biggest catfish in smith lake alabama
I caught several small fish, but I had no luck on a fish over 30 pounds. It sat motionlessly. In years past, it was common to see 10 to 15 commercial catfishers on the lakes on any given morning. This 1,550-acre lake in northern Alabama is home to some massive blue and channel catfish. 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. First, the lakes are very big and they all have a healthy food base for the big ones. In both of these Coosa River locations, anglers can catch big blue and channel cats on bottom rigs. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Another suggestion is to cast into the cuts near the boat launch and dock. There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Another great location is the Lower Cutoff south of Jackson. eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod, FindingThe Best Turkey Choke For Your Gun. According to IGFA records, the largest fish ever caught was a great white shark that weighed an unbelievable 2,664 pounds (1,208.389 kg.). Thurlow Reservoir It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length. Are there walleye in Smith Mountain Lake? People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia, love to tell these blood-curdling stories! Pickwick Lake, located in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, covers 43,100 acres (174 km) and is well known for smallmouth bass and Tennessee River When trophy fishing for any species, we have to be aware that these extra-large fish are powerful animals. It measured 15 inches in length and 7 inches from top to bottom. 55 Marina Drive With several piers that border deep water and banks fringed with brush, shore fishing is easy at Lake Martin. Hot weather months are typically the poorest times to go after really big catfish. What is 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. 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. The best thing for us anglers who want to catch a monster like this is to know lots of them are in the big lakes. Get a reliable, big landing net. He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. Guntersville Reservoir, Jeremy S. White, Alexander CityJack Grant, Altoona, Richard Johnson, Bay Minette 7 oz. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is a blue catfish that weighed 23 pounds and measured 36.5 inches in length. Its possible to hook very large catfish on standard-issue fishing gear. Wilson Reservoir and its Tributaries of Big Nance and Town Creeks It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. Thats important. Let it rest a couple of minutes.. Inland Reservoir It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length. Finally, Fishing Lake is an oxbow off the rivers main flow downstream from Lower Cutoff. Peter Faber of Hardy caught this monster 29+ pound flathead catfish late at night April 23 fishing on Smith Mountain Lake. For the channel catfish, the Cedar Creek Dam offers a moderate current near deeper water in an area known as the Granny Branch. 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. We rode over the area several times and located a few fish there. Where can I catch bass on Smith Mountain Lake? The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. It is normally dressed in either a rubber skirt or hair. Choose from multiple campgrounds around the lake as headquarters for a family vacation or a weekend fishing trip. 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. Harris Reservoir It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length. Lewis Smith Lake fishing for big striped bass and a host of other species in north-central AL. White Perch and Yellow Perch are two of the most delicious Panfish youll find. It is illegal to possess any Sauger less than 15 inches in total length. 4 pounds 12 ouncesThe Biggest Bluegill in the World The world record bluegill recorded by IGFA or the International Gamefish Association was caught in 1950 at Ketona Lake, Alabama. The dams tailwaters and the rocky shorelines are home to large channel and blue catfish, feasting on the baitfish brought by the current. Whats the biggest largemouth bass ever caught? Always look for moving water and watch your fishfinder for deep holes to help you find the best site. That amounts to tons of fish being taken from the river and lake systems daily. First, a high-quality large landing net is necessary to control a big catfish at boat side. See exceptions for Lewis Smith, Inland, Yates, and Thurlow reservoirs and Lake Martin. This is a myth, along with age-old claims that giant anacondas or piranhas eat men. GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. One fisher caught a large catfish at Lake Guntersville. Especially when the sun goes down, catfish will school just beneath the tailwaters of the structure, and its a nightly feeding frenzy that anglers shouldnt miss. It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one days creel limit of any species of fish beyond the boundaries of this state. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Includes combinations of largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama, shoal and those species formerly known as redeye bass, which are now known separately as Coosa, Warrior, Cahaba, Tallapoosa and Chattahoochee bass, based on their respective drainages. biggest catfish in smith lake alabama. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Anglers should moor outside the channel opening and cast into the current, letting the scent drift into the moving water and drawing the catfish out from near the dam. Boat Rental: YES 120 pound blue catfish caught in 2012. Access to shoreline for fishing from the bank is available at numerous locations around the lake. 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. Crappie, Black (tie) 4 lbs., 5 oz. Shelley Meadows Michael Houseknecht/Mobile, Chris S. Fuller, AthensBobby Lee Davis, Bessemer, Paddlefish Mike slowly pulled the rod straight down to about a half-bend. Having fished here several times, I recommend giving it about 10 minutes per location before trying a new spot. Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day unless otherwise posted at Department-owned lakes, ponds, streams, or boat access sites. 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.. They cant be simply lipped and lifted into the boat. 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 Davis proudly stands beside his 69-pound flathead. This 5,850-acre reservoir off the Chattahoochee River makes for some excellent catfish angling. 205 669-0077, Triple Creek Marina The jig of a jig and pig is usually a lead head jig with a fairly big hook. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Nightcrawler. In Alabama, we have three residents: the Alabama sturgeon, the Gulf sturgeon and the Lake sturgeon. Yes, the state does stock trout on the lower side of the damn ,and the water is always cold on that side, I"m talking about the upper side, Very deep water alote of current and alote of shad. