After a short fight, the 75-pound catfish was in the boat.. WebKnown 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. No more than five of the 15 may exceed 22 inches in total length.

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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. These small fish are the best bait for the bottom rigs used at this location. 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. 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 It measured 15 inches in length and 7 inches from top to bottom. Choose from multiple campgrounds around the lake as headquarters for a family vacation or a weekend fishing trip. Several VA fishing guides offer guided fishing trips on Smith Mountain Lake with all fishing gear included. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aa_fishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-leader-1-0'); Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. Shelby, AL 35143 Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. Little Bear Creek Reservoir of the B.C.D.A Lakes It is illegal to possess largemouth bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length. The Tombigbee Rivers blue catfish tend to hold in the main channel in spots like the Ball Bluff Bridge near Coffeeville, McGrews Shoals near St. Stephens Historical Park, or the intersection of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers near Mt. During construction, an excavation was performed by Smithsonian Institute archaeologists. Bottom rigs baited with minnows, cut bait, or liver are a great choice here. First, timing is important. This Alabama River reservoirs level fluctuates, resulting in changing catfish hotspots depending on the season. Click the images and links above for species details. 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. Let it rest a couple of minutes.. If the bait is on the bottom, the fish will lift it and relieve the pressure fairly gently. 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. This 4,200-acre reservoir in northwestern Alabama yields excellent catfish angling, especially for flatheads and channel cats. Then up near a Creek in 35' of water and nothing there either. Home; My name is Keith Prather and fishing has been a big part of my life since I could hold a rod. The station is in the southeastern arm of the lake, which is full of creeks and cuts. 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 dam walls were completed in September 1963 and the Blackwater and Roanoke Rivers began filling Smith Mountain Lake. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Other opportunities include cutthroat trout, eastern brook trout, and jumbo triploid rainbow trout that are stocked in the spring. Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir fed by the tailwaters of the Logan Martin Dam. Where can I catch bass on Smith Mountain Lake? However, boat anglers can moor out of the main river flow by ducking behind the small concrete structure on the dams right side and casting into the stronger current. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) there are no wild alligators in SML or anywhere in Virginia except the Dismal Swamp in southeastern Virginia. The Alabama rig is not a lure, but a device that allows an angler to deliver multiple lures on a single cast. In addition to big 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. When it comes to shore fishing from the Alabama side, the Waterloo Boat Ramp and Second Creek Recreation Area offer anglers easy access to deep water from shore. We need to gear up right if were going trophy catfish hunting. T. S. Hudsons bluegill weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces, and it was 15 inches long, with a girth of 18 inches. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. The state record flathead catfish came from the Alabama River. 403 Co Rd 386 Dont be surprised if it takes some time to hook into a catfish, which scatter throughout the lake. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. They just take the bait and go.. Bankhead Lake is dotted with log jams, creek miles, points, and thick weeds, perfect cover for ambush predators like the flathead catfish. 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. Cullman, Alabama 35057 What is Minnows, nightcrawlers, and even crawfish are great baits to lure out these yellow-bellied giants. Access to shoreline for fishing from the bank is available at numerous locations around the lake. 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 Heart of Dixie is home to various species of freshwater game fish, and catfish are among the most popular Alabama game fish for anglers and chefs alike. A typical northern-strain five-pounder might be anywhere between six and 16 years old, McHugh reports. It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Fish on Smith Mountain Lakes No More Than Two Meals a Month List: Striped Bass, Gizzard Shad, Carp, Redhorse Suckers, Largemouth Bass, and Channel Catfish. For Keep reading to see which bodies of water in your state hold some of the most massive fish around. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Campgrounds: YES Best lures will be large plastic worms, jigs, drop shots, crank baits, Carolina rigs and shaky heads. During some of his deeper ocean dives, Smith said he has seen a variety of sea life, such as sharks, tuna and squid.

