad, minnows, or small sunfish. It is another great lake to visit if you plan to do any fishing this summer. Finally, anglers are faced with what to do with a monster catfish. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. If the bait is on the bottom, the fish will lift it and relieve the pressure fairly gently. "At end of the day, there certainly is some truth to these stories but people also enjoy telling stories. Yates Lake is a 2,000-acre lake located in east-central Alabama on the Tallapoosa River about 30 minutes northeast of Montgomery. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabama's inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Head to cover early morning for the most hits. If skiing or wakeboarding isnt your thing, and if youre feeling energetic, Smith Lake Paddle Boards offer rentals, and Smith Lake Park offers Canoe and Kayak rentals for a more relaxed approach to the lake. Catfish . Other places to eat nearby to the lake include: If youre willing to drive a bit further out, theres plenty of places in nearby towns, and youll get back to the lake in no time. From fried catfish to the most excellent pulled BBQ pork found anywhere in the US, Alabama is unrivaled when it comes to throwing down in the kitchen. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Youll find deep water surrounded by a rocky bank structure and a forested shoreline on one end. Smith Lake Park Campground - 256 739-2916, Speegle's Marina & Campground - 256 734-0698, Hidden Cove RV Resort Campground - 205 221-7042, Lakeshore Cabins & RV Campground - 361 438-4811, Smith Lake RV & Cabin Resort - 256 709-1820, Lewis Smith Lake Smith Lake Park & Campground I use an eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod with an Abu 6500C3 reel with a line counter, he says. It shall be unlawful for any angler to fish with more than three rods and reels, or poles, or any combination thereof on Weiss Reservoir or Neely Henry lakes at any time. Plus, it makes catching striped bass a lot more fun. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. The $29 million project was formally dedicated on May 23, 1961, and named for Alabama Power Company president Lewis M. Smith, who had been closely involved in its planning and design. They are no longer rare. Suspended fish are the hardest fish for me to do anything with, but it can be done and some people do it very well. All Rights Reserved. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. Good quality electronics are just as important for finding and catching trophy catfish as they are for bass fishing. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. For the past 10 years, Hogan has been working to find, study and protect the worlds largest freshwater fish. His goal: catch a monster catfish. Wilson Lake is an all-around fishing destination, including one of the best places in Alabama to go crappie fishing. This oxbow is another solid choice for anglers looking for a giant catfish. Big catfish show up well on fish finder units, and good electronics can really cut down on the search time when were looking for big cats. Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 108, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with roadside parking. Line matters and Captain Mike recommends sticking with 10-pound or 12-pound test. They also make an awesome Sunset Margarita. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Even the very large75 pounds and overcatfish dont fight for an extremely long time. Crappie, spotted bass and sauger add to the action. Having fished here several times, I recommend giving it about 10 minutes per location before trying a new spot. They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. Catching three to five-pound cats is fun, and theres no better main ingredient for a fish fry than fillets from this size fish. Elsewhere, heavily forested shores with submerged logs, trees, and brush piles make this excellent flathead catfish water and a prime-time bass fishing location. Rentals: Pontoon boats Known for monster striped bass, Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama about an hour north of Birmingham. I had been fishing Wilson Lake for the past couple of weeks in search of a trophy-size fish, Captain Brian says. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Because shad and sunfish fluctuate in number and size throughout the year, check the waters to see whats schooling before baiting your rig. Lick Creek Boat Launch Ramp Because blues prefer stiffer currents, deeper holes, and sandy bottoms, the main channel is a better bet to catch these massive catfish. Theyre looking for food. With blue catfish regularly caught over 50 pounds, Wilson Lake has deeper holes in its lower half, and the upper end features a strong current due to Wheeler Dam. The best fishing for big cats occurs when the dams are generating maximum current. With average summer water temperatures of 80, youll definitely want to pack your swim suits. In years past, it was common to see 10 to 15 commercial catfishers on the lakes on any given morning. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Youve probably been to a friends weekend home on Smith Lake just north of Birmingham. These small fish are the best bait for the bottom rigs used at this location. Other excellent fishing locations include Pataula Creek, the Walter F. George Lock, Hardridge Creek Boat Ramp, and the Sandy Branch Public Use Area. These guys would harvest 300 to 400 pounds of catfish. They are common in many freshwater areas, including moving streams and still lakes. The dams tailwaters and the rocky shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish, feasting on the baitfish brought by the current. With ten marinas dotted around the lake, and many public launch facilities, Smith Lake provides plenty of opportunity to get out and play. Fishermen tell tall tales.". In exotic locales, yes. ). Folks, however, swear cats have . Smith Park Boat Launch Ramp Located in the southeast section of the lake, off County Road 41, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. Whats the biggest largemouth bass ever caught? Vernon. A top hotspot is below Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time catfish angling. Gloves are necessary equipment for handling mega-catfish. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Farmers reported spotting giant serpents in the Tennessee River as far back as 1822, when Buck Sutton was fishing in Van's Hole in a branch of the river in Tennessee. Even though a big part of staying at the lake is grilling out and watching the sun go down over the water, sometimes its nice to have somebody else do the cooking! Also fueling the big fish tales is the fact that river creatures likely grew even larger in the past, before humans and chemicals interfered with habitats. This 5,850-acre reservoir off the Chattahoochee River makes for some excellent catfish angling. Dont try to handle a big catfish when it first hits the deck. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hot weather months are typically the poorest times to go after really big catfish. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. The diverse ecosystem of the Coosa River features mussels, crawfish, fish, birds, and snails, offering a rich feeding environment for fish of all species. In 1877, reports appeared in The Gadsden Times of sightings of serpents in the Coosa River, a tributary of the Alabama River. This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. (Aha!). For us anglers who want to go after the mega-catfish, there are some things we can do to improve our chances. Anglers will have the most success near these spots with bottom rigs, baited with small sunfish, shad, minnows, cut bait, or liver. Rentals: Pontoon boats Catching three to five-pound cats is fun, and there's no better main ingredient for a fish fry than fillets from this size fish. Fish Species & State Records in Alabama Bass Largemouth bass World record: 22 lbs 4 oz State Record: 16 lbs 8 oz Smallmouth bass World record: 11 lbs 15 oz State Record: 10 lbs 8 oz Spotted bass World record: 9 lbs 8 oz Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Bankhead Lake is best known for catches of largemouth bass and spotted bass. Bham Now top tip The Sunflower Bakery & Eatery does the best biscuits in the history of biscuits! This has led to more and larger fish in the entire Tennessee River system. It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. How big catfish commonly found in North American waters can actually get is widely disputed. Dont be surprised if it takes some time to hook into a catfish, which scatter throughout the lake. Bob Woodruff Lake, this reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer to its dam. The Tombigbee produces excellent catfish angling along its path, which includes five dams and locks before joining the Mobile River and emptying into Mobile Bay, where the attention turns to redfish and other saltwater fishing. Some of these stories we hear about Volkswagon-sized catfish and people seeing serpents in the water come from older times when probably even bigger animals and fish were living in rivers and lakes, Hogan said. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Anglers can find plenty of sizable flathead catfish lurking around the submerged stumps and fallen timber in murky water. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. As with the dam, mooring outside the channel and casting a bottom rig into the mouth is the best way to avoid spooking the fish while still placing your set-up in the best position. Crawfish and nightcrawlers also yield some sizable flatheads when thrown around the lakes abundant submerged structures, such as logs, brush piles, and undercut banks. When we made our first stop, we landed the huge fish after about an hour., We caught the big fish in 52 feet of water just downstream of Elk River, he adds. Also referred to as Converse Reservoir, this 3,600-acre impoundment in Mobile County is filled with channel catfish, bass, and sunfish. White Oak Creek is another spot where anglers can trace its tributaries far past the campground and into murky, structure-filled water perfect for flatheads and largemouths. First is to get out early and find fish schooled on shad or bluebacks. However, anglers may still find success fishing for these largest Alabama catfish near the dam, off of Coven Abbett Highway, and Our Childrens Highway, where pilings and rock formations make up deep-water structure, a favorite of blue cats. Scientists believe people likely were witnessing exceptionally large species of fish that live in Alabama rivers. What is the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama? Also known as Walter F George Lake, is a bass angler's dream with almost 600 miles of shoreline to fish. READ SOMETHING ELSE. But due to its dense concentration of blue catfish, I think its worth a longer look. There are two dozen species of freshwater fish larger than 6 feet and weighing more than 200 pounds, which is as big as a person, and some weigh up to 600 or 700 pounds.. The trick to locking into catfish is selecting the areas that each species is most likely to inhabit. Anglers should moor outside the channel opening and cast into the current, letting the scent drift into the moving water and drawing the catfish out from near the dam. Here, anglers will find a heavily flooded forest that shelters catfish from the stiff current of the river but is still deep enough water to rip into some big cats. You will find boating, kayaking and fishing here. Hogan, a biologist and host of the show Monster Fish, recently spent time at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and with fishermen and scientists around the South, searching for answers to the legend of the Volkswagon-sized catfish, a tale passed among fishermen from Wilson Dam in Muscle Shoals to Lake Guntersville Dam in Marshall County. Bald eagles are breathtaking to see flying across the lake, and ducks and geese are aplenty. Cullman, AL 35057 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Leda Mims of ARC Realty told me I love it all! Today, commercial catfishing is rarely done in