Alabama Fishing Lakes
Lake-by-lake species, seasonal bite, boat access, and regulations for the biggest fishing lakes in Alabama.
Guntersville Lake
Lewis Smith Lake (Smith Lake)
Lake Martin
Pickwick Lake
Weiss Lake
Wheeler Lake
Wilson Lake
More Alabama lakes
Tap a lake to open its guide: species, boat launches, bait shops, and size and creel limits.
Lake MartinTallapoosa, Elmore & Coosa Counties · 39,180 acres
Lake Martin
An Alabama Power reservoir on the Tallapoosa River near Alexander City in central Alabama. Its clear water is known for numbers of Alabama bass, a stocked striped bass fishery, and big crappie and shellcracker.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Alabama Bass
Abundant but mostly small. Fish rocky points, humps and ledges with finesse worms and jigs; they school up in colder months.
Striped Bass
Open-water fish that follow shad. Topwater and jigs in cool water; live shad fished deep (50 to 80 ft) in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Fewer than Alabama bass but trophies show up each year. Work brush piles, log jams and cover in the backs of coves.
Crappie
Big fish around blow-downs and stumps in spring, best up the lake near Wind Creek State Park and Elkahatchee Creek. Live minnows work.
Redear Sunfish
Shellcracker are abundant and can get large. Redworms on the bottom in shallow coves in late spring.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Wind Creek State ParkFeeAlabama State Parks. $5 launch fee, marina with live bait, fuel, boat rentals, 210 ft fishing pierDirections ↗
- Kowaliga Public Boat RampFreeADCNR ramp off AL 63 in Elmore County. Free, open year-round, newly expanded parkingDirections ↗
- Pace's Point (Pleasure Point)PublicADCNR ramp on the east side of the lake. About 50 trailer spacesDirections ↗
- Madwind Creek (Windy Point)PublicADCNR ramp. One lane, dock, lightedDirections ↗
- Smith LandingPublicADCNR ramp on Sandy CreekDirections ↗
- Young's Landing (D.A.R.E. Park)PublicADCNR ramp at D.A.R.E. ParkDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass Lake Martin: no more than 2 over 22 in; no culling stripers Jun 15 to Oct 15 | See Alabama rules book ↗ | 15 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- 4325 AL-128, Alexander City(256) 329-0845Directions ↗
- Lake Martin Bait and TackleNearby6752 US-280, Alexander City(256) 329-9107Directions ↗
Local tips
- Summer brings clear water, heat and heavy boat traffic, so many anglers fish at night.
- Spring and fall are the most productive seasons; winter is one of the state's best times for bass here.
- Stripers make a spring run up the Tallapoosa, Hillabee Creek and Sandy Creek shoals.
Lewis Smith Lake (Smith Lake)Cullman, Walker & Winston Counties · 21,200 acres
Lewis Smith Lake (Smith Lake)
An Alabama Power reservoir on the Sipsey Fork about an hour north of Birmingham, bordered on the west by Bankhead National Forest. It is the deepest, clearest lake in the state and is known for big striped bass and spotted bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Striped Bass
Trophy potential, with fish over 40 pounds present. Live shad is the preferred bait; fish deep in summer, often near the dam.
Spotted Bass
Abundant in the clear water. Rocky points, bluff walls and brush in deep water.
Largemouth Bass
Cast to big rocks and fallen trees along the shoreline, especially in the creek arms.
Crappie
Fallen trees and brush along the banks, shallower in spring.
Bluegill
Shoreline rocks and fallen trees with crickets or worms in late spring and summer.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Smith Lake Park Boat LandingFreeADCNR landing on Ryan Creek, Cullman County. Free, six lanes, large trailer lotDirections ↗
- Clear Creek Recreation AreaFeeU.S. Forest Service, Bankhead NF. Year-round launch; day-use feeDirections ↗
- Corinth Recreation AreaFeeU.S. Forest Service, upper lake in Winston County. Year-round day-use launchDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Alabama & Spotted Bass Protected slot: may not possess any between 13 and 15 in | See Alabama rules book ↗ | 10 / day (black bass) |
| Striped Bass No more than 2 over 22 in; no culling June 15 to Oct 15 | See Alabama rules book ↗ | 15 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Lewis Smith Lake (Smith Lake) ↗Local tips
- The lake is very deep and clear; many fish suspend deep in summer, so use electronics.
- Alabama Power lowers the lake in winter, so check levels before launching at smaller ramps.
- The Sipsey Fork below the dam is a separate cold-water trout fishery with its own rules.
Pickwick LakeColbert & Lauderdale Counties · 43,100 acres
Pickwick Lake
A Tennessee River reservoir running about 53 miles from Wilson Dam at Florence, Alabama, to Pickwick Landing Dam in Tennessee, bordering Mississippi along the way. It is best known for big smallmouth bass in the current below Wilson Dam, plus largemouth, spotted bass, crappie and catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
The Shoals below Wilson Dam to the end of Seven-Mile Island are the hot spot. Fish current when TVA is generating; live bait is a top method.
