Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Are there monsters in our midst? Your Guide to Quintessential AL Foods. 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. The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. For instance, when Captain Brian recently caught his 75 pounder, the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes. March 06, 2019 By Eileen Ann Davis. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 3919, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking. On his trip to the Tennessee Aquarium, Hogan dove with fish in its new River Giants exhibit so he could experience swimming with the over-sized specimens. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in Alabama using data from Land Big Fish. 55 Marina Drive Further into the creeks, angular should target structure with a deep cork or work the cut or channel mouths with bottom rigs baited with small live crappie, shad, or crawfish. Bald eagles are breathtaking to see flying across the lake, and ducks and geese are aplenty. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. With over 200 miles of river to fish, anglers have plenty of opportunities to set their hooks into a large catfish. Are you dreaming about the perfect weekend pad at Smith Lake? Hogan said a 140-pound fish would seem larger in the muddy depths of a river. Geneva County Lake consists of two lakes, 33- and 32 acres (130,000 m 2) in size, located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Enterprise off County Road 63. Catfish will move into shallow water in the dead of winter if heavy current exists. Are there catfish in Smith Lake Alabama? Located in southeastern Alabama, Lake Harding is home to various species, including channel catfish, blue catfish, and a host of bass. Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This 9,200-acre reservoir along the Black River in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven. Rich with juvenile bass, sunfish, and crappie, this lake is the perfect feeding ground for monster catfish. Anglers who are fishing from a boat often stick with a cork baited with bait fish. Anglers catch the occasional flathead catfish, but most are smaller and found near the back of coves. But those creatures existed in the Eocene Epoch between 34 and 50 million years ago and not in modern-day Alabama. Have you thought about getting your own place? The fish (the whopper) weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces. For more on how to catch catfish, please see our how-to article about catfish fishing linked at the bottom of this article. Bankhead Lake is dotted with log jams, creek miles, points, and thick weeds, perfect cover for ambush predators like the flathead catfish. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Its possible to hook very large catfish on standard-issue fishing gear. Channel catfish are stocked into state-owned public fishing lakes on a put-grow-and-take or put-and-take basis as indicated by biological monitoring and lake catch records. "At end of the day, there certainly is some truth to these stories but people also enjoy telling stories. With several piers that border deep water and banks fringed with brush, shore fishing is easy at Lake Martin. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabama's inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. 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. But the chance of hooking a 40-pound or larger catfish is much better. 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. At Smith Lake dam you have water over 200 ft. in places. This is a blue catfish that weighed 23 pounds and measured 36.5 inches in length. It was the creature. Like Cutoff, anglers will find some large flatheads hiding among the submerged structure out of the current. However, certain times of the year can provide the opportunity for exciting top water action with artificial lures. Fishermen tell tall tales.". Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. Rentals: Pontoon boats A net that is too small or rotten and not up to the strain of landing a heavy fish is a recipe for disaster. The Sacramento River system starts to fill up with stripers as they migrate up to Knights Landing and Colusa to start the spawn. 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. How do you catch striped bass on Smith Lake Alabama? This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Career highlights include introducing innovative recycling systems and achieving a point where households throw out trash just once a month. Carol added You get a real feeling of community at Smith Lake. Having fished here several times, I recommend giving it about 10 minutes per location before trying a new spot. 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. 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. They are no longer rare. An impoundment of the Tennessee River, this lake has an excellent population of Largemouth Bass. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). flathead catfish caught in Kansas. 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. They also make an awesome Sunset Margarita. No remains have ever been found to support existence of river serpents. I catfish up at the Cullman end of the lake. What is this? The scent will travel with the current and draw in the catfish. release when captured). 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. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. (now protected, She has worked in some of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. Like any other trophy trip, the route to trophy catfish takes some planning and arranging for success. In Alabama, we have three residents: the Alabama sturgeon, the Gulf sturgeon and the Lake sturgeon. Why you should care, the quality of the air you breathe depends on it. 120 lbs.Procedures for the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish. 256 739-2916, Information about fishing lakes in Alabama. For the channel catfish, the Cedar Creek Dam offers a moderate current near deeper water in an area known as the Granny Branch. This means gorgeous, blissful privacy and stunning natural scenery. Cappy's Boats A forum community dedicated to catfishers and enthusiasts. 