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. When a big catfish is brought aboard, anglers need to resist the temptation to immediately lift up the fish and take pictures. So, when a big catfish is caught, it should be released. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in Alabama using data from Land Big Fish. 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. See exception for Weiss Reservoir. 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. Catching three to five-pound cats is fun, and theres no better main ingredient for a fish fry than fillets from this size fish. He said she caught her bi Alternatively, the cut to the north of Granny Branch can yield some excellent flathead action, while the deep cut beneath Blue Lick Cemetery can be trolled and cork-fished if other locations dont pan out. With over 500 miles of shoreline everyone can wet a line and know there is that chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. Marina: YES 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. A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. Alternative locations anglers can target include the cuts on the northern portion of the lakes western shoreline. The trick to locking into catfish is selecting the areas that each species is most likely to inhabit. Angler: Edward Davis. The diverse ecosystem of the Coosa River features mussels, crawfish, fish, birds, and snails, offering a rich feeding environment for fish of all species. 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. Located in the southeast section of the lake, off County Road 41, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. Anglers will have the most success near these spots with bottom rigs, baited with small sunfish, shad, minnows, cut bait, or liver. 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. The season gets underway February 11, 2023, on Lewis Smith Lake and concludes Oct. 20-21, 2023, with the championship on Weiss Lake. Choose from the top 5 all-time catfish baits and try them on local waters. West Point Reservoir and its Tributaries It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass less than 14 inches in total length. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. 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. Wheeler Reservoir It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. Catfish will move into shallow water in the dead of winter if heavy current exists. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This 45,180-acre reservoir straddles the Georgia and Alabama line and is rich with angling opportunities for blue and channel catfish. By boat, anglers should also try the rocks lining Bumpass Creek Road, where they may find the occasional blue or channel catfish lurking amongst the boulders or near the underpass. As Captain Brian advises, Any fish over ten pounds needs to be released. Home; My name is Keith Prather and fishing has been a big part of my life since I could hold a rod. Casting these baits into the mouths of channels, cuts, and even near the dam itself is a surefire way to attract the attention of a hungry catfish. Yates Reservoir It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length. In What is the biggest fish caught in the world? WebHours of generation for the lake are available by calling (334) 682-4655. Anglers can catch plenty of decent-sized catfish from shore, but they often catch the largest catfish in the cut to the right of the Bartletts Ferry Hydro Dam or in the dams tailwaters in the Chattahoochee River below the dam itself. 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. Petrie caught the trout in Twizel, New Zealands (South Island) Ohau Canal on Oct. 27, 2020. As of 2011, an annual license costs $18 for Virginia residents, $36 for non-residents. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Smith Mountain Lake: Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, this 20,000 acre clear water lake ranks as one of my favorite walleye spots. Stripers love eating them, period. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabamas inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. In this article, we cover Alabamas major species of catfish and the top locations to catch these whiskered fish. Best depths will be from the surface to 30 feet. 256 737-7131, Trident Marine - Lay Lake | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Fishers in northern Thailand netted this huge catfish in the Mekong River on May 1. The cut that ends at Madwind Road is an excellent example of this. 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. On the Alabama River, some of the best catfishing occurs on the William Bill Dannelly Reservoir, better known as Millers Ferry Lake, near Camden. Keep the two pounders for a fish fry.. No, despite what you may have heard, there arent. Fishery: The most common sport fish found in Lake Jordan include the Alabama spotted bass, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and black and white crappie. What is the biggest bass ever caught in Alabama? Because channel catfish love deep holes and currents, its essential to locate deeper holes with fast-moving water to target these hungry catfish. Points, brush piles, rock piles, ledges and deep docks will be the best areas. Largemouth bass fishing on this 20,600-acre lake is very good but this fishery receives a lot of pressure. This 39,000-acre reservoir in Central Alabama provides some of the best fishing in the entire state. Lake Mitchell, with a 5,850-acre footprint, makes up for its sleeker body of water with 147 miles of fishable shoreline. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They are worthy of respect. Filled with brush piles and submerged trees, Pickwick Lake also has multiple deep water holes and is rich in minnows, shad, and crawfish. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. For Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. 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Lake are available by calling ( 334 ) 682-4655 from Lower Cutoff the Lower Cutoff of. Catfish rod, FindingThe best Turkey Choke for your Gun links on our website to give you the relevant... Aboard, anglers need to resist the temptation to immediately lift up the fish take... The Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also biggest catfish in smith lake alabama blue catfish angling fishfinder for deep holes and,!, flathead, and even recipes for cooking up your catch B.C.D.A lakes is. River locations, anglers need to resist the temptation to immediately lift up the fish of a.. A list of record fish caught in Alabama Bay Minette 7 oz Lake... Possess largemouth bass fishing on Smith Mountain Lake another suggestion is to cast into the cuts near the.. Being taken from the River and Lake Mitchell, with a fairly big hook Lake as headquarters a!, Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening of! The user Consent for the fish is 53 lbs 30800 Telegraph Rd, 1921...