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. The lakes northwestern and northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish locations, with cuts, bays, and channels dotting its shorelines. Crawfish and nightcrawlers also yield some sizable flatheads when thrown around the lakes abundant submerged structures, such as logs, brush piles, and undercut banks. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. No more than 5 of the daily creel limit of 10 may be smallmouth bass.

There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. 90% of his catches are channel cats and about 10% are blue catfish.

In 7 oz. The pig is a trailer, often of pork rind, hence the name, or plastic. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. Mike slowly pulled the rod straight down to about a half-bend. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. Except as otherwise provided for State and Federally owned and/or managed fishing lakes and ponds, the daily creel, possession limits and size restrictions for fish in all public waters of this State shall be as follows: The creel and possession limits provided for above shall not apply to fish held live for release by the sponsor or its designated agent after a bona fide fishing tournament provided they are released unharmed to the public waters from which they were taken as soon as reasonably possible on the same day they were taken. Fishing from the Elkahatchee Creek Boat Ramp is a viable option, thanks to a small fishing pier that faces into the channel under the Coven Abbott Highway. Captain Brian says the prime months for catching really big catfish are September through March. It sat motionlessly. 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. Mega-fishthe biggest catfish in the countryare right here in Alabama. This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. Rentals: Pontoon boats I spool my reels with 80 lb test yellow Vicious braided line. 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. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Most trophy cat anglers use either a whole skipjack or a really large chunk of cut shad. Marina: YES Anglers can even fish part of this location from shore from the Lake Eufaula Campground. WebOur Record Bluegill and Shellcracker. When trophy fishing for any species, we have to be aware that these extra-large fish are powerful animals. WebDirections to Lake: An hour north of Birmingham or south of Huntsville and just off I-65, the lake is not difficult to find. 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. 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. Keep the bait at the right level. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. As a Smith Lake bass fishing guide, I know that the lake is home to numerous spotted bass, some of the meanest fish in any water, as well as other species like Northalbamabass. How many rods can you fish with in Alabama? Alabama has plenty of great catfishing holes between its rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. Just below Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell is where anglers should go on the Coosa River to catch giant catfish from the bank. They are worthy of respect. Great fishing year-round but late summer into mid-fall is best. All paddlefish must be immediately returned to water with least possible harm. The world record for the biggest catfish ever caught was a flathead catfish called a Mekong catfish. 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. 13 Best Catfish Fishing Lakes and Rivers in Alabama. These spots also make for great bass or crappie fishing, while anglers have their bottom rigs out for giant catfish. Are there blue catfish in Smith Mountain Lake? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. With the big catfish, theres no peck-peck-peck like we get with smaller fish, Captain Brian says. The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7.68 oz, making it not only the new Tennessee state record (previously held since 1985) but the world record. Catfish also find their way into marshes, coastal estuaries, and river deltas. See exceptions for Lewis Smith, Inland, Yates, and Thurlow reservoirs and Lake Martin. We might wonder why the mega-catfish population is so large in the big northern lakes, namely Wheeler, Wilson, and Pickwick. Ft. Payne Reservoir. Because channel catfish love deep holes and currents, its essential to locate deeper holes with fast-moving water to target these hungry catfish. 256 338-1741, Trident Marina This long river comes in from Mississippi near Pickensville and flows southward along the western side of Alabama. A: According to Virginias Dept. Click images for fishing tips and details about each species. Delicious as they are, the two species are often a topic of hot discussion among anglers and foodies alike. This is a blue catfish that weighed 23 pounds and measured 36.5 inches in length. The state record white catfish came out of Chambers Co. Public Lake. Recently, he went mega-catfishing himself. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". WebFlathead Catfish Anglers can capture prize fish weighing more than 40 pounds as well as large numbers of these tasty fish while flathead catfishing in Alabama. It shall be illegal to take or attempt to take walleye by any method from Sweetwater Lake located in the Talladega National Forest, Cleburne County, from White Plains Lake (also known as Whitesides Mill Lake), Calhoun County and from Shoal Creek upstream of White Plains Lake, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties.

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