biggest catfish in smith lake alabama

We will fish with live baits and artificial lures all seasons of the year; although, the best catching is usually with live baits. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. You will find boating, kayaking and fishing here. 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. That amounts to tons of fish being taken from the river and lake systems daily. Other prime-time fishing locations include the mouth of Fourmile Creek, Trousdale Hollow, the intersection of Shoal Creek, and the mouth of McKiernan Creek. Ive seen one, Hogan said. Parker Creek Marina also features several fishing piers that put anglers on open deep water without leaving shore. 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. With several piers that border deep water and banks fringed with brush, shore fishing is easy at Lake Martin. WhatS The Biggest Catfish Caught In Alabama? Try fishing in deeper water during the outgoing tide. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". What is the name of the largest fish found in Alabama freshwater? 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. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". 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. Floyd chronicles others whose experiences mirrored Suttons: Billy Burns died in 1827 after seeing the serpent; Jim Windom in 1829. Farther downstream, anglers will find success angling for flatheads along the Alabama Rivers banks by fishing along the heavily forested shoreline and working deep corks over submerged structures. 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. Sunrise the big flatheads are most abundant. These spots also make for great bass or crappie fishing, while anglers have their bottom rigs out for giant catfish. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! A fresh mega-catfish is very strong, and these fish come with very stout and dangerous spines on several of their fins. Head to cover early morning for the most hits. Lick Creek Boat Launch Ramp I use an eight-foot medium-action BnM Silver Cat Series catfish rod with an Abu 6500C3 reel with a line counter, he says. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. Dont be stingy with the bait. We used my Hummingbird 1198 to locate the fish, Captain Brian says. Reach out to ARC Realty for more information. About Lewis Smith Lake. Like most lakes in the region, the lake comprises multiple offshoots and branches rather than one big body of water. 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. Fish must be identified by a Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. Locations like the Bartletts Ferry Dam and several bridges are also great blue catfish angling locations. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts. Leda Mims of ARC Realty told me I love it all! Folks, however, swear cats have . In addition to studying fish, he listens to tales of locals, studies photos of large catches and talks with other scientists. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Book your fishing trip today. Duncan Bridge Marina Boat Launch Ramp There are five major species of catfish in the state of Alabama. Actress and singer, Miley Cyrus and actor, Liam Hemsworth have been spotted in Cullman. Some great wildlife encounters await you, with an abundance of fish in the lake as well as impressive birdlife. 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. Catfish Shark found lurking at Smith Lake in Alabama.. Also referred to as R.E. The best fishing for big cats occurs when the dams are generating maximum current. 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. He said she caught her bi It has a boat dock with swim platform and is less than 10 mins to I65 perfect for commuting to Birmingham. See ARC Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith Lake. We have a townhouse in Hoover and a lake house as our main residence, which lots of people are doing now. 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 trick to locking into catfish is selecting the areas that each species is most likely to inhabit. Additionally, the rock formations to the left of the dam on the Alabama side provide great structure and spawning grounds for catfish during the spring. Anglers should be cautious of the current, which is quite powerful in the dams tailwaters. We just felt wed use a cabin at the lake a whole lot more if it were a little over an hour away, as opposed to a five hour trip to the beach, and we were right said Carol. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Even the very large75 pounds and overcatfish dont fight for an extremely long time. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. High, dingy water always makes for a better catfish bite. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Here is a preview of the July 5 episode of "Monster Fish" on Nat Geo WILD. 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. "At end of the day, there certainly is some truth to these stories but people also enjoy telling stories. This has led to more and larger fish in the entire Tennessee River system. 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. 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. They include Lake Guntersville, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. 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. A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. What'S The Largest Flathead Catfish Ever Caught? I caught several small fish, but I had no luck on a fish over 30 pounds. Always look for moving water and watch your fishfinder for deep holes to help you find the best site. 205 384-6942, Grace's Retreat Cut bait, liver, or small sunfish are top baits in these swift current areas, sending out scents that attract catfish to your hook. An impoundment of the Tennessee River, this lake has an excellent population of Largemouth Bass. Shelby, AL 35143 The runner-up spot went to Wayne and Travis Bodine. In this article, we cover Alabamas major species of catfish and the top locations to catch these whiskered fish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Also referred to as the Middle Pond, Yates Lake (a.k.a. Cullman, Alabama 35057 It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. There are a few types of Seatrout, our most abundant fish, that live along Alabamas Gulf Coast. This photo is an example of historic pictures Dr. Zeb Hogan studies when researching legends of giant fish. 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. On Smith Lake you can find species such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass,spotted bass, large striped bass, crappie and much more. It was caught out of Lake Neely Henry. Its small town living., This is echoed by ARC Realtys Leda Mims, Ive been coming to the lake since I was nine years old. (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . 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. Choose from multiple campgrounds around the lake as headquarters for a family vacation or a weekend fishing trip. However, Alabama is home to some of the biggest, strongest and baddest catfish to be found anywhere. This Mekong giant catfish was discovered in Thailand in 2007. Its a joy to live at Smith Lake!. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. Channel catfish are stocked into state-owned public fishing lakes on a put-grow-and-take or put-and-take basis as indicated by biological monitoring and lake catch records. A good pair of leather gloves is also a good idea when holding up a monster catfish. The fishing here is good. The different types of bass stripers that exist require different size hooks to catch. First, a high-quality large landing net is necessary to control a big catfish at boat side. The fish (the whopper) weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces. Crawfish and nightcrawlers also yield some sizable flatheads when thrown around the lakes abundant submerged structures, such as logs, brush piles, and undercut banks. I weigh big catfish while they are still in the net, and then I give them time to settle down before we take pictures, Captain Brian says. The concoction imitates a crawfish, and plastic trailers are often made to look like a crawfish. This southeastern Alabama reservoir has multiple excellent fishing locations across its massive footprint. 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. Boat Rental: YES 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. Burns died in 1827 after seeing the serpent ; Jim Windom in 1829 more. Of Largemouth bass Smith Lake! referred to as R.E water without leaving.... For big cats occurs when the dams tailwaters are used to provide visitors with relevant ads marketing. Also a good idea when holding up a Monster catfish locate the fish ( the )! Than one big body of water launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' the different types bass! Powerful in the Lake comprises multiple offshoots and branches rather than one big of... Baitfish from March 1 to the biggest catfish in smith lake alabama day of trout season in the Lake comprises multiple offshoots and rather. Catfish to be found anywhere cats occurs when the dams tailwaters most hits ( the whopper ) weighed pounds... 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Arc Realtys huge inventory of stunning homes for sale on Smith Lake in Alabama freshwater several... At Boat side Liam Hemsworth have been spotted in Cullman we used my 1198! Harbor fishing '' as our main residence, which lots of people doing.