Alabama Bass Fishing Lakes
Structure is the name of the game...
The best bass fishing lakes are full of under water structure. It doesn’t matter if you are fishing for largemouth or smallmouth bass, both species look for cover. Fortunately, Alabama has an abundance of lakes with these characteristics.
Largemouth bass are usually found in waters less than 20 feet. They prefer lakes that are weedy and also like backwater regions of large rivers that provide slow currents. Largemouth can often be found in heavy vegetation, soft bottoms and in a variety of cover such as fallen trees, stumps and water lilies. Their diet consists of plankton, insects, fish, frogs and crayfish.
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Many anglers agree the best bass fishing lakes for smallmouth are rich in rocky points and reefs. Typically the fish can be found in 5 to 10 feet of water. However, many smallmouth bass have been caught in deeper water around rocky shores, sunken rock bars and underwater shelves. The deep water can be home to feeder fish and often attract smallmouth bass.
Both species of bass are sensitive to pollution and as a result can usually be found in only the cleanest of waters.
If you are looking to find that wall-hanger or just want to catch a limit of good quality fish, you can't beat these great Alabama bass fishing lakes.
Lake Eufaula
Lake Eufaula is a 45,181-acre reservoir located on the Chattahoochee River along the border of Alabama and Georgia. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir stretches from Phoenix City, Alabama, to the Walter F. George Dam at Ft. Gaines, Georgia.
Lake Guntersville
Lake Guntersville is Alabama’s largest reservoir. The 69,100 acre Tennessee River impoundment is in Marshall and Jackson counties in Alabama, as well as Marion County in Tennessee. It is bordered upstream by Hales Bar and downstream by Wheeler Lake. The lake begins at Guntersville Dam eleven miles northeast of Guntersville and stretches 82.1 miles to Hales Bar Dam. A total of 24,450 square miles drain into the lake.
Wheeler Lake
Located between Guntersville Lake and Wilson and Pickwick Lakes lies this true fish-producing 'gem' of the Tennessee River - Wheeler Lake.
Pickwick Lake
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the most sought after species by anglers. Pickwick Lake has a reputation as one of Alabama's best bass fishing lakes.
Lay Lake
Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir located thirty-five minutes south of Birmingham off I-65 and fifteen miles south of Columbiana in east-central Alabama. This Alabama lake borders St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Coosa, and Chilton Counties. The primary uses for this reservoir are hydroelectric generation and recreation.
Lake Jordan
Lake Jordan is located twenty-five miles due north of the city of Montgomery in central Alabama. It is a 6,800-acre impoundment on the Coosa River with 188 miles of shoreline.
Logan Martin Lake
Logan Martin Lake is located in east-central Alabama on the Coosa River, approximately 30 miles east of Birmingham (the lake borders St. Clair and Talladega counties). The reservoir extends 48.5 miles from the dam upstream to Neely Henry dam and contains 15,263 acres. It has 275 miles of shoreline. Full Pool is 465.0 feet. Logan Martin is one of six Alabama Power Company reservoirs on the Coosa River.
Neely Henry
Neely Henry Lake is located in northeast Alabama on the Coosa River, near the towns of Gadsden and Ohatchee. Just off I-59, the reservoir envelops 11,235 acres and extends 77.6 miles from the dam upstream to Weiss dam. Generally a river-run lake, Neely Henry fans out toward the dam to offer more open water. Neely Henry is one of the best-kept fishing secrets in Alabama. And the ones who know about it, like it that way.
Lake Mitchell
Located ten miles due east of the city of Clanton in central Alabama, Lake Mitchell is a 5,850-acre impoundment on the Coosa River with 147 miles of shoreline. It was the site of the 2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship.
Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake, commonly referred to as Smith Lake, is an Alabama Power Company Reservoir located in Cullman, Walker and Winston counties. It was created by the construction of the Lewis Smith Dam in 1961 and is the largest earthen dam in the eastern United states. The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River was backed up to create more than 500 miles of shoreline on a three fingered lake.
Lake Wedowee
Harris Dam and the R. L. Harris Reservoir, better known as "Lake Wedowee," is the newest of the fourteen Alabama Power Company hydroelectric developments. The 10,660 acre lake with approximately 270 miles of shoreline is located in east-northeast Alabama on the upper Tallapoosa River in Randolph and Clay Counties, near the great southern Town of Wedowee.
Lake Martin
Located on the outskirts of Alexander City in Central Alabama, Lake Martin is a 39,180-acre impoundment on the Tallapoosa River. It has 700 beautiful miles of shoreline. Lake Martin is probably the most popular recreational reservoir in Alabama. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and is a great bass fishing lake. Alabama Power Company impounded the Tallapoosa River in 1926 near Cherokee Bluffs to form Lake Martin. The lake was constructed primarily for flood control and to supply hydroelectric power to Alabama residents, but it also provides recreational opportunities to anglers and boaters.
Some of the best bass fishing lakes are located in Alabama. When possible, practice catch and release fishing. We do all we can to protect our fish resource and hope to leave a legacy of bass fishing for our children.
Thanks for reading.
Good fishing.
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