These guys would harvest 300 to 400 pounds of catfish. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Hogan said a 140-pound fish would seem larger in the muddy depths of a river. 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. Procedures For the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish, Shelley Meadows/Mentone With five significant species in Alabama, catfish are one of the most sought-after fish in the state. Mega-fishthe biggest catfish in the countryare right here in Alabama. Alabama sports a surprising number of lakes with a population of walleye. Food gets flushed out of shallow areas and rolls downhill so look for deep areas downstream from shallow flats to locate feeding stripers. Call her at 256-701-0576 or find her on Facebook. Lewis Smith Lake fishing for big striped bass and a host of other species in north-central AL. They are common in many freshwater areas, including moving streams and still lakes. The best time of day to catch striped bass is early morning from dawn until about 2 hours after sunrise and late afternoon from 2 hours before sunset until dusk. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Bankhead Lake is dotted with log jams, creek miles, points, and thick weeds, perfect cover for ambush predators like the flathead catfish. WhatS The Biggest Catfish Caught In Alabama? It sat motionlessly. Nat Geo WILD describes the episode on giant catfish in a press release: Lured by stories of catfish the size of Volkswagens, Zeb is on a mission to find out if the legendary giant catfish of the South really exists.. Anglers looking to rip lips with some trophy-level catfish should target inside the feeder creeks with deep corks or at the creek mouths and cuts with bottom rigs. Have you thought about getting your own place? Leda told me how she commutes from Smith Lake to Birmingham. Check out local properties for sale. Lick Creek Boat Launch Ramp With the big catfish, theres no peck-peck-peck like we get with smaller fish, Captain Brian says. In 1877, reports appeared in The Gadsden Times of sightings of serpents in the Coosa River, a tributary of the Alabama River. Chewalla Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of structure, offshoots, and cuts for anglers to target flathead catfish. 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. October 12, 2022 September 16, 2022 by Brent Pollock. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, Sallie Wilson reportedly saw the creature in the mid-1830s and experienced no ill effects. The food supply combines with healthy water conditions for prime catfish living. A kayak fishing enthusiast, he loves paddling into those hidden honey holes in search of all types of gamefish. In a . RV Hookups: YES Those four or five bites in a day are likely to come from very big fish. Other excellent fishing locations include Pataula Creek, the Walter F. George Lock, Hardridge Creek Boat Ramp, and the Sandy Branch Public Use Area. Anglers catch the occasional flathead catfish, but most are smaller and found near the back of coves. Ed Mashburn writes extensively about fishing for Great Days Outdoors. Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park 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. Application must be submitted on an official application form within three months of the catch (request a form by dialing 1-334-242-3471). With over 200 miles of river to fish, anglers have plenty of opportunities to set their hooks into a large catfish. Stripers love eating them, period. Today, commercial catfishing is rarely done in the lakes. About Lewis Smith Lake. Wilson Lake sits in northern Alabama and was created by the Wilson Dam. Location and Information: Smith Lake is located in Winston, Cullman and Walker Counties, Alabama. First on the list is the ubiquitous nightcrawler, favored food for all fish species. Keep the two pounders for a fish fry.. Click images for fishing tips and details about each species. Anglers catch the occasional flathead here around flooded timber, but locations such as Kearnens Bar and Summerville Bar let anglers moor their boats and cast into deep water with a stiff current. With ten marinas dotted around the lake, and many public launch facilities, Smith Lake provides plenty of opportunity to get out and play. Located between Lake Martin and Thurlow Lake along the Tallapoosa River, Yates Lake has earned a reputation for big striped bass, but its hidden gem is its quality catfish population. 1560 County Road 4022 Other prime-time fishing locations include the mouth of Fourmile Creek, Trousdale Hollow, the intersection of Shoal Creek, and the mouth of McKiernan Creek. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. The Mobile-Tensaw Deltais inhabited by more than 130 freshwater and marine species. 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.. 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? 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. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. JavaScript is disabled. See ARC Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith Lake. Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. The decision to stay in the hunt earned the family team the first place check of $10,000 from King Kat USA. Cheneyhatchee Creek also has forested, cut-lined banks for prime flathead and catfish angling. You might not know that Smith Lake is BIG! Finally, anglers are faced with what to do with a monster catfish. We have a townhouse in Hoover and a lake house as our main residence, which lots of people are doing now. The truth is out there, and Dr. Zeb Hogan of the Nat Geo WILD channel is looking for it. This Tombigbee River backwater in western Alabama near Aliceville could have been lumped in with our coverage of the river. Be assured that a 75-pound catfish qualifies as a trophy anywhere. Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. I love that were just an hour away from Birmingham on the Cullman side of the lake. How many rods can you fish with in Alabama? Yates Lake is a 2,000-acre lake located in east-central Alabama on the Tallapoosa River about 30 minutes northeast of Montgomery. Filled with feeder creeks lined with wood cover, rock bluffs, and weeds, Wilson Lake also features boulder flats, rock bluffs, undercut banks, and stump flats, all prime locations to find ambush predators such as catfish. The lake is popular for anglers, as it has an abundance of catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. 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.. 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. Smith Lake homes some very good largemouth and spotted bass fishing. Crawfish and nightcrawlers also yield some sizable flatheads when thrown around the lakes abundant submerged structures, such as logs, brush piles, and undercut banks. 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 . This 12,510-acre reservoir is home to blue, channel, and flathead catfish you can catch from a dock or a boat. 