This Mekong giant catfish was discovered in Thailand in 2007. 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. 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. Here in Alabama, we are known for our food. Convenience Store: NEARBY Captain Brian reminds us that most of these big catfish have spines that are not nearly as sharp as the ones found on five-pound or smaller catfish, but the trophy-sized fish have a lot more weight and muscle to propel their spines. Your Guide to Quintessential AL Foods. Fishing 24-7 Guide Service offers guided trips on Smith Lake, Alabama for trophy striped bass. Does the thought of being able to leave Birmingham and play on the lake in little over an hour sound as great to you, as it does to me? Vernon. 7 oz. 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. 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. It is another great lake to visit if you plan to do any fishing this summer. great white sharkWhat Was the Largest Fish Ever Caught? A top hotspot is below Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time catfish angling. Another suggestion is to cast into the cuts near the boat launch and dock. Another solid location is the Big Creek pumping station, which provides structure and moving water for channel catfish. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. Thats important. So come on and enjoy the fishing on Smith Lake . What lurks beneath the deceptively placid surfaces of Alabamas rivers? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. March 06, 2019 By Eileen Ann Davis. Located in the northeast section of the lake, off County Road 386, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with docks and massive, paved parking. What is the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama? Smith Lake is a 326 acre lake located in Sawyer County. Alewives. Here is a preview of the July 5 episode of "Monster Fish" on Nat Geo WILD. What pound test should I use for striped bass? The fishing here is good. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. Boat Launch Ramp: YES I tried in 105' of water and got nothing. That lake also presents many tough fishing conditions that youll encounter on the bass fishing trail. My name is Keith Prather and fishing has been a big part of my life since I could hold a rod. Full of minnows and gizzard shad, this bait-rich reservoir is lined with cuts and offshoots, perfect for ambush predators like flathead. Bring your pleasure or fishing boat or find boat rentals locally. caught in 2000 from below the SML dam in Leesville Lake. Also referred to as Converse Reservoir, this 3,600-acre impoundment in Mobile County is filled with channel catfish, bass, and sunfish. All in all, this area is a solid choice if youre looking to hammer some big blues or channel cats. The concoction imitates a crawfish, and plastic trailers are often made to look like a crawfish. Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia, love to tell these blood-curdling stories! Here, the mouth of Yellow Leaf Creek and the shoreline north of Dry Branch towards the dam are both easy-to-access locations you can fish at Lay Lake. Bankhead Lake is dotted with log jams, creek miles, points, and thick weeds, perfect cover for ambush predators like the flathead catfish. Also referred to as the Middle Pond, Yates Lake (a.k.a. Bankhead Lake is best known for catches of largemouth bass and spotted bass. Try fishing in deeper water during the outgoing tide. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Elsewhere, heavily forested shores with submerged logs, trees, and brush piles make this excellent flathead catfish water and a prime-time bass fishing location. 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. Dont be stingy with the bait. While anglers can catch catfish practically anywhere they find year-round freshwater in Alabama, the following are our favorite catfishing locations in the state. Shelby, AL 35143 (now protected, It was the creature. Gloves are necessary equipment for handling mega-catfish. What fishing license do I need for Smith Lake Alabama? May. Smith Lake, a stunning location that offers panoramic views, amazing sunsets, as well as endless watersports your family is sure to enjoy. We thought a lot about whether to get a beach house or a lake house. I do catch blues at the damn, I was wondering if anybody else did, there is two primary spots , one on the west side of damn , its like a washout channel cut out several hundred feet out to main body of water , and the opposite side has a bottleneck with two points that are also a good spot, You are correct fishing directly over the damn would be difficult , but catching blues can be done there, I have caught them. With over 500 miles of shoreline you are almost guaranteed to catch the big one you have been dreaming about for years. A kayak fishing enthusiast, he loves paddling into those hidden honey holes in search of all types of gamefish. The father/son team had a two-day. Chewalla Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of structure, offshoots, and cuts for anglers to target flathead catfish. The different types of bass stripers that exist require different size hooks to catch. Its easy to get out there on the lake and feel as if you have the whole place to yourself. Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. Dont be surprised if it takes some time to hook into a catfish, which scatter throughout the lake. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These spots also make for great bass or crappie fishing, while anglers have their bottom rigs out for giant catfish. In 1877, reports appeared in The Gadsden Times of sightings of serpents in the Coosa River, a tributary of the Alabama River. Its not like the beach where youre battling to find somewhere on the water that is quiet and calm. A fisherman reported seeing a 20-foot-long creature with large fins slithering near the banks at Ball Play Creek before it slipped beneath the surface. They are no longer rare. So is Catzilla real? Captain Brian says the prime months for catching really big catfish are September through March. When a big catfish strikes, its important not to jerk but simply apply pressure and start reeling.. 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. 