Gizzard shad are excellent striper baits. 16229 HWY 42 How do you catch stripers at Smith Mountain Lake? Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Also known as Walter F George Lake, is a bass angler's dream with almost 600 miles of shoreline to fish. 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. 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. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). (Contributed by Zeb Hogan). On June 2nd, 1932, George Perry caught the current world record bass out of Lake Montgomery, an oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River in southern Georgia. The Western side of Smith Lake is crowned by the 180,000 acre Bankhead National Forest,and the Sipsey Wilderness home to Alabamas largest tree, the Big Tree. 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 thought a lot about whether to get a beach house or a lake house. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. 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. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. Its just such a friendly place. Price: $539,000. 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. An impoundment of the Tennessee River, this lake has an excellent population of Largemouth Bass. In years past, it was common to see 10 to 15 commercial catfishers on the lakes on any given morning. This 45,180-acre reservoir straddles the Georgia and Alabama line and is rich with angling opportunities for blue and channel catfish. I have always thought. The fish (the whopper) weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A good pair of leather gloves is also a good idea when holding up a monster catfish. Ed Mashburn writes extensively about fishing for Great Days Outdoors. Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in Alabama using data from Land Big Fish. Because shad and sunfish fluctuate in number and size throughout the year, check the waters to see whats schooling before baiting your rig. This oxbow is another solid choice for anglers looking for a giant catfish. Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Smith Lake Dam Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. Multiple boat ramps and marinas serve the public with gas, launching, fishing tackle, sundries, ice, food and a host of other items to enhance boating, fishing and camping trips at the lake. See ARC Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith Lake. Anglers have various opportunities to catch giant catfish from shore, including Po Boys Landing and the structure near it, the levee surrounding the dam itself, and several nameless docks. For the channel catfish, the Cedar Creek Dam offers a moderate current near deeper water in an area known as the Granny Branch. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. Although its most well-known for trophy largemouth and spotted bass, anglers catch a variety of species in this reservoir, including massive channel and flathead catfish, rainbow trout, and world-record striped bass. Wet, Nasty Crawlspace? This is one of the best baits for big striped bass and hybrids. Bring your pleasure or fishing boat or find boat rentals locally. 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. Are there catfish in Smith Lake Alabama? As the legend foretold, Sutton died a few days after the sighting. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So is Catzilla real? I could see the thing as clear as day," reported newspaper columnist E. Randall Floyd in a 1993 article in the Spartanburg, S.C., Herald-Journal. Gloves are necessary equipment for handling mega-catfish. He spotted an undulating creature and told friends: "The thing was monstrous. 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. They also have a warehouse district which feels very much like downtown Homewood.. Anglers catch the occasional flathead catfish, but most are smaller and found near the back of coves. 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. 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. The lakes northwestern and northeastern areas offer better flathead catfish locations, with cuts, bays, and channels dotting its shorelines. Another reason for the massive number of catfish is the crash of the commercial catfish market. 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. There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. Lewis Smith Lake was created in 1961 by the Alabama Power Company as a result of the company's construction of Lewis Smith Dam to produce hydroelectric power. 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. What is the biggest fish caught in the world? 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 Some anglers also recommend around dusk or dawn, on a cool day, during peak or slack tide. When fishing for blues in the main current of the Tombigbee River, anglers should stick to fishfinder or Carolina rigs that will keep your set-up pinned to the bottom and the bait in the water column. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. First, the lakes are very big and they all have a healthy food base for the big ones. What fishing license do I need for Smith Lake Alabama? Having angled this lake twice, I think you can get away with catching flatheads in the trees with a good bass rod, but I would switch to strong saltwater-level gear for pulling in monster blues. 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. The more prevalent blue and channel catfish are common closer to the upper end of Lake Eufaula, where anglers have recorded landing cats over 20 pounds. Actress and singer, Miley Cyrus and actor, Liam Hemsworth have been spotted in Cullman. Hogan, a biologist and host of the show Monster Fish, recently spent time at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and with fishermen and scientists around the South, searching for answers to the legend of the Volkswagon-sized catfish, a tale passed among fishermen from Wilson Dam in Muscle Shoals to Lake Guntersville Dam in Marshall County. Does the thought of being able to leave Birmingham and play on the lake in little over an hour sound as great to you, as it does to me? Keep the two pounders for a fish fry.. Chewalla Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of structure, offshoots, and cuts for anglers to target flathead catfish. Good quality electronics are just as important for finding and catching trophy catfish as they are for bass fishing. This Mekong giant catfish was discovered in Thailand in 2007. Fishermen tell tall tales.". Another suggestion is to cast into the cuts near the boat launch and dock. Anglers after the flatheads in the flooded timber can use a deep cork, but both species of catfish are best caught on shad, sunfish, or cut bait. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This is when they are more likely to be nearer to the surface and more likely to bite. Hogan said a 140-pound fish would seem larger in the muddy depths of a river. 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. Rentals: Pontoon boats It does not store any personal data. Dale County Lake or Ed Lisenby Lake is a 92-acre (370,000 m 2) lake located 1 mile (2 km) north of Roy Parker Road (Dale County Road 36) in Ozark. WHNT News 19 viewer Larry Stephens sent in photos of his wife April fishing on the lake. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. Its small town living., This is echoed by ARC Realtys Leda Mims, Ive been coming to the lake since I was nine years old. Sherril Harris, Sylacauga, Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. 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. . Rumor has it, country music superstar, Billy Ray Cyrus, has a place on Smith Lake. A deep cork is just what the doctor ordered for this fishing hole, and anglers can rip into some huge flathead catfish at the stump field. 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. READ SOMETHING ELSE. Millers Ferry Lake runs about 105 miles along the river to the Claiborne Dam in Monroe County. The car-sized catfish legend is widespread, he said. The scent will travel with the current and draw in the catfish. One of the better locations is the bridge and swampy area between Leroy and Jackson. The largest Mekong cat ever caught weighed more than 600 pounds. The best fishing for big cats occurs when the dams are generating maximum current. Smith Lake Park has some great walking and bike trails, suitable for kids and big kids! 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. 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. Smith Lake is a huge reservoir located on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, about 20 miles north-west of Birmingham. 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. 205-435-4009. A quality rod holder allows the fish to eat and take the bait without an over-eager angler trying to set the hook. 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.. 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