Best fishing lakes in Alabama: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Guntersville

At some 69,000 acres, Lake Guntersville is a huge piece of water. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. At about 60 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Guntersville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Martin

Lake Martin covers 44,000 acres of water. It holds spotted bass, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 155 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Martin today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake covers some 43,100 acres. It holds smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie. It goes down to about 59 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Pickwick Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Logan Martin Lake

At 15,300 acres of water, Logan Martin Lake is a big lake. You will find it next to Riverside. Logan Martin Dam holds it on the Coosa River. Expect largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and white bass. At about 69 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Logan Martin Lake is nicknamed the "Lake of a Thousand Coves.".

Logan Martin Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Wheeler Lake

Wheeler Lake spreads over some 67,100 acres. It lies right by Decatur. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and crappie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Wheeler Lake stretches about 60 miles along the Tennessee River from Wheeler Dam to Guntersville Dam.

Wheeler Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Smith Lake

Smith Lake spreads over 21,200 acres of water. You will find it near Double Springs. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and bluegill. At about 264 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Smith Lake is the deepest lake in Alabama and is known for its clear water. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Smith Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Neely Henry Lake

Neely Henry Lake spreads over 11,200 acres of water. It lies next to Southside. Neely Henry Dam holds it on the Coosa River. It holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and crappie. The deepest water is around 53 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Neely Henry Lake lies on the Coosa River between Weiss Lake and Logan Martin Lake.

Neely Henry Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lay Lake

At 12,000 acres of water, Lay Lake is a big lake. It lies near Fayetteville. Lay Dam holds it on the Coosa River. Largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and bluegill are the draw. At about 88 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lay Dam, built in 1914, was Alabama Power's first hydroelectric plant.

Lay Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Weiss Lake

At 30,200 acres of water, Weiss Lake is a big lake. You will find it right by Cedar Bluff. Weiss Dam holds it on the Coosa River. The fish here are crappie, largemouth bass and striped bass. The deepest water is around 62 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Weiss Lake is nicknamed the "Crappie Capital of the World.".

Weiss Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake is a reservoir of 6,800 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Montgomery (about 17 miles). It is the Coosa River behind Jordan Dam. It holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and catfish. Jordan Lake, impounded in 1928, lies on the Coosa River just below Mitchell Dam.

Jordan Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Walter F. George Lake

Walter F. George Lake spreads over 45,200 acres. You will find it next to Georgetown. It is the Chattahoochee River behind Walter F. George Lock and Dam. It holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and catfish. It goes down to about 100 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and a point drop-off: good places to start. Lake Eufaula is nicknamed the "Big Bass Capital of the World.".

Walter F. George Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Lake Tuscaloosa

At some 5,880 acres, Lake Tuscaloosa is a good-sized lake. It lies about 2.5 miles southeast of Holt. Largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and crappie are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Tuscaloosa is the primary drinking-water supply for the city of Tuscaloosa. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Lake Tuscaloosa today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Lake Guntersville, Lake Martin, Pickwick Lake and Logan Martin Lake
• Crappie: Lake Guntersville, Lake Martin, Pickwick Lake and Logan Martin Lake
• Catfish: Lake Guntersville, Pickwick Lake, Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake

Season by season

• Spring: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.
• Summer: largemouth bass are usually fair. Hot water. Best at dawn, then they drop to deeper, cooler water.
• Fall: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
• Winter: largemouth bass are usually fair. Cooling down. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.

Before you go

Buy a Alabama fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.