A 280-mile-long tributary of the Alabama River, the Coosa River is a heavily developed body of water with multiple impoundments, dams, lakes, and of course, lots of big catfish. There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. 55 Marina Drive Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. Fishing for striped bass can be even better in the hours before a major cold front or rain event arrives. The earth- and rock-filled dam is 2,200 feet long and 300 feet tall, one of the largest dams of its type in the . Floyd chronicles others whose experiences mirrored Suttons: Billy Burns died in 1827 after seeing the serpent; Jim Windom in 1829. The lakes deeper holes and areas with heavy currents are your best bet for locating channel catfish. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. In Alabama, we have three residents: the Alabama sturgeon, the Gulf sturgeon and the Lake sturgeon. READ SOMETHING ELSE. Anglers who are familiar with Lewis Smith Lake are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Rentals: Pontoon boats This bluegill weighed in at a whopping 4 pounds 12 ounces and came in at 15 inches long with an astounding girth of 18- inches. Instead, the usual mega-catfish battle is very intense but fairly short. Other prime-time fishing locations include the mouth of Fourmile Creek, Trousdale Hollow, the intersection of Shoal Creek, and the mouth of McKiernan Creek. Hoover resident Carol DiPlacido talked with me about her familys decision to purchase a weekend lakeside cabin on Smith Lake, and it turns out being easy and quick to get to was an important factor. The creature people reported seeing was about 25 feet long and had incredible speed. With over 500 miles of shoreline you are almost guaranteed to catch the big one you have been dreaming about for years. Dont be surprised if it takes some time to hook into a catfish, which scatter throughout the lake. This lake snakes its way across the forested northwestern Alabama Hill Country with various creeks and small channels filled with cover, making it a flathead paradise in addition to an excellent bass lake. Anglers can catch plenty of decent-sized catfish from shore, but they often catch the largest catfish in the cut to the right of the Bartletts Ferry Hydro Dam or in the dams tailwaters in the Chattahoochee River below the dam itself. Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. How do you catch striped bass on Smith Lake Alabama? Anglers will have the most success near these spots with bottom rigs, baited with small sunfish, shad, minnows, cut bait, or liver. This is when they are more likely to be nearer to the surface and more likely to bite. 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. Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Smith Lake Dam Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. 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. I had been fishing Wilson Lake for the past couple of weeks in search of a trophy-size fish, Captain Brian says. The ultimate respect an angler can show such a magnificent fish is to admire it, photograph it, weigh and measure it, and then release it back into the water safely. At Smith Lake dam you have water over 200 ft. in places. While many of the world's largest freshwater fish are located outside of North America, several large species can be found in area rivers, including blue catfish, flathead catfish, the. Competed in international coastal rowing championships and followed Wales throughout Europe in their Rugby and Soccer endeavours. Cappy's Boats 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. Longtime sustainability and recycling champion. Fishermen tell tall tales.". 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. They cant be simply lipped and lifted into the boat. Rich with juvenile bass, sunfish, and crappie, this lake is the perfect feeding ground for monster catfish. They also have a warehouse district which feels very much like downtown Homewood.. The results of his research will appear in the first episode of a new season of Monster Fish at 9 p.m. Central time on July 5. 13 Best Catfish Fishing Lakes and Rivers in Alabama. "At end of the day, there certainly is some truth to these stories but people also enjoy telling stories. There are a few types of Seatrout, our most abundant fish, that live along Alabamas Gulf Coast. It is another great lake to visit if you plan to do any fishing this summer. I could see the thing as clear as day," reported newspaper columnist E. Randall Floyd in a 1993 article in the Spartanburg, S.C., Herald-Journal. Captain Brian says the prime months for catching really big catfish are September through March. All Rights Reserved. Spring brings warmer waters, and the main spawning runs up the rivers. 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. (Contributed by Zeb Hogan). The lake is popular for anglers, as it has an abundance of catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deep clean lake, wildlife, a real sense of community, great spots to eat, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water. 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. The scent will travel with the current and draw in the catfish. Home to striped bass and catfish, this area is rich with shad and features a stiff current over plenty of deep holes where anglers can hook into some truly impressive fish. Ed Mashburn writes extensively about fishing for Great Days Outdoors. This is one of the best baits for big striped bass and hybrids. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Lewis Smith Lake fishing for big striped bass and a host of other species in north-central AL. However, boat anglers can moor out of the main river flow by ducking behind the small concrete structure on the dams right side and casting into the stronger current. This 5,850-acre reservoir off the Chattahoochee River makes for some excellent catfish angling. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabama's inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, white bass and striped bass at Smith Lake in Alabama. Marina: YES Bluegills | Duck River Lake As mentioned, the dam is always an excellent choice. Some are big and others are small. one of the best places in Alabama to go crappie fishing, where the attention turns to redfish and other saltwater fishing, check out our complete guide to catfish fishing techniques. Captain Brian advises us about appropriate equipment. Your Guide to Quintessential AL Foods. Catfish dont have sharp teeth like pike or mackerel, but they do have rows of very rough and abrasive teeth in their jaws, and when they bite down and twist and turn, these rows of small teeth can remove the skin from a thumb or the back of a hand within seconds. Catfish are versatile and can live in practically any body of water in Alabama. Yellow and chartreuse are fish-catchers because, simply put, they get seen. But the chance of hooking a 40-pound or larger catfish is much better. Stripers love eating them, period. Check out local properties for sale. Former county recycling manager in the UK. The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. 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. 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. Some anglers also recommend around dusk or dawn, on a cool day, during peak or slack tide. 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. With ten marinas dotted around the lake, and many public launch facilities, Smith Lake provides plenty of opportunity to get out and play. When fishing for blues in the main current of the Tombigbee River, anglers should stick to fishfinder or Carolina rigs that will keep your set-up pinned to the bottom and the bait in the water column. Smith Lake is a 326 acre lake located in Sawyer County. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. A number of guides on the major north Alabama lakes can put anglers on these monster catfish. if youre 16 and older. So, when a big catfish is caught, it should be released. The lake spans over 21,000 acres in Cullman . Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". All content on this site is Copyright Rushing Waters MediaLLC/Bham Now 2016-2023. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Anybody else fish for blues at the lewis smith dam? 205-435-4009. One of the better locations is the channel that leads into the Big Creek Dam. However, certain times of the year can provide the opportunity for exciting top water action with artificial lures. A favorite location of crappie anglers, the lakes stump field is best known for producing solid slabs consistently. Bloodworms and Sandworms as Striped Bass Baits Bloodworms and sandworms are highly effective striper baits just about everywhere these fish are found, virtually any time of the year. Alabama has plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. There are some exceptions, however. What is this? We just felt wed use a cabin at the lake a whole lot more if it were a little over an hour away, as opposed to a five hour trip to the beach, and we were right said Carol. Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 3919, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking. Excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint at the lewis Smith Lake dam you have water over 200 in! This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint channel that leads into the.. 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