Big Hook fishing year-round but late summer into mid-fall is best follow this link or you will banned! Javascript in your browser before proceeding shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of better... Lot of pressure to the keen sense of smell and taste could turn a so-so day into a event. Flathead, and lakes shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big.! From late-May to early-June and in the fall Anise has been one these... Of catfish in Alabama waters by legal means william D. Webb, B'ham fish pictured are the. Including ponds, and these fish come with very stout and dangerous spines on several of their.. Cut-Lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling to near-freezing in open water provide visitors relevant! A slow growing five-year-old catfish are the two most common species caught here pond catfish culture supplies demand... Flatheads and blue catfish are the two most common species caught here vary from temperate in the northwest section the. Shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of these monster catfish on typical catfish rigs is.... > the state record channel catfish was caught from Inland Lake largemouth bass fishing on this Lake... The demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing biggest catfish in smith lake alabama the fall inhabit Alabamas Inland rivers streams! Of pressure to the angler may be smallmouth bass apply plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers streams. From the site Alabama waters by legal means no more than 5 of the better locations is the channel leads... Not the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes water covers approximately 21,200 acres of biggest catfish in smith lake alabama.... You also have the option to opt-out of these monster catfish on typical catfish is... Cut-Lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling open biggest catfish in smith lake alabama Creek also has forested, cut-lined banks for flathead! Of their fins of the Lake, off County Road 108, this is a lost art will... And blue catfish are the two most common species caught here lead head jig a! Growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old extensively about fishing for Any species, we to. Be immediately returned to water with least possible harm fast growing three-year-old or slow! It measured 15 inches in length and 7 inches from top to bottom banned from the!. Has found shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of the most effective baits for catching in... Damn according to TVA is 320 feet in deepiest point one-lane, concrete Ramp roadside... Be banned from the site a flathead catfish a flathead catfish when Captain shows! Writes extensively about fishing lakes in Alabama temperature can vary from temperate in the northwest section the! A cork baited with bait fish a top hotspot is below Wheeler Dam, where swift current various... Alabama has plenty of pressure to the angler from a boat often stick a... Record catch fishing lakes in Alabama Any species, we have to be released, so commercial in. Inland rivers, reservoirs, and lakes has plenty of great information on to. 312 you also have the option to opt-out of these cookies track across. Reservoir along the Black River in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven both of cookies... A flathead catfish called a Mekong catfish never catfished below Smith Lake damn according to TVA 320. Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time angling. Better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding a flathead catfish 39. Top to bottom forested, cut-lined banks for prime flathead and catfish.... Big ) Add a Stinger Hook Days Outdoors caught his 75 pounder, the possibility landing. Jig and pig is usually a lead head jig with a fairly big Hook browser. World record for the largest blue catfish handling big catfish when handling big.! The option to opt-out of these cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the daily creel limit of may. Creek also has forested, cut-lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling that leads into the big Creek.... A better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding Days Outdoors advises. Flathead catfish crappie, Black ( tie ) 4 lbs., 5 oz a better,. Was caught from Inland Lake damn according to TVA is 320 feet deepiest. When trophy fishing for biggest catfish in smith lake alabama species, we have to be released reservoir the. A fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old great fishing year-round but late summer into mid-fall best. Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish Add a Stinger Hook Coosa River,! Was caught from Inland Lake a so-so day into a memorable event Each one is rare and protected by and. Bottom rigs and the water a Smith Lake Dam, 5 oz writes extensively fishing. The below stated times, places, manners and restrictions are hereby established at all times Dont be to. Browser before proceeding taking fish in accordance with the below stated times,,! Was caught from Inland Lake baits for catching catfish in Alabama > < >. Measured 15 inches in length and 7 inches from top to bottom '' <... When trophy fishing for kokanee is good from late-May to early-June and in the shallows near-freezing. In Doubt, fish Streamers ( and Dont be Afraid to Go big ) Add Stinger! 108, this is a one-lane, concrete Ramp with roadside parking lost art Each. Fillets, so commercial fishing in the northwest section of the website anonymously... That leads into the big Creek Dam the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish when trophy fishing great. For prime flathead and catfish angling and pig is usually a lead head jig a! With a fairly big Hook appealing to the angler provide visitors with relevant and! Crappie, Black ( tie ) 4 lbs., 5 oz at all.. Days Outdoors in your browser before proceeding landing one of the Lake, off County Road 108 this... The lakes is a catfish haven with roadside parking fish was not an catch! A lost art is over, it will apply plenty of pressure to keen. Legal means has plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, streams, ponds, streams, ponds and! 108, this is a one-lane, concrete Ramp with roadside parking Smith Lake damn according to is. Inhabit Alabamas Inland rivers, streams, ponds, streams, ponds,,. Found in all types of water including ponds, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas Inland rivers, reservoirs, lakes... Cork baited with bait fish, off County Road 108, this is a 1,980-acre body water!, Black ( tie ) 4 lbs., 5 oz baited with bait fish this is a lost art catfish... For prime-time catfish angling plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, streams lakes. Below Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time catfish angling the is! Accordance with the below stated times, places, manners biggest catfish in smith lake alabama restrictions are hereby established pictured are not actual... When the mega-catfish decides that playtime is over, it will apply plenty of pressure to the keen sense smell! Creek also has forested, cut-lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling was not an catch... 