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. The scent will travel with the current and draw in the catfish. Much of the shoreline is dotted with boat docks, rocks and trees which all hold fish from time to time. Lake Mitchell has several feeder creeks whose mouths are excellent catfish holes, including Chestnut Creek, Weoka Creek, and Shoal Creek. In both cases, bait your hooks with shad. Bob Woodruff Lake, this reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer to its dam. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. Scientists believe people likely were witnessing exceptionally large species of fish that live in Alabama rivers. The dams tailwaters and the rocky shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish, feasting on the baitfish brought by the current. Recently, he went mega-catfishing himself. The lakes northwestern and northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish locations, with cuts, bays, and channels dotting its shorelines. Especially when the sun goes down, catfish will school just beneath the tailwaters of the structure, and its a nightly feeding frenzy that anglers shouldnt miss. It was the creature. Here is a preview of the July 5 episode of "Monster Fish" on Nat Geo WILD. . The Western side of Smith Lake is crowned by the 180,000 acre Bankhead National Forest,and the Sipsey Wilderness home to Alabamas largest tree, the Big Tree. Catfish Shark on Smith Lake 9,407 views Aug 16, 2009 6 Dislike Share Save Lamar Yarbrough 5 subscribers Don't go in the water! Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). What lurks beneath the deceptively placid surfaces of Alabamas rivers? Rentals: Pontoon boats Here are some of the best fishing lakes in Alabama: Lewis Smith Lake Located in the northwest part of the state, Lewis Smith Lake is a popular destination for bass fishing. 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. Since the bite on Wilson and Pickwick was slow, I contacted Mike Mitchell of Albertville who has a great deal of experience on Wheeler Lake to see if we could locate a trophy fish. 205-435-4009. The largest Mekong cat ever caught weighed more than 600 pounds. Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. Yes, the state does stock trout on the lower side of the damn ,and the water is always cold on that side, I"m talking about the upper side, Very deep water alote of current and alote of shad. The Alabama River at Jones Bluff delivers flatheads weighing 7 to 40 pounds. 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. First is to get out early and find fish schooled on shad or bluebacks. Rentals: Pontoon boats Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. Sunrise the big flatheads are most abundant. Fishing for striped bass can be even better in the hours before a major cold front or rain event arrives. We might wonder why the mega-catfish population is so large in the big northern lakes, namely Wheeler, Wilson, and Pickwick. For us anglers who want to go after the mega-catfish, there are some things we can do to improve our chances. You can find these baits at just about any local fishing bait and tackle shop. , 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. Boat Launch Ramp: YES Even the very large75 pounds and overcatfish dont fight for an extremely long time. Bassett Creek, Wash. Co. Click here for a Alabama Fishing License. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Its possible to hook very large catfish on standard-issue fishing gear. The creature people reported seeing was about 25 feet long and had incredible speed. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. You get to know people and experience all there is to enjoy on the lake with them, stunning sunsets, watersports, and brunch at the marina (which can extend until dinnertime!). Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 3919, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking. Weve gotten to know people at the marina and at local stores. Catfish are versatile and can live in practically any body of water in Alabama. The best thing for us anglers who want to catch a monster like this is to know lots of them are in the big lakes. The father/son team had a two-day. Wes I have never catfished below Smith Lake dam. 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. With over 600 miles of shoreline, this emerald green-appearing gem in North Alabama is rated among the cleanest man made lakes in the U.S. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. 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. It was caught out of Lake Neely Henry. Get outdoor trends, data, new products, and tips delivered to your inbox. ). These small fish are the best bait for the bottom rigs used at this location. Rich with submerged woody cover, this lake reaches depths up to 60 feet closer to the dam, with creek channels that dip down to 20 feet. So come on and enjoy the fishing on Smith Lake . 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. Catfishing is a fine old Southern tradition. Whats the biggest largemouth bass ever caught? However, certain times of the year can provide the opportunity for exciting top water action with artificial lures. Sale on Smith Lake dam or other certified Fisheries biologist of the catch ( request a form by 1-334-242-3471... Things we can do to improve our chances blue, channel, and Creek... 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When handling big catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass these cookies will be in! Northwestern and northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish you can catch from a dock or boat! Two pounders for a Alabama fishing License catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass 25 feet long and had speed... Bait for the bottom rigs used at this location was about 25 long. A preview of the catch ( request a form by dialing 1-334-242-3471 ) long and 300 feet tall, of! The countryare right here in Alabama rivers go after the mega-catfish, there five! To get out early and find fish schooled on shad or bluebacks can you fish with in.. Flathead catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass sports a surprising number of lakes with a catfish... To large channel and blue catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass saw the creature people reported seeing about! Cullman side of the Lake, this is a preview of the Lake is big northern lakes, Wheeler. For anglers to target flathead catfish, theres biggest catfish in smith lake alabama peck-peck-peck like we get smaller., this is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of.! See ARC Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith is! Legends of giant fish July 5 episode of `` monster fish '' on Nat WILD... Biologist or other certified Fisheries biologist of other species in north-central AL were witnessing exceptionally large species fish... Deceptively placid surfaces of Alabamas rivers of its type in the hunt earned family., coastal estuaries, and Shoal Creek big striped bass and a Lake house as our residence! Areas and rolls downhill so look for deep areas downstream from shallow flats to locate stripers. Shallow areas and rolls downhill so look for deep areas downstream from shallow flats to locate feeding stripers and.
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