Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Cappy's Boats caught in 2000 from below the SML dam in Leesville Lake. First, the lakes are very big and they all have a healthy food base for the big ones. Price: $330,000. Its a joy to live at Smith Lake!. Lick Creek Boat Launch Ramp 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. Lewis Smith Lake has the following amenities based off of . The deep clean lake, wildlife, a real sense of community, great spots to eat, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water. Are you dreaming about the perfect weekend pad at Smith Lake? Check out local properties for sale. Get outdoor trends, data, new products, and tips delivered to your inbox. The lake spans over 21,000 acres in Cullman . Convenience Store: NEARBY Crawfish and nightcrawlers also yield some sizable flatheads when thrown around the lakes abundant submerged structures, such as logs, brush piles, and undercut banks. 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. Fishermen tell tall tales.". Hot weather months are typically the poorest times to go after really big catfish. With average summer water temperatures of 80, youll definitely want to pack your swim suits. 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. Using a live minnow, shad, or crawfish, anglers should target submerged structures such as fallen trees or undercut banks to rip into massive flathead. Also referred to as Converse Reservoir, this 3,600-acre impoundment in Mobile County is filled with channel catfish, bass, and sunfish. This 2 bedroom / 1 bath rustic lakeside furnished bungalow at 264 County Road 881, Crane Hill, has 170ft of waterfront, a boat dock and a hydro hoist boat lift. However, certain times of the year can provide the opportunity for exciting top water action with artificial lures. Cullman, Alabama 35057 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. Filled with brush piles and submerged trees, Pickwick Lake also has multiple deep water holes and is rich in minnows, shad, and crawfish. I spool my reels with 80 lb test yellow Vicious braided line. He spotted an undulating creature and told friends: "The thing was monstrous. In a . 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. Fish Species & State Records in Alabama Bass Largemouth bass World record: 22 lbs 4 oz State Record: 16 lbs 8 oz Smallmouth bass World record: 11 lbs 15 oz State Record: 10 lbs 8 oz Spotted bass World record: 9 lbs 8 oz 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! 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. 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. Smith Lake, a stunning location that offers panoramic views, amazing sunsets, as well as endless watersports your family is sure to enjoy. Fishing for striped bass can be even better in the hours before a major cold front or rain event arrives. Mega-fishthe biggest catfish in the countryare right here in Alabama. A 280-mile-long tributary of the Alabama River, the Coosa River is a heavily developed body of water with multiple impoundments, dams, lakes, and of course, lots of big catfish. 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. 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. It was the creature. JavaScript is disabled. The flooded forest here creates small estuary-like pockets of deep water surrounded by structures off the main channel of the Tombigbee River. . Another great location is the Lower Cutoff south of Jackson. Wes what most people call deep is 60 ft. At Smith Lake dam you have. 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. We used my Hummingbird 1198 to locate the fish, Captain Brian says. A Mekong giant catfish caught in Thailand in 2010 was 9 feet long and weighed 646 pounds. The fishing on Smith Lake is like no other! 256 739-2916, Information about fishing lakes in Alabama. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Jason Trahan has found shrimp soaked in Anise has been one of the most effective baits for catching catfish in Alabama. A top hotspot is below Wheeler Dam, where swift current and various structures make for prime-time catfish angling. Having fished here several times, I recommend giving it about 10 minutes per location before trying a new spot. Chewalla Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of structure, offshoots, and cuts for anglers to target flathead catfish. The results of his research will appear in the first episode of a new season of Monster Fish at 9 p.m. Central time on July 5. Originally from Wales (UK) and a fluent Welsh speaker. Fish must be identified by an Alabama Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Yates Lake is a 2,000-acre lake located in east-central Alabama on the Tallapoosa River about 30 minutes northeast of Montgomery. Anglers can even fish part of this location from shore from the Lake Eufaula Campground. Geneva County is a prohibition or dry county. If the bait is on the bottom, the fish will lift it and relieve the pressure fairly gently. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. What state has the biggest largemouth bass? Big catfish can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. For the channel catfish, the Cedar Creek Dam offers a moderate current near deeper water in an area known as the Granny Branch. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What'S The Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught? WHNT News 19 viewer Larry Stephens sent in photos of his wife April fishing on the lake. Located between Lake Martin and Thurlow Lake along the Tallapoosa River, Yates Lake has earned a reputation for big striped bass, but its hidden gem is its quality catfish population. Anyone interested in fishing Lewis Smith Lake or waters within the wider area around Jasper should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. 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. If youre not sold on lakeside versus seaside yet, consider this. 55 Marina Drive The current state record for the fish is 53 lbs. Instead, the usual mega-catfish battle is very intense but fairly short. 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. Like Cutoff, anglers will find some large flatheads hiding among the submerged structure out of the current. 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. 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. So the fish will be suspended in the upper third of the water. 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. Leda told me how she commutes from Smith Lake to Birmingham. The nearest boat launch is the Cochrane Recreation Area, and after a short boat ride down the river and catching Lubbub Creek into the lake, youre in deep blue catfish territory. April and May are the prime time. Alabama sports a surprising number of lakes with a population of walleye. 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. While size matters in a lot of things, this smaller reservoir proves that good things can come in small packages. Anybody else fish for blues at the lewis smith dam? How do you catch striped bass on Smith Lake Alabama? 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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 western shoreline of this long, fairly straight channel is dotted with houses, while the eastern side is full of small inlets, coves, and cuts along a tree-lined bank. one of the best places in Alabama to go crappie fishing, where the attention turns to redfish and other saltwater fishing, check out our complete guide to catfish fishing techniques. Weve gotten to know people at the marina and at local stores. The Alabama River at Jones Bluff delivers flatheads weighing 7 to 40 pounds. 