JUNE 14, 2009
West Alabama Fishing STAFF GRAPHIC AND ILLUSTRATIONS|ANTHONY BRATINA
Need to get away for a day during the summer? How about angling for one of these? With more than 60,000 acres of fishable waters in West Alabama, a fishing rod, a hook and some bait might be just what you need. Here’s the basics.
Source: ”Freshwater Fishing Tips and Techniques” by Gene Kugach “The Art of Freshwater Fishing” Outdooralabama.com
Largemouth Bass
(Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel Catfish
(Other species of catfish include Flathead, Blue, White and Bullhead)
Did you know?
Avg. size: 15 to 24 inches Spawning: Late spring in temperatures above 70
(Micropterus salmoides)
degrees, usually in holes, hollowed logs or barrels.
Habitat: Catfish thrive in most wooded areas of warm waters or in deep holes dug out by currents in rivers.
Bait: Insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks, small fish, cheese,
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
chicken, dough balls and redworms.
Avg. size: 6 to 10 inches Spawning: Mid May through August. Habitat: Small streams, springs, rivers, reservoirs and lakes. They spend most of their lives in 10 to 20 feet of water. During spawning, bluegill may stay close to their beds which can be found around rocks, gravel beds and weeds around 2 to 4 feet of water.
Bait: Worms, crickets, maggots and night
Lures: Rare to catch with lures Feeding: Night is the prime time for
Did you know? Biologists have determined that bluegill will spawn more frequently within five days of a full moon.
feeding but, a catfish can be caught during the day as well, especially after a heavy rain or rising water levels.
Avg. size: 18 inches
Spawning: Spring
crawlers.
Habitat: The
largemouth will spend a good portion of its life in 5 to 15 feet of water. In the shallows, it will sit in shaded areas especially near a deep dropoff or a ridge.
Pectoral spine
Bait: Worms, crick-
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
ets, minnows and crayfish.
Lures: Plastic jigs, crayfish
Avg. size: 20 to 24 inches Spawning: A striped bass will migrate upstream during the spring to spawn when the water temperature reaches 58
and worms, spinners and crankbaits. Feeding: During warm, early morning hours when the water is between 65 and 85 degrees, the largemouth may strike at faster moving top water lures. If the water temperature is above or below that set, lures with a slow retrieve or live bait will get more strikes.
degrees. After spawning, the striper will retreat to large lakes and reservoirs.
Habitat: A striper can alternate between fresh water, bays and the ocean. In lakes and rivers, a striped bass will spend most of its time in open expanses of water at depths between 20 and 40 feet.
Bait: Small fish, crayfish and squid Lures: White or yellow jigs, plastic crayfish, minnow imitations, spinners or spoons Feeding: One hour before sunrise or at dusk are when stripers will enter the shallow flats in search of shad or shiners.
Did you know?
crustaceans.
Lures: Small jigs resembling above insects or lures resembling small minnows. Feeding: Crappie will feed both day and night but become more vigilant during the dusk hours.
Avg. size: 8 to 11 inches Spawning: Multiple spawn-
Did you know?
Spinning Gear
Sunfish can withstand salinities of up to 15 to 20 parts per thousand, allowing it to far outnumber its Bream cousins in South Alabama.
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Habitat: Moderate to large streams, rivers, lakes and swamps.
The Sunfish will spend a great deal of time in the extended lips of large lakes, weedy humps or shallow-weedy bay areas.
Bait: Larval and adult insects, crustaceans and mollusks. Lures: Small jigs resembling insects, spiders or worms Feeding: Because the Sunfish relies mostly on sight to catch its prey, it will feed mainly during the day. Special muscles and molars inable the sunfish to crack mollusk and snail shells allowing it to live with its cousin the Bluegill without competing for the same food.
Pickensville
Pickensville Rec. Area Raleigh Ryan
Marina Cove Tom Bevill Visitors Center
Aliceville Lake
Gear up
Spinners
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Crappie
This is a basic knot for beginning anglers to use with monofilament line.
Standing end Pass the line through the eye of the hook, then make several turns around the standing end of the line.
Big loop Pass the tag end through the first loop above the eye of the hook. First loop
Tag end Pass the tag end through the big loop.
Moisten the line and slide tight against the eye.
Cut excess line
Clinch Knot
Jigs
Everything
Basic Rig Texas style
1. Thread a bullet sinker to the line
Because many fish tend to feed in areas with cover, it’s important 3. Thread to use a rig that won’t get the hook caught on logs, weeds through the or rocks. Here is a rig worm head that greatly reduces that 4. Push the 5. Bury the risk. hook through point inside the worm keeping the about a half of an inch down hook from snagging debris
2. Tie your hook to the line
Variation
Remove the sinker and use a curly tail worm
Cochrane Rec. Area
17
Sumter Rec. Area
Lamar County Lake
Fayette Co. Lake
Lake Lurleen
Acres: 68 Fee: $3.00 Boat rentals: Yes
Acres: 60 Fee: $3.00 Boat rentals: Yes
Acres: 250 Fee: $3.00 Boat rentals: Yes
Tenn-Tom Waterway
14
Gree G ene e C Co. Riverside Access
Acres: 6,400 Best known: Largemouth, Fee: None Boat rentals: NA Crappie
Acres: 50 Best known: Largemouth, Fee: $3.00 Boat rentals: Yes Bluegill
69
Tuscaloosa
Black 11 Warrior River
Boligee
Moundville
69
Centreville 25
Cahaba River
Greensboro Marion
Emelle
Livingston 80
Rocky Branch Rocky Branch Rd.