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. 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. 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. What pound test should I use for striped bass? Application must be submitted on an official application form within three months of the catch (request a form by dialing 1-334-242-3471). 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. If youre not sold on lakeside versus seaside yet, consider this. 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. Rentals: Pontoon boats 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. 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. Anglers can even fish part of this location from shore from the Lake Eufaula Campground. 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. While size matters in a lot of things, this smaller reservoir proves that good things can come in small packages. 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. Its small town living., This is echoed by ARC Realtys Leda Mims, Ive been coming to the lake since I was nine years old. From hand-size bluegill to monster catfish in freshwater or 5-pound sheepshead to 60-pound amberjack in saltwater, this year's fishing calendar has something for everyone. Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. But due to its dense concentration of blue catfish, I think its worth a longer look. At the same time, Catfish Bar, just downstream, lets you fish a wide river bend over deep water. Arley, Alabama 35541 Duncan Bridge Marina Boat Launch Ramp The pig is a trailer, often of pork rind, hence the name, or plastic. For the past 10 years, Hogan has been working to find, study and protect the worlds largest freshwater fish. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. 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. The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. What is the best bait for freshwater striped bass? Youll hear it from scuba divers and fishermen, he said. JavaScript is disabled. Most trophy cat anglers use either a whole skipjack or a really large chunk of cut shad. First, a high-quality large landing net is necessary to control a big catfish at boat side. Because channel catfish love deep holes and currents, its essential to locate deeper holes with fast-moving water to target these hungry catfish. Hot weather months are typically the poorest times to go after really big catfish. Smith Lake homes some very good largemouth and spotted bass fishing. 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. Bankhead Lake is best known for catches of largemouth bass and spotted bass. The bridge funnels the water through a small underpass with a decent current, and the water here is deep enough to house some monster channel cats. Theres so many great restaurants some of my favorites are Augustas Sports Grill and 412 Public House. My name is Keith Prather and fishing has been a big part of my life since I could hold a rod. The lake spans over 21,000 acres in Cullman . 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. The deep clean lake, wildlife, a real sense of community, great spots to eat, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water. Lick Creek Boat Launch Ramp 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. October is a good month for the big ones. Catching three to five-pound cats is fun, and theres no better main ingredient for a fish fry than fillets from this size fish. 120 pound blue catfish caught in 2012. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Using a live minnow, shad, or crawfish, anglers should target submerged structures such as fallen trees or undercut banks to rip into massive flathead. With five significant species in Alabama, catfish are one of the most sought-after fish in the state. Application must be submitted on official. Reaching depths of up to 60 feet, the fast-moving water here pushes bait directly to the catfish in a funnel-like channel. Arley, AL 35541 Theres plenty of spots to go for a peaceful swim, or if you want to get the adrenaline pumping, popular cliff jumping spots into the lake are Indian head jump (30 ft) and Castle Rock (4050 ft.). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. 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 When a big catfish is brought aboard, anglers need to resist the temptation to immediately lift up the fish and take pictures. 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. The Yates Dam makes for some incredible angling locations along the Tallapoosa Rivers heavily forested shorelines. 1560 County Road 4022 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. 175 County Road 312 There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. All content on this site is Copyright Rushing Waters MediaLLC/Bham Now 2016-2023. However, anglers may still find success fishing for these largest Alabama catfish near the dam, off of Coven Abbett Highway, and Our Childrens Highway, where pilings and rock formations make up deep-water structure, a favorite of blue cats. Then up near a Creek in 35' of water and nothing there either. 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. The $29 million project was formally dedicated on May 23, 1961, and named for Alabama Power Company president Lewis M. Smith, who had been closely involved in its planning and design. Boat Launch Ramp: YES 90% of his catches are channel cats and about 10% are blue catfish. 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. 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.. Is The Flathead Catfish An Invasive Species In Pa? 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. Hers was the last authenticated account of the serpent, Floyd wrote. Starts to fill up with stripers as they migrate up to 60,! 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