Gizzard shad are excellent striper baits. 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. From the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama has a tremendous variety of fish species to pursue. On Smith Lake you can find species such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass,spotted bass, large striped bass, crappie and much more. He said she caught her bi One of the better locations is the bridge and swampy area between Leroy and Jackson. Top spots for channel cats include the split between Dunns Bend and Cold Branch, the bend north of Smith Camp Boat Launch, and the mouth of Hurricane Creek. Towns on the lake include Bremen, Crane Hill and Dodge City in Cullman County; Curry and Jasper in Walker County; and Addison, Arley, Houston, and Double Springs in Winston County. (now protected, 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! They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. Big catfish can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. Anglers have various opportunities to catch giant catfish from shore, including Po Boys Landing and the structure near it, the levee surrounding the dam itself, and several nameless docks. Dont be stingy with the bait. Here, the mouth of Yellow Leaf Creek and the shoreline north of Dry Branch towards the dam are both easy-to-access locations you can fish at Lay Lake. Boat anglers must keep their distance from the dam, anchoring or mooring out of the current and casting into it for the highest chance of success. They also make an awesome Sunset Margarita. 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. 205 388-0662. Streetville Island and Cutoff Bar are also great nearby locations where anglers can anchor the boat and fish straight from the land. This is when they are more likely to be nearer to the surface and more likely to bite. Sherril Harris, Sylacauga, Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. In 1877, reports appeared in The Gadsden Times of sightings of serpents in the Coosa River, a tributary of the Alabama River. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Smith Lake Public Boat Launch Ramp These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Location and Information: Smith Lake is located in Winston, Cullman and Walker Counties, Alabama. I use an eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod with an Abu 6500C3 reel with a line counter, he says. He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. Hot weather months are typically the poorest times to go after really big catfish. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Besides your basic fishing license, anglers will need some stout tackle (including rod and reel) and preferably some odorous bait. There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. While anglers can catch catfish practically anywhere they find year-round freshwater in Alabama, the following are our favorite catfishing locations in the state. It does not store any personal data. Just below Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell is where anglers should go on the Coosa River to catch giant catfish from the bank. That lake also presents many tough fishing conditions that youll encounter on the bass fishing trail. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Vernon. Are you dreaming about the perfect weekend pad at Smith Lake? Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. Anglers can find plenty of sizable flathead catfish lurking around the submerged stumps and fallen timber in murky water. The lake is a popular sports fishing destination, featuring largemouth, striped, white, and spotted bass; bluegill, longear, and redear sunfish; black and white carpie; and also some huge catfish. This 45,180-acre reservoir straddles the Georgia and Alabama line and is rich with angling opportunities for blue and channel catfish. 55 Marina Drive The Cahaba River, a major tributary to the Alabama River in central Alabama, drains only 1,818 square miles, but it contains 135 freshwater species, making it one of the most species-rich river systems of its size in North America. Whats the biggest fish in Smith Mountain Lake? However, Alabama is home to some of the biggest, strongest and baddest catfish to be found anywhere. Much of the shoreline is dotted with boat docks, rocks and trees which all hold fish from time to time. Wilson Lake is an all-around fishing destination, including one of the best places in Alabama to go crappie fishing. Leda likes that on the Cullman side, you can be in downtown Cullman in 15 minutes and enjoy luxuries youd expect, while getting back the wilderness shortly after. Fishing for trophy catfish is a bait and wait process. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. Preview Alabamas first GreenWise Market at Lane Parke in Mountain Brook Village (Photos), ASC and ASO Present John Paul White with Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall, NOW OPEN: New trail connects schools, parks and midtown communities in Montgomery, Alabamas first KPOT, a Korean BBQ and hot pot joint, coming soon to Tuscaloosa, Food Network named Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q the best barbecue in the state, Aubie named 3rd best mascot in the country, how AL schools fared in UCA National Cheer Championship, Birmingham, Prattville, WSFA 12 & nonprofits supporting Alabama Jan. 12 Tornado Relief [PHOTOS], Woodfin touts initiatives in the State of the City address, CASTING ALERT: New movie filming in Birmingham this month seeking extras heres what we know, Highlands College opens new residential halla $20M gift from Hobby Lobby CEO, You can spend more time on the water than in the car, You dont have to walk through miles of hot sand to get to the water, No worries about having to head back before the tide goes out, Docks and cliffs were just made to jump off into clear lake water, Its easy to fish (psstdoes anyone know any secret spots? 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. A net that is too small or rotten and not up to the strain of landing a heavy fish is a recipe for disaster. Holt Reservoir is a modest sized 3,296-acre lake on the Black . ). Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. JavaScript is disabled. First, a high-quality large landing net is necessary to control a big catfish at boat side. And that fine fish was not an unusual catch. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Lodging: YES 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. What pound test should I use for striped bass? Its just such a friendly place. The western shoreline of this long, fairly straight channel is dotted with houses, while the eastern side is full of small inlets, coves, and cuts along a tree-lined bank. Today, commercial catfishing is rarely done in the lakes. It is another great lake to visit if you plan to do any fishing this summer. Alternatively, the cut to the north of Granny Branch can yield some excellent flathead action, while the deep cut beneath Blue Lick Cemetery can be trolled and cork-fished if other locations dont pan out. Smith Lake, a stunning location that offers panoramic views, amazing sunsets, as well as endless watersports your family is sure to enjoy. Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. 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. Another reason for the massive number of catfish is the crash of the commercial catfish market. Rich with juvenile bass, sunfish, and crappie, this lake is the perfect feeding ground for monster catfish. Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. The fishing on Smith Lake is like no other! This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. They are no longer rare. Next, I put an 18 to 24-inch, 50 lb test mono leader with a 7/0 Daiichi bleeding circle hook., The next part of the equipment is very important. There are some exceptions, however. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In this article, we cover Alabamas major species of catfish and the top locations to catch these whiskered fish. Like any other trophy trip, the route to trophy catfish takes some planning and arranging for success. 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 "Performance". What lurks beneath the deceptively placid surfaces of Alabamas rivers? 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 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. All rights reserved (About Us). What state has the biggest largemouth bass? Catfish are versatile and can live in practically any body of water in Alabama. Head to cover early morning for the most hits. Having angled this lake twice, I think you can get away with catching flatheads in the trees with a good bass rod, but I would switch to strong saltwater-level gear for pulling in monster blues. Zeb Hogan of the show Monster Fish on Nat Geo WILD lowers an electric shock boom into the Tennessee River during a recent search for giant catfish. Cullman, AL 35057 Home; . Rainbow trout are stocked in the Smith Lake tailwaters from Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery and in Madison County Public Fishing Lake from private sources. Smith Lake is a 326 acre lake located in Sawyer County. Anglers who are fishing from a boat often stick with a cork baited with bait fish. The really big catfish are not nearly as good to eat as the smaller ones, and the big ones are the brood fish that continually re-stock the lake with more catfish. The cut that ends at Madwind Road is an excellent example of this. 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