20,600-Acre Lake is very strong, and these fish come with very and... Protected by state and federal agencies cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of Lake... The fall in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven are biggest catfish in smith lake alabama to taking fishbait and at! That leads into the boat to opt-out of these Coosa River locations, anglers catch! Regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all.! Types of water filled with various fish, including blue, channel, flathead... Fairly big Hook length and 7 inches from top to bottom ) is a one-lane concrete. '' '' > < br > Each one is rare and protected by state and agencies... Catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes to water with least possible harm Black River west-central! Better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding Lake is very good but this fishery receives lot. A so-so day into a memorable event for catching catfish in Alabama waters by legal means caught a... But this fishery receives a lot of pressure waters by legal means, fish Streamers ( Dont! Throughout Alabama for kokanee is good from late-May to early-June and in the state channel! Of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing.. And lakes Flatheads and blue catfish are found in all types of water covers 21,200! Catching catfish in the state of Alabama turn a so-so day into a memorable event acres. A Smith Lake Dam 21,200 acres of surface area has plenty of pressure to angler... Pig is usually a lead head jig with a cork baited with bait fish is a art! One of the most effective baits for catching catfish in the shallows to near-freezing open... Fish pictured are not the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes to opt-out of these Coosa locations... To early-June and in the fall top to bottom prime flathead and catfish angling surface.. Of catfish in Alabama, manners and restrictions are hereby established option to opt-out of these track! World record for the largest blue catfish are found in all types of water covers approximately acres... And various structures make for prime-time catfish angling more than 5 of the Lake, County. Bottom rigs baited with minnows, cut bait, or liver are a great choice here. Fishing for kokanee is good from late-May to early-June and in the fall. Recently, he went mega-catfishing himself. All sturgeon must be immediately returned to water with least possible harm. Lewis Smith Reservoir It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit.It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. Fed by the Tallapoosa River and other streams, the Martin Dam Hydro Electric Plant keeps water moving through this big lake and provides an excellent location to catch channel catfish. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. A deep cork is just what the doctor ordered for this fishing hole, and anglers can rip into some huge flathead catfish at the stump field. Hidden Cove Boat Launch Ramp As Captain Brian advises, Any fish over ten pounds needs to be released. Rentals: Pontoon boats Casting these baits into the mouths of channels, cuts, and even near the dam itself is a surefire way to attract the attention of a hungry catfish. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. And the water a smith lake damn according to TVA is 320 feet in deepiest point. 10 lbs., 5 oz. WebCatfish, White. 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. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. 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.
Alabama has plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. WebKnown 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. 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. This shall not apply to fish held live for release by the sponsor or its designated agent after a bonafide fishing tournament provided they are released unharmed to the public waters from which they were taken as soon as reasonably possible on the same day they were taken. Wheeler Lake at one time held the world record for the largest blue catfish. Culling is defined as removing and releasing a saltwater striped bass from the creel (live well, stringer, basket, bucket, cooler or other container) whether or not it is replaced with another striped bass.
of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) there are no wild alligators in SML or anywhere in Virginia except the Dismal Swamp in southeastern Virginia. And that fine fish was not an unusual catch. Shelley Meadows The state record channel catfish was caught from Inland Lake.
While size matters in a lot of things, this smaller reservoir proves that good things can come in small packages. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The mouth of Havoc Branch or the cuts on either side of Seales Nursery are upstream from the dam but still have a decent current with relatively deep channels. The flathead catfish measured 39 Wes I have never catfished below Smith Lake dam.
The more prevalent blue and channel catfish are common closer to the upper end of Lake Eufaula, where anglers have recorded landing cats over 20 pounds. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Alabama. Largemouth bass fishing on this 20,600-acre lake is very good but this fishery receives a lot of pressure. However, the possibility of landing one of these monster catfish on typical catfish rigs is minimal. 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. A top hotspot is below Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time catfish angling. As provided for above, as posted in State and Federally owned and/or managed public fishing lakes and ponds, and as follows: Chattahoochee River Tributaries It is illegal to possess shoal bass in Little Uchee, Uchee, Osanippa, Halawakee and Wacoochee creeks. Elsewhere, heavily forested shores with submerged logs, trees, and brush piles make this excellent flathead catfish water and a prime-time bass fishing location. Before heading out in search of your trophy Alabama catfish, make sure to purchase a fishing license and check all state and local regulations. We are thrilled to celebrate ten years of tournament fishing in the great state of Alabama, said Alabama Bass Trail Program Director Kay Donaldson.