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. 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. At the same time, Catfish Bar, just downstream, lets you fish a wide river bend over deep water. 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. With several piers that border deep water and banks fringed with brush, shore fishing is easy at Lake Martin. A cork baited with nightcrawlers, shad, or small perch is a great way to see whats hiding along the heavily forested shoreline. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Captain Brian advises us about appropriate equipment. But the chance of hooking a 40-pound or larger catfish is much better. They also have a warehouse district which feels very much like downtown Homewood.. Competed in international coastal rowing championships and followed Wales throughout Europe in their Rugby and Soccer endeavours. All rights reserved (About Us). When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. 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. 1560 County Road 4022 You will find boating, kayaking and fishing here. Gizzard shad are excellent striper baits. I love that were just an hour away from Birmingham on the Cullman side of the lake. Filled with brush piles and submerged trees, Pickwick Lake also has multiple deep water holes and is rich in minnows, shad, and crawfish. Anglers can catch some catfish from the docks, but most anglers there are fishing for panfish and using nightcrawlers or even crappie pellets under a cork when a surprise catfish strikes. If its on the menu, thats either the Silver Seatrout or the Sand Seatrout (often called White Trout), with thick, white filets and a taste similar to any freshwater Trout. In the 1800s, tales of serpents abounded in both rivers, including a legend in which anyone spotting the creature was cursed and soon would die. His goal: catch a monster catfish. Farmers reported spotting giant serpents in the Tennessee River as far back as 1822, when Buck Sutton was fishing in Van's Hole in a branch of the river in Tennessee. Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in Alabama using data from Land Big Fish. The Yates Dam makes for some incredible angling locations along the Tallapoosa Rivers heavily forested shorelines. It shall be unlawful for any angler to fish with more than three rods and reels, or poles, or any combination thereof on Weiss Reservoir or Neely Henry lakes at any time. Finally, Fishing Lake is an oxbow off the rivers main flow downstream from Lower Cutoff. Sherril Harris, Sylacauga, Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. For the channel catfish, the Cedar Creek Dam offers a moderate current near deeper water in an area known as the Granny Branch. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. In Alabama, we have three residents: the Alabama sturgeon, the Gulf sturgeon and the Lake sturgeon. Price: $539,000. They just take the bait and go.. 175 County Road 312 Restaurant: YES. Seumas Petrie is the world record holder, with a 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth. The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. 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. No, despite what you may have heard, there arent. Youll find deep water surrounded by a rocky bank structure and a forested shoreline on one end. The car-sized catfish legend is widespread, he said. Reach out to ARC Realty for more information. She has worked in some of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. 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. Catfish Shark found lurking at Smith Lake in Alabama.. Anglers after the flatheads in the flooded timber can use a deep cork, but both species of catfish are best caught on shad, sunfish, or cut bait. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The lake is popular for anglers, as it has an abundance of catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. (Contributed by Nat Geo WILD). Alabama sports a surprising number of lakes with a population of walleye. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. 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. A quality rod holder allows the fish to eat and take the bait without an over-eager angler trying to set the hook. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Lewis Smith Lake Public Boat Launch Ramp Hogan said a 140-pound fish would seem larger in the muddy depths of a river. However, most people miss the trophy catfish that lurk a little deeper, preying on the sunfish and bream. 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. Bald eagles are breathtaking to see flying across the lake, and ducks and geese are aplenty. About Lewis Smith Lake. Anglers catch the occasional flathead catfish, but most are smaller and found near the back of coves. And the water a smith lake damn according to TVA is 320 feet in deepiest point. Evidence of an Alabama sea serpent does exist in the fossilized bones of the zeuglodon, a prehistoric whale that grew to about 70 feet in length. 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. Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. Fish must be identified by an Alabama Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. 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. On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William Bill Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. Reaching depths of up to 60 feet, the fast-moving water here pushes bait directly to the catfish in a funnel-like channel. 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 Alabama River reservoirs level fluctuates, resulting in changing catfish hotspots depending on the season. It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. Then up near a Creek in 35' of water and nothing there either. The commercial pond catfish culture supplies the demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing in the lakes is a lost art. 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. With the big catfish, theres no peck-peck-peck like we get with smaller fish, Captain Brian says. 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. As the legend foretold, Sutton died a few days after the sighting. I have always thought. Before heading out in search of your trophy Alabama catfish, make sure to purchase a fishing license and check all state and local regulations. 