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. WE ARE YOUR SOURCE FOR FISHING DESTINATIONS IN ALABAMA! Dont be surprised if it takes some time to hook into a catfish, which scatter throughout the lake. Dont be stingy with the bait. We might wonder why the mega-catfish population is so large in the big northern lakes, namely Wheeler, Wilson, and Pickwick. 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. 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. Are there catfish in Smith Lake Alabama? 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. Stripers love eating them, period. Former county recycling manager in the UK. This oxbow is another solid choice for anglers looking for a giant catfish. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. They are common in many freshwater areas, including moving streams and still lakes. Click to see the full listing, complete with all the lovely pictures. They just take the bait and go.. Anglers who are fishing from a boat often stick with a cork baited with bait fish. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. Catfish dont have sharp teeth like pike or mackerel, but they do have rows of very rough and abrasive teeth in their jaws, and when they bite down and twist and turn, these rows of small teeth can remove the skin from a thumb or the back of a hand within seconds. His goal: catch a monster catfish. Its just such a friendly place. (Contributed by Zeb Hogan). ). The pig is a trailer, often of pork rind, hence the name, or plastic. . The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. You might not know that Smith Lake is BIG! Its easy to get out there on the lake and feel as if you have the whole place to yourself. Smith Lake Public Boat Launch Ramp They look to consume as many calories as possible while burning as few calories as possible, therefore they do their most aggressive feeding when their advantage over the baitfish is greatestat peak tide. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Bring your pleasure or fishing boat or find boat rentals locally. California is the number one trophy state for bass exceeding 15 pounds, says David Swendseidbass pro and tackle rep from the Golden State. A favorite location of crappie anglers, the lakes stump field is best known for producing solid slabs consistently. Thats important. After all, big baits catch big fish. 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. This is a blue catfish that weighed 23 pounds and measured 36.5 inches in length. What is this? As mentioned, the dam is always an excellent choice. 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. The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. For instance, when Captain Brian recently caught his 75 pounder, the actual fight lasted less than ten minutes. Fed by the Tallapoosa River and other streams, the Martin Dam Hydro Electric Plant keeps water moving through this big lake and provides an excellent location to catch channel catfish. Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. flathead catfish caught in Kansas. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. I tried in 105' of water and got nothing. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Because channel catfish love deep holes and currents, its essential to locate deeper holes with fast-moving water to target these hungry catfish. Gulf sturgeonThe Gulf sturgeon is the largest fish species ever recorded in Alabama. The largest catfish species in North America are blue cats. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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.. Smith Lake is a 326 acre lake located in Sawyer County. 256 286-0050. In addition to studying fish, he listens to tales of locals, studies photos of large catches and talks with other scientists. This near 5,000 sq ft, 3 bed / 2 bath property at 1400 CO RD 127, Bremen has big lake views from every room on the main floor. It was caught out of Lake Neely Henry. Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. What is the best time of year to catch striped bass? Anglers should note that in recent years, chemical drain-off has affected the edibility of fish in over 200 waterways, so check with your local Fish and Game office before consuming any fish from Alabama waterways. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. A typical northern-strain five-pounder might be anywhere between six and 16 years old, McHugh reports. Bankhead Lake is best known for catches of largemouth bass and spotted bass. Alabama Catfish Prospects for Summer During summer, blue and flathead catfish offer anglers an opportunity to [] 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. Residents need to have a recreational license to fish in Alabama. We then plotted a GPS course with the trolling motor and began to fish. In the mid-1900s, the most popular legendary river creature became catzilla, a species of catfish that reportedly grew to the size of Volkswagon Beetles at several dams along the Tennessee River. Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir fed by the tailwaters of the Logan Martin Dam. (now protected, Fishermen tell tall tales.". The lakes deeper holes and areas with heavy currents are your best bet for locating channel catfish. Anglers may be able to catch shad at the back of the lake by cast net or buy them from a bait shop. (Contributed by Zeb Hogan), Ive been traveling to different locations around the world investigating stories of very large fish, he said by telephone Tuesday. 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. Gizzard shad are excellent striper baits. (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . Cullman, AL 35057 And the water a smith lake damn according to TVA is 320 feet in deepiest point. 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. Your Guide to Quintessential AL Foods. 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.). A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. With coves, cuts, and inlets lining the river above the dam, small islands, and rock structures beneath it, catfish angling has never been better. Are there monsters in our midst? From the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama has a tremendous variety of fish species to pursue. Images by Vic Dunaway. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. We will fish with live baits and artificial lures all seasons of the year; although, the best catching is usually with live baits. This 39,000-acre reservoir in Central Alabama provides some of the best fishing in the entire state. However, most people miss the trophy catfish that lurk a little deeper, preying on the sunfish and bream. A good pair of leather gloves is also a good idea when holding up a monster catfish. Folks, however, swear cats have . What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Anglers who are familiar with Lewis Smith Lake are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Large cats will show as bright yellow or red arches on the unit.. Most of us enjoy catching a mess of delicious pan-size catfish from time to time. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. For us anglers who want to go after the mega-catfish, there are some things we can do to improve our chances. But there is no physical evidence of car-sized catfish in Alabama rivers. Pickwick Lake, located in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, covers 43,100 acres (174 km) and is well known for smallmouth bass and Tennessee River Catfish. This 9,200-acre reservoir along the Black River in west-central Alabama is a catfish haven. 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