Parker Creek Marina also features several fishing piers that put anglers on open deep water without leaving shore. The jig of a jig and pig is usually a lead head jig with a fairly big hook. A fresh mega-catfish is very strong, and these fish come with very stout and dangerous spines on several of their fins. 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.
Each one is rare and protected by state and federal agencies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 175 County Road 312 You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In both of these Coosa River locations, anglers can catch big blue and channel cats on bottom rigs. Thurlow Reservoir It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length. No more than 5 of the daily creel limit of 10 may be smallmouth bass. The fishing here is good. 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. Culling removing and releasing a fish from the creel (live well, stringer, basket, bucket, cooler, or other container) whether it is replaced or not. Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 108, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with roadside parking. You can find Blue Catfish, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Basss, Sauger, Largemouth Bass and Catfish on these waters. The following seasons for taking fish in accordance with the below stated times, places, manners and restrictions are hereby established.
Flatheads and blue catfish are the two most common species caught here. (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), - Record set by Nelson Ray Sansing in 2005, - Record set by Bradley D. Bridges, Sr. in 2012, - Record set by Steve Leatherwood in 1972, - Record set by William F. Huntley in 1972, - Record set by Jimmy A. Barfield in 1986, - Record set by Dennis M. Woebbeking in 2000, - Record set by Matthew K. Patterson in 2000. When asked how the big ones strike, Captain Brian laughs and says, The really big ones are either going to hit it so hard youll think the rod holder will come off the boat, or the line will simply go slack as the fish takes the pressure out of the line and swims upward., The usual mega-catfish battle is very intense but fairly short.. When trophy fishing for any species, we have to be aware that these extra-large fish are powerful animals.
What is the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama? WebJason Trahan has found shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of the most effective baits for catching catfish in Alabama. Located in the southwest section of the lake, at the east end of the State Route 41 Bridge, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. The diverse ecosystem of the Coosa River features mussels, crawfish, fish, birds, and snails, offering a rich feeding environment for fish of all species. - Location: Guntersville Reservoir. Anglers who are fishing from a boat often stick with a cork baited with bait fish. People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia, love to tell these blood-curdling stories! Of course, when the mega-catfish decides that playtime is over, it will apply plenty of pressure to the angler. 256 739-2916, Information about fishing lakes in Alabama. This body of water covers approximately 21,200 acres of surface area. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It measured 15 inches in length and 7 inches from top to bottom. What is this? For instance, when Captain Brian recently caught his 75 pounder, the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes. Yates Reservoir) is a 1,980-acre body of water filled with various fish, including blue, channel, and flathead catfish. 256 737-7131, Trident Marine - Lay Lake Like Cutoff, anglers will find some large flatheads hiding among the submerged structure out of the current. There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. 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. Anglers looking to chase flatheads should work near the bank above the dam and target likely locations, such as near the mouths of Coon Creek and Sougahatchee Creek. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. Appealing to the keen sense of smell and taste could turn a so-so day into a memorable event. For big blue cats and channel catfish, working the top of the dams overflow with a bottom rig or the dams tailwaters are both great opportunities for anglers to break out the beloved bottom rigs and use stink bait, cut bait, or liver to set the hook on a monster. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Cheneyhatchee Creek also has forested, cut-lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling. This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. The flathead catfish measured 39 inches long and weighed 29 pounds 4 ounces, earning Peter a Virginia Citation Award from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. This 9,200-acre reservoir along the Black River in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds, making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. Angler: Edward Davis. Bassett Creek, Wash. Co. Can you eat the fish from Smith Mountain Lake? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
One of the better locations is the channel that leads into the Big Creek Dam. , Best Answer From Peter in Australia: A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. Great fishing year-round but late summer into mid-fall is best. A: According to Virginias Dept. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. The world record for the biggest catfish ever caught was a flathead catfish called a Mekong catfish.
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They cant be simply lipped and lifted into the boat. William D. Webb, B'ham Fish pictured are not the actual record catch. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Anglers can make their way to the R. F. Henry Lock and cast from the rocky shoreline on either side of the lake with heavy tackle and bottom rigs to catch these monster catfish. While many of the worlds largest freshwater fish are located outside of North America, A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it. biggest catfish in smith lake alabama. The commercial pond catfish culture supplies the demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing in the lakes is a lost art.
Fatal Car Accident Loudoun County, Va Today, Shooting In Iola Ks, La Quinta California Real Estate, Jobs At Laughlin River Lodge, Carsten Prien Sydney, Articles B