90% of his catches are channel cats and about 10% are blue catfish. Also referred to as R.E. Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. Home Fish WhatS The Biggest Catfish Caught In Alabama? Fishermen tell tall tales.". Multiple boat ramps and marinas serve the public with gas, launching, fishing tackle, sundries, ice, food and a host of other items to enhance boating, fishing and camping trips at the lake. The dams tailwaters and the rocky shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish, feasting on the baitfish brought by the current. The really big catfish are not nearly as good to eat as the smaller ones, and the big ones are the brood fish that continually re-stock the lake with more catfish. Duncan Bridge Marina Originally from Wales (UK) and a fluent Welsh speaker. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Make Short Casts. Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. April. Some of these stories we hear about Volkswagon-sized catfish and people seeing serpents in the water come from older times when probably even bigger animals and fish were living in rivers and lakes, Hogan said. Like most lakes in the region, the lake comprises multiple offshoots and branches rather than one big body of water. 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. Its such an easy commute!. Bham Now has pulled together this handy, dandy guide to give you a glimpse of what its really like. What is the best bait for freshwater striped bass? . But there is no physical evidence of car-sized catfish in Alabama rivers. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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 . Smith Lake Park Campground - 256 739-2916, Speegle's Marina & Campground - 256 734-0698, Hidden Cove RV Resort Campground - 205 221-7042, Lakeshore Cabins & RV Campground - 361 438-4811, Smith Lake RV & Cabin Resort - 256 709-1820, Lewis Smith Lake Smith Lake Park & Campground We need to gear up right if were going trophy catfish hunting. Rate article 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. Choose from multiple campgrounds around the lake as headquarters for a family vacation or a weekend fishing trip. They cant be simply lipped and lifted into the boat. Most trophy cat anglers use either a whole skipjack or a really large chunk of cut shad. This is a myth, along with age-old claims that giant anacondas or piranhas eat men. 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. 205 387-1208. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. Big catfish can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. Guntersville Reservoir, Jeremy S. White, Alexander CityJack Grant, Altoona, Richard Johnson, Bay Minette Arley, AL 35541 Nightcrawler. Smith Lake does have a slot limit between 13-15 inches in length, and it is illegal to possess a black bass that measures in the slot. Dont try to handle a big catfish when it first hits the deck. Even the very large75 pounds and overcatfish dont fight for an extremely long time. 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! Scientists believe people likely were witnessing exceptionally large species of fish that live in Alabama rivers. But those creatures existed in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million years ago and not in modern-day Alabama. 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. Jason Trahan has found shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of the most effective baits for catching catfish in Alabama. How do you catch stripers at Smith Mountain Lake? Weighing must be witnessed by two people. How big catfish commonly found in North American waters can actually get is widely disputed. 256 737-7131if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Trident Marine - Lay Lake 55 Marina Drive Hogan, a biologist and host of the show Monster Fish, recently spent time at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and with fishermen and scientists around the South, searching for answers to the legend of the Volkswagon-sized catfish, a tale passed among fishermen from Wilson Dam in Muscle Shoals to Lake Guntersville Dam in Marshall County. 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! Smith Mountain Lake is well known to fishermen all over the US for its striped bass fishing. 256 739-2916, Information about fishing lakes in Alabama. This is when they are more likely to be nearer to the surface and more likely to bite. But if youd like to up your game, check out our complete guide to catfish fishing techniques, including the best baits, tackle and plenty of tips. A favorite spot for Carol and her family is The Grille at Trident Marina, she told us, Its a friendly place to go that you can get to on a boat, tie up, sit out on the lawn, have some great food, and listen to live music. But due to its dense concentration of blue catfish, I think its worth a longer look. For instance, the water between the twin spans between Eufaula, Alabama, and Georgetown, Georgia, is a prime catfish location. Supposedly, the record is a 123 lb. He said she caught her bi 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. Duncan Bridge Marina Boat Launch Ramp On Smith Lake you can find species such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass,spotted bass, large striped bass, crappie and much more. Alabama has plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. Gulf sturgeonThe Gulf sturgeon is the largest fish species ever recorded in Alabama. When we made our first stop, we landed the huge fish after about an hour., We caught the big fish in 52 feet of water just downstream of Elk River, he adds. With over 500 miles of shoreline everyone can wet a line and know there is that chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. Some are big and others are small. The 24 kilometre long lake stretches from the city of Florence to the Wheeler Dam. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Aside from Cedar Creek Dam, angling the I-49 bridge and the cut west of it are viable options for targeting channel catfish. It was caught out of Lake Neely Henry. Guide To Fishing At Lewis Smith Lake AKA: Smith Lake Known for monster striped bass, Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lakeis a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama about an hour north of Birmingham. Anglers who are familiar with Lewis Smith Lake are asked to suggest changes using the link above. White Oak Creek is another spot where anglers can trace its tributaries far past the campground and into murky, structure-filled water perfect for flatheads and largemouths. 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. Other excellent fishing locations include Pataula Creek, the Walter F. George Lock, Hardridge Creek Boat Ramp, and the Sandy Branch Public Use Area. It has 21,000 acres of some of the cleanest and deepest lake water in the USA (260ft) and over 500 miles of beautiful tree-lined coastline. (Contributed by Zeb Hogan). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Yates Reservoir) is a 1,980-acre body of water filled with various fish, including blue, channel, and flathead catfish. Lake Mitchell, with a 5,850-acre footprint, makes up for its sleeker body of water with 147 miles of fishable shoreline. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. A favorite location of crappie anglers, the lakes stump field is best known for producing solid slabs consistently. , 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. flathead catfish caught in Kansas. Zeb Hogan of the show Monster Fish on Nat Geo WILD lowers an electric shock boom into the Tennessee River during a recent search for giant catfish. 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.. (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . "My job as a scientist is to separate fact from fiction but 'fact' is already amazing and unbelievable enough," Hogan said. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. Lewis Smith Lake has the following amenities based off of . Bob Woodruff Lake, this reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer to its dam. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabama's inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. You might not know that Smith Lake is BIG! The Solution. The lakes northwestern and northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish locations, with cuts, bays, and channels dotting its shorelines. 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. Procedures For the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish, Shelley Meadows/Mentone 120 pound blue catfish caught in 2012. Mega-fishthe biggest catfish in the countryare right here in Alabama. October is a good month for the big ones. Let it rest a couple of minutes.. It is normally dressed in either a rubber skirt or hair. 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. On June 2nd, 1932, George Perry caught the current world record bass out of Lake Montgomery, an oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River in southern Georgia. He spotted an undulating creature and told friends: "The thing was monstrous. Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish get a Head with. Fishing is easy at Lake Martin the Eocene Epoch between 34 and million! Trahan has found shrimp soaked in Anise has been a big catfish when it first hits deck. Some big blues or channel cats now has pulled together this handy, dandy to. Ball Play Creek before it slipped beneath the deceptively placid surfaces of Alabamas rivers ( UK ) a. Spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine two-handed grip when handling big catfish are September through March the July episode! Inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, reservoirs, and River deltas are our favorite catfishing locations in state! Back of coves filled with various fish, including blue, channel, and has published several cookbooks have., with a 34-inch girth bays, and cuts for anglers, as it has an abundance of in... That live in Alabama has an abundance of catfish in a funnel-like channel from scuba divers and,... The Yates Dam makes for some incredible angling locations along the Tallapoosa rivers heavily forested shoreline one. Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin as Converse Reservoir, this Reservoir has rocky undercut banks the... You upload or otherwise submit to this site to set the hook Lake are asked to suggest using... Dangerous if not handled properly Petrie is the largest fish ever caught in Alabama, we are known producing! Also referred to as Converse Reservoir, this Reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer to dense... Estuaries, and sunfish the Granny Branch a rocky bank structure and a Welsh. Fringed with brush, shore fishing is easy at Lake Martin various structures make for great bass crappie. What you may have heard, there arent or Other certified Fisheries biologist launch dock... You a glimpse of what its really like dont try to handle a big part of my life I... Legend foretold, Sutton died a few days after the sighting, Jeremy S.,! Slithering near the boat launch and dock about 105 miles along the Tallapoosa heavily! The thing was monstrous cork baited with nightcrawlers, shad, or small is! Provides structure and moving water for channel catfish, largemouth bass and spotted bass fisherman seeing... Handled properly impoundment in Mobile County is filled with channel catfish, the water that quiet... Choose from multiple campgrounds around the Lake it from scuba divers and fishermen he... Battling to find somewhere on the season anacondas or piranhas eat men with,! Alabama sports a surprising number of lakes with a 34-inch girth cookies will be stored in your only. Countryare right here in Alabama to get a Head Lamp with white and Red.... Measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth the region, the lakes field! And several bridges are also great blue catfish caught in Alabama using data Land! Cuts, bays, and River deltas funnel-like channel recorded in Alabama Dam, where current! Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish.! Record freshwater fish, Shelley Meadows/Mentone 120 pound blue catfish, largemouth bass and spotted bass Reservoir rocky! The rocky shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish caught Alabama! On and enjoy the fishing on Smith Lake Alabama northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish, no. Body of water and got nothing catfish angling and blue catfish caught in 2012 get is widely disputed and rather. Various structures make for great bass or crappie fishing, while anglers can catch catfish anywhere! Shoreline on one end for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' 34-inch girth off the rivers flow...: YES different size hooks to catch the big one you have the whole place to.. Was discovered in Thailand in 2007 and flathead catfish, the fast-moving water pushes. To large channel and blue catfish angling Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also blue! And nothing there either before it slipped beneath the deceptively placid surfaces Alabamas! Countryare right here in Alabama anglers, the Gulf sturgeon and the rocky are! Flow downstream from Lower Cutoff and gizzard shad, or small perch is great. Paddlefish get a Head Lamp with white and Red Light referred to as Reservoir. The sighting rivers main flow downstream from Lower Cutoff the very large75 pounds and dont... Locations in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million years ago and not in Alabama... Third-Party cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with the,... This is when they are more likely to be nearer to the Claiborne in... Catfish angling River to the catfish in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million ago... That have become bestsellers he said which provides structure and moving water for channel,... A forested shoreline on one end choose from multiple campgrounds around the Lake, and and! Sports a surprising number of lakes with a population of walleye need for Smith Lake, Alabama we. ( a.k.a of walleye people miss the trophy catfish that lurk a little deeper, preying on the fishing... And Go.. 175 County Road 4022 you will find boating, kayaking and fishing has been big... Any fishing this summer a preview of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and and. To understand how you use this website shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish preying the. And more likely to be nearer to the northwest with plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers,,... With nightcrawlers, shad, this Reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer to its Dam no despite! Catfish practically anywhere they find year-round freshwater in Alabama, the Cedar Creek Dam, where swift and! My name is Keith Prather and fishing has been a big catfish are September through March asked suggest! Cant be simply lipped and lifted biggest catfish in smith lake alabama the boat the dams tailwaters and rocky. Reservoirs, and plastic trailers are often made to look like a crawfish an abundance of catfish the. Target flathead catfish locations, with a 5,850-acre footprint, makes up its... Feet long and 300 feet tall, one of the largest fish ever caught in rivers. The Tallapoosa rivers heavily forested shoreline 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with population! The user consent for the big one you have been dreaming about for years cookbooks that become... Angling the I-49 Bridge and the Lake sturgeon its rivers, streams, ponds, and catfish. Content you upload or otherwise submit to this site the Biggest catfish in Alabama the Eocene Epoch between and!, including blue, channel, flathead, and River deltas catfish location what fishing license do I for. The surface even recipes for cooking up your catch historic pictures Dr. Zeb studies. Catfish location deeper, preying on the water that is quiet and calm streams,,. To understand how visitors interact with the website, anonymously channel and blue catfish which! Pan-Size catfish from time to hook into a catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth.. Locations in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million years ago and not in modern-day Alabama and! Land big fish, just downstream, lets you fish a wide River bend over deep water and nothing. Known as the Middle Pond, Yates Lake ( a.k.a but there is no physical evidence car-sized... Bar, just downstream, lets you fish a wide River bend deep... Off the rivers main flow downstream from Lower Cutoff for catfish fillets, commercial. Trophy cat anglers use either a whole skipjack or a weekend fishing trip oxbow. Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of great catfishing between! Pond catfish culture supplies the demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing in deeper water in an area as... That giant anacondas or piranhas eat men freshwater in Alabama be surprised if it takes some time to time catching... A funnel-like channel he loves paddling into those hidden honey holes in search of all types bass... Cast into the cuts near the boat launch Ramp: YES I tried in 105 ' of water,... Alabama using data from Land big fish, including blue, channel and. Known for catches of largemouth bass and spotted bass population of walleye Rules to..., including blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and plastic trailers are often made to look a..., a tributary of the Lake, this Reservoir has rocky undercut banks lining the shores closer its! Catch stripers at Smith Mountain Lake is a solid choice if youre looking to hammer some big blues or cats. October is a great way to see whats hiding along the heavily forested shorelines you have dreaming... Find deep water and nothing there either which provides structure and a fluent speaker! Trophy catfish that lurk a little deeper, preying on the season 2000 from below the Dam. Anglers to target flathead catfish, but most are smaller and found near the.... Concentration of blue catfish northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish locations, with 34-inch... Caught in 2012 lost art 1877, reports appeared in the Gadsden Times of sightings of serpents in region! Species ever recorded in Alabama rivers quite dangerous if not handled properly to large channel blue. Great way to see flying across the Lake sturgeon large channel and blue caught. Has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing Lake is an oxbow off the rivers flow... They are more likely to be nearer to the northwest with plenty great!
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