What is the biggest lake in Alabama?

Lake Guntersville, at 69,000 acres.

Biggest lakes in Alabama: the top 10 by size

How big are the biggest lakes in Alabama? Here are the top 10, with their size and what to do on each.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Lake Guntersville	69,000 acres	about 949 mi
2	Wheeler Lake	67,100 acres	about 156 mi
3	Walter F. George Lake	45,200 acres	about 119 mi
4	Lake Martin	44,000 acres	about 743 mi
5	Pickwick Lake	43,100 acres
6	Weiss Lake	30,200 acres	about 74 mi
7	Smith Lake	21,200 acres	about 245 mi
8	Wilson Lake	15,500 acres	about 63 mi
9	Logan Martin Lake	15,300 acres	about 166 mi
10	Lay Lake	12,000 acres	about 80 mi

1. Lake Guntersville

At some 69,000 acres, Lake Guntersville is a huge piece of water. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill are the draw. The deepest water is around 60 ft.

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

2. Wheeler Lake

At 67,100 acres of water, Wheeler Lake is a huge piece of water. It lies right by Decatur. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and crappie are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

3. Walter F. George Lake

At some 45,200 acres, Walter F. George Lake is a big lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Dothan (about 32 miles). Largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and catfish are the draw. At about 100 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. 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

4. Lake Martin

Lake Martin covers some 44,000 acres. Expect spotted bass, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 155 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

5. Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake spreads over some 43,100 acres. Expect 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

6. Weiss Lake

Weiss Lake is a reservoir of some 30,200 acres. The lake is next to Cedar Bluff. Expect crappie, largemouth bass and striped bass. It goes down to about 62 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

7. Smith Lake

Smith Lake is a reservoir of 21,200 acres of water. It lies about 4.7 miles west of Double Springs. It is the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River behind Lewis Smith Dam. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and bluegill. The deepest water is around 264 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Smith Lake is the deepest lake in Alabama and is known for its clear water.

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

8. Wilson Lake

Wilson Lake is a reservoir of 15,500 acres. You will find it about 26 miles southeast of Decatur. It is the Tennessee River behind Wilson Dam. Like most lakes its size in Alabama, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. Wilson Lake is impounded by Wilson Dam, completed on the Tennessee River in 1924.

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

9. Logan Martin Lake

Logan Martin Lake covers some 15,300 acres. The lake is right by Riverside. The fish here are largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and white bass. The deepest water is around 69 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. 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

10. Lay Lake

At 12,000 acres, Lay Lake is a big lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Hoover (about 25 miles). It is the Coosa River behind Lay Dam. It holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and bluegill. At about 88 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. 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

Big water, big days

The bigger the lake, the more the wind matters. Plan the day around the forecast, start on the sheltered side and give yourself a way home if it builds.