It was caught out of Lake Neely Henry. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Anglers best bet for catching these big, hungry ambush predators by boat is to work the shoreline around Lost Creek Boat Ramp, including Hester Branch, Smelser Spring Branch, and Dudley Hollow with a deep cork. Weve gotten to know people at the marina and at local stores. It was the creature. The truth is out there, and Dr. Zeb Hogan of the Nat Geo WILD channel is looking for it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. When trophy fishing for any species, we have to be aware that these extra-large fish are powerful animals. Early morning and late evening are the best times to target the feeder creeks and stump flats, where anglers can catch catfish, crappie, and bass side by side. Although its most well-known for trophy largemouth and spotted bass, anglers catch a variety of species in this reservoir, including massive channel and flathead catfish, rainbow trout, and world-record striped bass. Whats the biggest fish in Smith Mountain Lake? Smith Lake Park has some great walking and bike trails, suitable for kids and big kids! Each one is rare and protected by state and federal agencies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 175 County Road 312 Captain Brian advises us about appropriate equipment. Longtime sustainability and recycling champion. Big catfish can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. Vernon. I catfish up at the Cullman end of the lake. The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. They look after you and remember you. The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. 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. Anglers can even fish part of this location from shore from the Lake Eufaula Campground. 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! A study performed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences showed that striped bass see yellow and chartreuse better than other colors as they are smack dab in the middle of the striped basss visual range. People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia, love to tell these blood-curdling stories! Theres so many great restaurants some of my favorites are Augustas Sports Grill and 412 Public House. Big catfish show up well on fish finder units, and good electronics can really cut down on the search time when were looking for big cats. In Alabama, we have three residents: the Alabama sturgeon, the Gulf sturgeon and the Lake sturgeon. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. What is the best time of year to catch striped bass? 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Using a live minnow, shad, or crawfish, anglers should target submerged structures such as fallen trees or undercut banks to rip into massive flathead. Dont be stingy with the bait. This 4,200-acre reservoir in northwestern Alabama yields excellent catfish angling, especially for flatheads and channel cats. Alternative locations anglers can target include the cuts on the northern portion of the lakes western shoreline. 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 GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - One fisher caught a large catfish at Lake Guntersville. With five significant species in Alabama, catfish are one of the most sought-after fish in the state. 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. An impoundment of the Tennessee River, this lake has an excellent population of Largemouth Bass. We might wonder why the mega-catfish population is so large in the big northern lakes, namely Wheeler, Wilson, and Pickwick. They are worthy of respect. Rich with juvenile bass, sunfish, and crappie, this lake is the perfect feeding ground for monster catfish. I use an eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod with an Abu 6500C3 reel with a line counter, he says. 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. See ARC Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith Lake. flathead catfish caught in Kansas. There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. However, most people miss the trophy catfish that lurk a little deeper, preying on the sunfish and bream. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Bring your pleasure or fishing boat or find boat rentals locally. With blue catfish regularly caught over 50 pounds, Wilson Lake has deeper holes in its lower half, and the upper end features a strong current due to Wheeler Dam. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. Its such an easy commute!. 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. The lakes deeper holes and areas with heavy currents are your best bet for locating channel catfish. Rich with minnows, shad, and small sunfish, Lake Martins clear water is home to drop-offs, ledges, and rock bluffs with undercut banks that make for some excellent catfish structures. Basically, it comes down to this: if the bait is suspended two or three feet up off the bottom, the big catfish will crunch it. This area can be fished by boat or shore off Lost Creek Road or Britton Bridge Boat Ramp. If you go around to the dams in the South, it seems as if every dam has its own story.. Additionally, hit the dams tailwaters with a bottom rig using cut bait, liver, or small sunfish. 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. Amenities. 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. Thats important. This is a blue catfish that weighed 23 pounds and measured 36.5 inches in length. We will fish with live baits and artificial lures all seasons of the year; although, the best catching is usually with live baits. The father/son team had a two-day. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A law was passed in 2017 meaning that marinas with restaurants can serve alcohol regardless of what the law is in the county. 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. 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. As mentioned, the dam is always an excellent choice. The Sacramento River system starts to fill up with stripers as they migrate up to Knights Landing and Colusa to start the spawn. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". I tried in 105' of water and got nothing. We rode over the area several times and located a few fish there. We asked the experts. First is to get out early and find fish schooled on shad or bluebacks. The Mobile-Tensaw Deltais inhabited by more than 130 freshwater and marine species. Bham Now top tip The Sunflower Bakery & Eatery does the best biscuits in the history of biscuits! What is the slot limit on bass on Smith Lake? Bluegills | Duck River Lake Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. Henry Merritt, Deer Park However, the largest catfish in North America are blue cats, and the world record blue catfish caught in North Carolina in 2011 weighed 143 pounds. Alabama sports a surprising number of lakes with a population of walleye. The Alabama state record largemouth bass was caught in 1987 by Thomas Burgin from Mountain View Lake just south of Leeds, Alabama and weighed 16 pounds, 8 ounces. Shelby, AL 35143 . 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. 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. When a big catfish strikes, its important not to jerk but simply apply pressure and start reeling.. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Farther downstream, anglers will find success angling for flatheads along the Alabama Rivers banks by fishing along the heavily forested shoreline and working deep corks over submerged structures. Application must be submitted on official. Whether fishing from a boat or the shore, Yates Reservoir allows anglers to set their hooks into a myriad of species, all from one location. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. Here, anglers will find a heavily flooded forest that shelters catfish from the stiff current of the river but is still deep enough water to rip into some big cats. 205 669-0077, Triple Creek Marina Are there catfish in Smith Lake Alabama? Ive seen one, Hogan said. Recently, he went mega-catfishing himself. 205 384-6942, Grace's Retreat This 1,550-acre lake in northern Alabama is home to some massive blue and channel catfish. First, timing is important. 22 pounds, 4 ouncesOfficial Largemouth World Record: George Perrys Undefeated Bass. What is the biggest bass ever caught in Alabama? Fishing can be done by boat or along the banks of the 6,272 hectare lake. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. This Tombigbee River backwater in western Alabama near Aliceville could have been lumped in with our coverage of the river. Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. 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. 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. Smith Lake, a stunning location that offers panoramic views, amazing sunsets, as well as endless watersports your family is sure to enjoy. Globally, there are 27 kinds of sturgeons. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. 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!). For instance, when Captain Brian recently caught his 75 pounder, the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes. I slide a one to two-ounce egg sinker up on the line, and then I place a bead between the sinker and a barrel swivel. A net that is too small or rotten and not up to the strain of landing a heavy fish is a recipe for disaster. 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. Click here to see the full listing. Theyre looking for food. WE ARE YOUR SOURCE FOR FISHING DESTINATIONS IN ALABAMA! Wilson Lake sits in northern Alabama and was created by the Wilson Dam. Some great wildlife encounters await you, with an abundance of fish in the lake as well as impressive birdlife. The photo is controversial because a descendant of the man who took the photo claims the man in the photo is actually a cardboard cutout to make the fish appear larger. These locations usually have a current and are best angled with a bottom rig, such as a Carolina or Texas rig baited with the cut bait or liver. 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. Another reason for the massive number of catfish is the crash of the commercial catfish market. The bones found in the 1830s in Clark, Choctaw and Washington counties were named the state fossil in 1984. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. Rentals: Pontoon boats This 9,200-acre reservoir along the Black River in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven. Fishing 24-7 Guide Service offers guided trips on Smith Lake, Alabama for trophy striped bass. Construction of Smith Dam began on Nov. 25, 1957. Instead, the usual mega-catfish battle is very intense but fairly short. 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. His goal: catch a monster catfish. I weigh big catfish while they are still in the net, and then I give them time to settle down before we take pictures, Captain Brian says. 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. Mike slowly pulled the rod straight down to about a half-bend. Of course, when the mega-catfish decides that playtime is over, it will apply plenty of pressure to the angler. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. Just below Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell is where anglers should go on the Coosa River to catch giant catfish from the bank. What state has the biggest largemouth bass? Some truly monstrous catfish are living in the rivers and lakes of Alabama; fish in the 100-pound range are caught on rod and reel every year. Another great location is the Lower Cutoff south of Jackson. 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. (Contributed by Nat Geo WILD). In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. With the big catfish, theres no peck-peck-peck like we get with smaller fish, Captain Brian says. Get a reliable, big landing net. This is one of the best baits for big striped bass and hybrids. Flatheads and blue catfish are the two most common species caught here. Join al.com reporter Kelly Kazek on her weekly journey through Alabama to record the region's quirky history, strange roadside attractions and tales of colorful characters. It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. What fishing license do I need for Smith Lake Alabama? Sutton and his friends were alarmed because people along the river knew that anyone who looked upon the serpent was cursed. 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. Fish must be identified by an Alabama Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. In a . Home; . California is the number one trophy state for bass exceeding 15 pounds, says David Swendseidbass pro and tackle rep from the Golden State. Catfishing is a fine old Southern tradition. Boat Rental: YES The largest catfish species in North America are blue cats. Like any other trophy trip, the route to trophy catfish takes some planning and arranging for success. Lewis Smith Lake fishing for big striped bass and a host of other species in north-central AL. Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 108, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with roadside parking. 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. Guntersville Reservoir, Jeremy S. White, Alexander CityJack Grant, Altoona, Richard Johnson, Bay Minette So come on and enjoy the fishing on Smith Lake today! 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. April. With over 500 miles of shoreline everyone can wet a line and know there is that chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. From the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama has a tremendous variety of fish species to pursue. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But those creatures existed in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million years ago and not in modern-day Alabama. Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. I caught several small fish, but I had no luck on a fish over 30 pounds. 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. They look to consume as many calories as possible while burning as few calories as possible, therefore they do their most aggressive feeding when their advantage over the baitfish is greatestat peak tide. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 256 338-1741, Trident Marina What is the name of the largest fish found in Alabama freshwater? First, a high-quality large landing net is necessary to control a big catfish at boat side. 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