the lakes. Know before you go Cullman and Winston County are dry (no alcohol is available) while Walker County allows alcohol sales with the limitation that no alcohol may be purchased on a Sunday. A fresh mega-catfish is very strong, and these fish come with very stout and dangerous spines on several of their fins. Make Short Casts. Those four or five bites in a day are likely to come from very big fish. Seumas Petrie is the world record holder, with a 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth. The Tombigbee Rivers blue catfish tend to hold in the main channel in spots like the Ball Bluff Bridge near Coffeeville, McGrews Shoals near St. Stephens Historical Park, or the intersection of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers near Mt. When a big catfish is brought aboard, anglers need to resist the temptation to immediately lift up the fish and take pictures. Globally, there are 27 kinds of sturgeons. Using a live minnow, shad, or crawfish, anglers should target submerged structures such as fallen trees or undercut banks to rip into massive flathead. Evidence of an Alabama sea serpent does exist in the fossilized bones of the zeuglodon, a prehistoric whale that grew to about 70 feet in length. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William Bill Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. Be assured that a 75-pound catfish qualifies as a trophy anywhere. JavaScript is disabled. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is one of the best baits for big striped bass and hybrids. Former county recycling manager in the UK. Geneva County Lake consists of two lakes, 33- and 32 acres (130,000 m 2) in size, located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Enterprise off County Road 63. Read the story of the Alabama State Fossil here. There are some exceptions, however. What is the slot limit on bass on Smith Lake? In cool weather months, its not uncommon for anglers to fish for seven or eight hours to get only four or five bitesits not usually a fast, hot bite. The concoction imitates a crawfish, and plastic trailers are often made to look like a crawfish. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Known for monster striped bass, Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama about an hour north of Birmingham. The 24 kilometre long lake stretches from the city of Florence to the Wheeler Dam. A cork baited with nightcrawlers, shad, or small perch is a great way to see whats hiding along the heavily forested shoreline. Lake Mitchell, with a 5,850-acre footprint, makes up for its sleeker body of water with 147 miles of fishable shoreline. Anyone interested in fishing Lewis Smith Lake or waters within the wider area around Jasper should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. Known for monster striped bass, Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama about an hour north of Birmingham. Dale County Lake or Ed Lisenby Lake is a 92-acre (370,000 m 2) lake located 1 mile (2 km) north of Roy Parker Road (Dale County Road 36) in Ozark. Cody Mullenix of Howe Texas caught the fish on January 16th, 2004 which became known as Splash while fishing at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Texoma. Try fishing in deeper water during the outgoing tide. The deep, clear water of Smith Lake and its sheer size make it the perfect water playground. Caught off the coast of Ceduna, Australia, in 1959, it took angler Alfred Dean just 50 minutes to win the fight against this one-ton shark. A 43,000-acre lake divided between Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, this giant impoundment on the Tennessee River provides some of the best big catfish angling between the three states. Get outdoor trends, data, new products, and tips delivered to your inbox. What'S The Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught? Have you thought about getting your own place? Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish Flatheads and blue catfish are the two most common species caught here. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. Rich with minnows, shad, and small sunfish, Lake Martins clear water is home to drop-offs, ledges, and rock bluffs with undercut banks that make for some excellent catfish structures. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. Let it rest a couple of minutes.. When trophy fishing for any species, we have to be aware that these extra-large fish are powerful animals. Weve gotten to know people at the marina and at local stores. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. 256 737-7131if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Trident Marine - Lay Lake The scent will travel with the current and draw in the catfish. A net that is too small or rotten and not up to the strain of landing a heavy fish is a recipe for disaster. Like any other trophy trip, the route to trophy catfish takes some planning and arranging for success. Procedures For the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. The fishing here is good. Application must be submitted on official. Large cats will show as bright yellow or red arches on the unit.. The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7.68 oz, making it not only the new Tennessee state record (previously held since 1985) but the world record. In the 1800s, tales of serpents abounded in both rivers, including a legend in which anyone spotting the creature was cursed and soon would die. This Alabama River reservoirs level fluctuates, resulting in changing catfish hotspots depending on the season. Wes I have never catfished below Smith Lake dam. Lewis Smith Lake fishing for big striped bass and a host of other species in north-central AL. Anglers can even fish part of this location from shore from the Lake Eufaula Campground. Price: $330,000. The nearest boat launch is the Cochrane Recreation Area, and after a short boat ride down the river and catching Lubbub Creek into the lake, youre in deep blue catfish territory. This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Call her at 256-701-0576 or find her on Facebook.