Other prime-time fishing locations include the mouth of Fourmile Creek, Trousdale Hollow, the intersection of Shoal Creek, and the mouth of McKiernan Creek. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Shelby, AL 35143 Folks, however, swear cats have . Located in the northwest section of the lake, off County Road 3919, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking. The photo is controversial because a descendant of the man who took the photo claims the man in the photo is actually a cardboard cutout to make the fish appear larger. 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. Blue, bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish inhabit Alabama's inland rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. 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. Click here to see the full listing. 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. Boat Launch Ramp: YES What is the largest catfish ever caught in Alabama? With five significant species in Alabama, catfish are one of the most sought-after fish in the state. "At end of the day, there certainly is some truth to these stories but people also enjoy telling stories. WhatS The Biggest Catfish Caught In Alabama? Rainbow trout are stocked in the Smith Lake tailwaters from Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery and in Madison County Public Fishing Lake from private sources. Located in the southwest section of the lake, at the east end of the State Route 41 Bridge, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. After a short fight, the 75-pound catfish was in the boat.. Wet, Nasty Crawlspace? Even though a big part of staying at the lake is grilling out and watching the sun go down over the water, sometimes its nice to have somebody else do the cooking! 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. Minnows, nightcrawlers, and even crawfish are great baits to lure out these yellow-bellied giants. Preview Alabamas first GreenWise Market at Lane Parke in Mountain Brook Village (Photos), ASC and ASO Present John Paul White with Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall, NOW OPEN: New trail connects schools, parks and midtown communities in Montgomery, Alabamas first KPOT, a Korean BBQ and hot pot joint, coming soon to Tuscaloosa, Food Network named Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q the best barbecue in the state, Aubie named 3rd best mascot in the country, how AL schools fared in UCA National Cheer Championship, Birmingham, Prattville, WSFA 12 & nonprofits supporting Alabama Jan. 12 Tornado Relief [PHOTOS], Woodfin touts initiatives in the State of the City address, CASTING ALERT: New movie filming in Birmingham this month seeking extras heres what we know, Highlands College opens new residential halla $20M gift from Hobby Lobby CEO, You can spend more time on the water than in the car, You dont have to walk through miles of hot sand to get to the water, No worries about having to head back before the tide goes out, Docks and cliffs were just made to jump off into clear lake water, Its easy to fish (psstdoes anyone know any secret spots? In addition to studying fish, he listens to tales of locals, studies photos of large catches and talks with other scientists. 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. Its such an easy commute!. First is to get out early and find fish schooled on shad or bluebacks. 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. Big catfish can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. 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. Location and Information: Smith Lake is located in Winston, Cullman and Walker Counties, Alabama. Boat Rental: YES The largest catfish species in North America are blue cats. Make Short Casts. Chewalla Creek offers muddier waters to the northwest with plenty of structure, offshoots, and cuts for anglers to target flathead catfish. The commercial pond catfish culture supplies the demand for catfish fillets, so commercial fishing in the lakes is a lost art. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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 earth- and rock-filled dam is 2,200 feet long and 300 feet tall, one of the largest dams of its type in the . Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir fed by the tailwaters of the Logan Martin Dam. 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. 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. 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. 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. When a big catfish strikes, its important not to jerk but simply apply pressure and start reeling.. All content on this site is Copyright Rushing Waters MediaLLC/Bham Now 2016-2023. Get a reliable, big landing net. Smith Lake Marina & Resort This is a myth, along with age-old claims that giant anacondas or piranhas eat men. In years past, it was common to see 10 to 15 commercial catfishers on the lakes on any given morning. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Some truly monstrous catfish are living in the rivers and lakes of Alabama; fish in the 100-pound range are caught on rod and reel every year. It was the creature. Application must be submitted on an official application form within three months of the catch (request a form by dialing 1-334-242-3471). How many rods can you fish with in Alabama? A good pair of leather gloves is also a good idea when holding up a monster catfish. Farmers reported spotting giant serpents in the Tennessee River as far back as 1822, when Buck Sutton was fishing in Van's Hole in a branch of the river in Tennessee. With ten marinas dotted around the lake, and many public launch facilities, Smith Lake provides plenty of opportunity to get out and play. 