Largemouth Bass
Main-lake and creek ledges and humps with Carolina rigs, crankbaits and jigs. Weed edges in the lower lake hold fish too.
Crappie
Spring is best in the Bear Creek and Second Creek embayments. Drift jigs and minnows along creek channels.
Sauger
Winter fish in the Wilson Dam tailwater as they move upstream to spawn.
Blue Catfish
High numbers in the tailwater in summer. Cut bait or whole shad on ledges and humps.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- McFarland Park (West and North ramps)PublicADCNR ramps in Florence. Five lanes total, docks, big parking lot, hosts major tournamentsDirections ↗
- Riverfront ParkPublicADCNR ramp in Sheffield. Two lanes, restroomsDirections ↗
- Rose Trail (Riverton)PublicADCNR ramp near Riverton. Two lanes, restroomsDirections ↗
- Waterloo RiversidePublicADCNR ramp at WaterlooDirections ↗
- Pride StationPublicADCNR ramp. One lane, dockDirections ↗
- Buzzard's Roost (Margerum)PublicADCNR ramp. One laneDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Pickwick Reservoir minimum; statewide black bass limit, no more than 5 smallmouth | 15 in | 10 / day |
| Crappie Pickwick is named as included in the 9 in minimum | 9 in | 30 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Warehouse TackleNearby417 East College Street, Florence(256) 980-0951Directions ↗
Local tips
- TVA holds the lake lower in winter (about 408 ft) and raises it to 413 to 414 ft in summer, so check levels before launching.
- Below Wilson Dam, bass bite best when TVA opens the turbines; watch the generation schedule and be careful in the strong current.
- Your license matters: Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee waters meet here, so check reciprocal rules before crossing state lines.
Weiss LakeCherokee County · 30,200 acres
Weiss Lake
An Alabama Power reservoir on the Coosa River in northeast Alabama, reaching across the Georgia line. It calls itself the Crappie Capital of the World and also holds good largemouth and striped bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Crappie
The main draw. Spider-rig or jig brush and bridge pilings in spring; March through May is best.
Largemouth Bass
Shallow grass, docks and creek mouths. Spinnerbaits and soft plastics.
Striped Bass
Most run 3 to 7 pounds. Look for them in the river channel and below inflows in cooler months.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Leesburg LandingFreeState public access in Leesburg Park. Free, four-lane ramp, large trailer lot, ADADirections ↗
- Hwy 9 Causeway Boat RampPublicAlabama Power public rampDirections ↗
- Cobia Bridge Boat RampPublicAlabama Power public rampDirections ↗
- Mud Creek Boat RampPublicAlabama Power public rampDirections ↗
- Bay Springs Boat RampPublicAlabama Power public rampDirections ↗
- Cedar Bluff Fishing PierPublicAlabama Power bank-fishing pierDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie Weiss Reservoir exception to the 9-inch statewide minimum | 10 in | 30 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Weiss Lake ↗Local tips
- Weiss has a 10-inch crappie minimum, stricter than the 9-inch statewide rule.
- The lake is shallow and has winter drawdowns, so watch for stumps and flats when levels are down.
- Many bridges cross the lake; their pilings hold crappie much of the year.
Wilson LakeColbert, Lauderdale & Lawrence Counties · 15,500 acres
Wilson Lake
A TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River near Florence and Muscle Shoals, running about 15 miles from Wilson Dam up to Wheeler Dam. It is known for smallmouth and largemouth bass and very large blue catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Gather in the Wheeler Dam tailwater in spring and fall. Drift live threadfin shad (yellowtails) in the current.
Largemouth Bass
Grass, creek mouths and docks in the lower lake. Fish over 7 pounds are reported.
Blue Catfish
Fish over 50 pounds are reported. Cut bait in the tailwater and along channel ledges, best in summer.
Crappie
Brush and docks in the creeks with jigs and minnows.
Sauger
A winter fishery below Wheeler Dam. Jig with minnows near the bottom in current.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Shoal Creek Public Boat RampFreeADCNR ramp on Shoal Creek off US 72 near FlorenceDirections ↗
- Shoal Creek Landing (west side)FreeADCNR landing across US 72 from the older ramp. Wide launch slab, parking for 36 rigsDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the TVA or ADCNR boat ramp list for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Wilson Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Wilson Lake ↗Local tips
- Generation at Wheeler Dam drives the tailwater bite. Check TVA release schedules before you go.
- A fishing platform below Wheeler Dam gives bank anglers access to the tailwater.
- Barge traffic uses the main channel and the locks at both dams, so give tows plenty of room.