| SMITH LAKE |
Smith Lake is holder of
the five past World Record spotted bass catches and is billed as number one for spotted bass and number three for
crappie in Alabama. The lake also holds the state record for striped
bass with a whopping 32 lbs., 8 oz. Haul.
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Camping, Cabins, and Marinas
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Smith Lake impounds
approximately 21,000 acres with over 500 miles of shore,
primarily in Cullman and Winston counties. It is a deep,
clear lake with dozens of different feeder streams, winding
bays, and sloughs.
 Steep
bluffs cradle much of the lake, with water depths dropping
as deep as 60 or 70 feet just a few yards offshore. The
water often appears emerald green, and a bass that strikes a
lure 10 feet down can be seen as it hits. Access to the lake
is easy from Cullman via Alabama Highway 69.
Anglers begin their search for spotted bass on Smith
Lake by fishing points, and because there are hundreds of coves
along the shoreline, there
is no shortage of points. Smith Lake is a difficult lake on which to
pattern the bass because the fish are frequently moving as they
follow their main food source, crawfish. The big bass months on
Smith Lake are February, March and early April with October and
November being excellent times. Action continues through the summer,
but is best very early and late, or at night. Crappie action is best
in April or May with striped bass hunting good year-round.
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There are several well-known fishing areas on Smith
Lake, with
Dismal Creek being the most famous with two world spotted bass
having been caught here. Other good spots are Brushy Creek and Rock
Creek. There is no a great deal of standing timber in this
impoundment, so crappie anglers concentrate in the backs of coves,
along some of the shallow shorelines, at feeder streams and near
piers and boathouses. The Gulf Coast strain of striped bass that has
been stocked in Smith Lake since 1982 are at maturity with weights
of over 20 lbs. Commonly being recorded. Trolling with a three-way
swivel lure produces the best results during the summer with the Red
Fin lures being popular in late October and early November.
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Fish the Sipsey Fork (Smith Lake Tailwaters), Alabama's only
year-round Trout fishery.
For more information on fishing the Sipsey Fork visit
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/rivers/smithtailwaters/
For additional information on Smith Lake from the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, visit
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/smith/.
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