82
43
York
d.
Jack Warner Pkwy.
69
Rd. Mine Rice
Acres: 3,296 Best known: Largemouth, Fee: None Boat rentals: NA Spotted bass Vance
Northport
20 59
Lock 15
82
River Road Parks
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Oliver Reservoir Acres: 2,200 Fee: None Boat rentals: NA
Holt Lock and Dam
Eutaw
Gainesville
Blue Creek
Eagle Cove Marina Gordo
14
Rock Quarry Park
Lake Tuscaloosa
216
Aliceville
17
Lake LU (Livingston)
171
Sipsey
17
Gainesville Lake
e Lak Deerlick Creek
43
82
Pickensville
Gainesville
lR cho Ni
Fayette
Millport
39
Co.
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Vernon
Rd on
Acres: 5,885 Fee: None Boat rentals: NA
Sulligent
Vienna Access
Tierce Patton Marina Bob’s Campground and Marina Smith Dry Dock and Marina
Sharps Lake Rd.
50 miles
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
to
rce Tie
Sharps Landing
Lake Lurleen Rd.
17
85
S.W. Taylor Access
Park Entrance
Rd.
Spoons
Weedguard protects against snags. Perfect for fishing weedy areas
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Crappie Sunfish Bluegill (Generally for bottom fishing)
Ringo Bluff Access Memphis Site
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
69
26
rlick
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Crappie
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass (smaller crankbaits) Crappie
Plastic (below)
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
e De
This has more control than the spinning gear. The thumb controls the line as it is released. This reel casts farther than the other reels and can handle heavier lures. Fly
Crankbaits
Best known: Largemouth, Crappie
43 Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Pick ck kens Co. k o.
86
Binion Creek d.
Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Fishing Lake Rd.
14
Acres: 8,300 Fee: None Boat rentals: NA
Bait caster
This works differently from other rods. Instead of casting the lure, the fly casts the line. Ideal for very light lures, typically made of feathers, fur or fibers that will cast out with the line. May require some training.
Fishing holes
.
This casts farther than the spincast gear. A lever at the front of the reel controls the outflow of the line. The spinning reel is exposed to create less tension on the line. It is ideal for light to heavy lures.
ings from late April through August when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees and more frequently during a full moon. Nests are in water depths of 6 inches to 3 feet.
Rd .
Bait: Minnows, insects, insect larvaes, or
(Lepomis microlophus)
New Wat erm elo n
lives between 3 feet and 20 feet of warmer water lakes or slow moving rivers but might move to depths of 30 feet during the winter. They are likely to sit around structures or cover but may suspend over deeper parts of lakes.
Redear Sunfish
Water me l
Habitat: Crappie will spend much of their
Besides being called Bream (brim) along with the Sunfish and Bluegill, there are more than 50 colorfull names for the Crappie including Calico Bass, Specks, Strawberry Bass, Papermouths, White Perch and Bachelor Perch.
nR
water temperatures reach 64 degrees
Did you know?
Pat
Avg. size: 8 inches Spawning: Usually in the spring when
Demopolis
5 80
Bank Fishing 20 Forkland Deck Fishing Birdeye Boat Ramp 43
5
Belmont Foscue
219 Bank Fishing Deck Fishing Boat Ramp
Bibb County Lake Acres: 100 Fee: $3.00 Boat rentals: Yes
Uniontown
Boligee
Centreville
wy .
Spincaster
The simplest of the reel gear, it is the appropriate choice for most beginning anglers. The thumb releases the line through a small hole in the front of the reel. This reel is ideal for light and medium lures.
(Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Unlike other freshwater fish, a striped bass has no eyelids. When the sun rises, it will retreat to deep waters to avoid the brightness.
Rd .
The most basic of fishing equipment, it is used with a float and hook and very effective in shallow waters.
Black Crappie
Did you know?
(A striped bass in Alabama lakes, is a hybrid of the Saltwater Striped Bass and a White Bass)
Miss.
Pole and line
Largemouths are native to the southeastern United States. Because of their popularity, they have been stocked in lakes all across the United States and parts of Hawaii as well as other countries.
ke y La Count
above insects. Feeding: Early morning hours and late afternoon are prime times, but they will feed all day.
Old H
Lures: Small jigs resembling
Choose a rod
Dorsal spine
Most catfish have pectoral spines and the spine on the dorsal fin that are coated with a very weak venom similar to a bee sting. A common misconception is that the barbels (whiskers) on the front of the fish are poisonous.
5
Arcola
80 Demopolis
Demopolis Reservoir Acres: 10,000 Fee: None Boat rentals: NA