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. 205 387-1208. She has worked in some of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Leda Mims of ARC Realty told me I love it all! Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. Youve probably been to a friends weekend home on Smith Lake just north of Birmingham. Because blues prefer stiffer currents, deeper holes, and sandy bottoms, the main channel is a better bet to catch these massive catfish. 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. 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.). Some of these stories we hear about Volkswagon-sized catfish and people seeing serpents in the water come from older times when probably even bigger animals and fish were living in rivers and lakes, Hogan said. 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. Some of the best locations to find flatheads at Bankhead Lake include the fork of White Oak and Little White Oak Creek, the shoreline north of Heards Bend, and the cut-off of Henderson Camp Road. It does not store any personal data. 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. Wes what most people call deep is 60 ft. At Smith Lake dam you have. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here. 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. Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. What is the biggest fish caught in the world? The really big catfish are not nearly as good to eat as the smaller ones, and the big ones are the brood fish that continually re-stock the lake with more catfish. 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. 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. Caught off the coast of Ceduna, Australia, in 1959, it took angler Alfred Dean just 50 minutes to win the fight against this one-ton shark. Alewives. What is the best time of year to catch striped bass? Anglers can make their way to the R. F. Henry Lock and cast from the rocky shoreline on either side of the lake with heavy tackle and bottom rigs to catch these monster catfish. Smith Park Boat Launch Ramp In both of these Coosa River locations, anglers can catch big blue and channel cats on bottom rigs. They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. Smith Lake homes some very good largemouth and spotted bass fishing. You will find boating, kayaking and fishing here. This article offers a ton of great information on where to catch catfish at Alabamas best fishing holes. Trophy potential exists in backwater areas. Although its usually known for its excellent bass fishing, the channel, blue, and flathead catfish population at Lake Martin is a poorly kept secret. This has led to more and larger fish in the entire Tennessee River system. Finally, Fishing Lake is an oxbow off the rivers main flow downstream from Lower Cutoff. What is the largest catfish ever caught in the United States? Hers was the last authenticated account of the serpent, Floyd wrote. Click images for fishing tips and details about each species. You can find these baits at just about any local fishing bait and tackle shop. Let it rest a couple of minutes.. 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.). The flooded forest here creates small estuary-like pockets of deep water surrounded by structures off the main channel of the Tombigbee River. No matter what species of catfish you hope to catch at Lake Martin, your best bet is to stick with a bottom rig baited with live shad, minnows, or small sunfish. How do you catch stripers at Smith Mountain Lake? Why you should care, the quality of the air you breathe depends on it. Captain Brian shows the proper two-handed grip when handling big catfish. What is the biggest bass ever caught in Alabama? Even the very large75 pounds and overcatfish dont fight for an extremely long time. This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. Hoover resident Carol DiPlacido talked with me about her familys decision to purchase a weekend lakeside cabin on Smith Lake, and it turns out being easy and quick to get to was an important factor. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This Tombigbee River backwater in western Alabama near Aliceville could have been lumped in with our coverage of the river. Catching three to five-pound cats is fun, and theres no better main ingredient for a fish fry than fillets from this size 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. Leda likes that on the Cullman side, you can be in downtown Cullman in 15 minutes and enjoy luxuries youd expect, while getting back the wilderness shortly after. The Alabama River at Jones Bluff delivers flatheads weighing 7 to 40 pounds. At the same time, Catfish Bar, just downstream, lets you fish a wide river bend over deep water. Flow downstream from Lower Cutoff fillets from this size fish, off County 3919! The United States channel cats on bottom rigs an average four-year-old, a growing! With gravel parking on an official application form within three months of the air you breathe depends it! 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