The Inside Scoop

Who does not love to fish, especially when it cost so little to spend the day enjoying some good old fashion fun? Kids love to fish almost as much as adults. It is a great way to enjoy family time and talk about that big one that got away. While Huntsville has many good fishing holes, the best fishing spots are located just outside of Huntsville. Guntersville Lake, which is within 45 minutes from downtown is considered as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. Lewis Smith Lake and Joe Wheeler are also some great options. Below I have broken down my Top Fishing Places into two categories, fishing in Huntsville and fishing just outside of the Huntsville area. I hope you all enjoy!

Fishing in Huntsville

#1 Jones Farm Park

Jones Farm Park is located just off Four Mile Post Road, right behind the Target. These two 4 acres are ponds and are great to fish for Bass and Bluegill. It is a catch and release pond but great for little kids to have fun with the outdoors. The park has two covered picnic pavilions for some cover out of the sun and a paved walking path for runners and bikers. Although there are much better places to catch large bass, there are plenty of small ones to have fun here.

#2 Green Mountain Nature Trail:

In the picture is my husband and I relaxing at Green Mountain while our kids fish for some Bass and Bluegill. Green Mountain Nature Trail host a beautiful 17-acre deep lake. The fishing here is awesome if you are a senior citizen over 60 or a child under 16 years old. Adults are allowed to teach their kids to fish and even use their own fishing pole to teach them (hint, hint). Fishing is only allowed on weekdays to reduce overfishing. The park feeds the baitfish and Bluegill daily, allowing Catfish and Bass to get quite large. I was told a young boy caught a 12 lb. Largemouth Bass a few years ago. Along with the pond, the park includes a 1.5 mile walking trail, pavilion, chapel, outdoor classroom, picnic tables, covered bridge, and accessible restrooms.

#3 Ditto Landing:

If you have a boat, Ditto Landing has several places to launch from. They also sell gas for your boat, a bathroom to freshen up and a place to buy snacks. Bank fishing is also pretty good here. I find the best time to fish here is during spring time when the Crappie begin to spawn. Early morning and sunset seems to be the best time for Bass fishing. Ditto Landing also has a great campground with good bathroom facilities and nice paved walking trails for jogging or riding your bikes.

#4 Madison County Lake

Madison County Lake is located just east of Gurley. It is 105-acre lake and is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Sunfish, Catfish, Crappie and during the winter months, Rainbow Trout. Boats can be used on the lake with a $5 permit. It is a beautiful lake, but I find the fishing to be a hit or a miss.

#5 Carrol D Hudson Recreation on Redstone Arsenal:

Here is another great fishing place but it is restricted only to those who have access to the Redstone Arsenal. Bass fish is great along the edges of the bank and at the boat launch. Catfish also get pretty big if you can hook onto one. The recreational facilities are awesome. With many picnic tables, a boat ramp, bathrooms, campground, volleyball court, basketball court, softball field and a play area for the kids, this place is fun for the entire family.

#6 Flint River:

Flint River is one of best places to fish in Huntsville if you own a canoe or kayak. There are several places along Flint River to fish. My favorite place is the Flight River Greenway off Old Highway 431 and at Hays Nature Preserve. Most people fish for largemouth bass, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie and Bluegill. It is best to fish with light tackle on the Flint River as the water can be pretty clear in the summer months.

#7 Sharon Johnson Park:

Sharon Johnson Park is county owned and thus has good facilities to include a nice campground, pavilion, pool and a kid’s area. The lake is twelve acres stocked with Bass, Catfish, Bluegill and Crappie. Fishing cost $2 a day and has a fishing limit of 10 fish. No boats, canoes or wadding is allowed.

See Map

#8 Private Farm pond:

There is simply no better fishing than finding an old farm pond. This is no exception with Alabama where Bass can get pretty big. I know it can be pretty challenging to find one if you are not a land owner or know someone who has a pond. I would start asking members of your local church or a friend at work. Many farmers do not like strangers fishing on their property but if you approach them with young kids, they usually are okay with you fishing for the day. If you are lucky to find a good one, make sure you send the farmer or friend a thank you card.

Fishing just outside of Huntsville:

1. Guntersville Lake:

Guntersville Lake is a fresh water fishing haven. It is Alabama’s largest lake and covers 69,000 acres and stretches almost 76 miles. The lake produces some of the largest Largemouth Bass in the state due to Hydilla weed beds and deep underwater rock formations. Also, feeding these large Bass are the plentiful bait fish which include Gizzard Shad, Skipjacks, Bluegills and Wild Shiners. Anglers from all over the world come here to fish in tournaments as it considered one of the best Bass lakes in the country. In 2013, it was listed as the 4th best Bass lake in Bassmaster magazine and was recently named one of the best fresh water lakes to fish out of a kayak. Since I don’t own a boat, I fish from the banks. My favorite place to fish is on the west side of Lake Guntersville Park Drive, just west of the bridge on the grassy berm parallel to highway 431. All along highway 79 is also a great place to fish. For Crappie fishing, the local swear that highway 69 bridge is the best.

2. Guntersville Dam:

Guntersville Dam is one of the best fishing spots on Lake Guntersville. I fish only on the Marshall county side of the dam as the fishing is much better in my opinion. The winter time is the best time to fish here if the dam is not flowing too much. Check the daily rate of flow on the TWA website. Large Sturgeon, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Alligator Gars, Spoonbill, Sauger, hybrid Bass, White Bass, Striped Bass and even Walleyes can be caught at the dam. I have seen people catch 90 lb. Catfish, 30 lb. Stripers and 5 ft. Gar here. It can get kind of dangerous with the high flow of water and at the mouth of the dam, so best not to bring little kids to this area.

3. Guntersville State Park:

This is another great place to fish with your kids. A lot of areas to fish and swim. They have a great campground and picnic area. One of the best places to fish on the shore for the entire family.

4. Joe Wheeler Lake:

This is another great fishing hole. My favorite spot is just off Alt 72 Bridge, prior to getting on the bridge from the east side. There is an inlet at the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area along the road that is pretty fun to catch fish. People have told me if you have a boat and can make your way to Wheeler Dam, the Catfish are huge and plentiful.

5. Lewis Smith Lake:

Lewis Smith Lake is a huge crystal clear 21,000 acres deep water reservoir, fed by the Sipsey and the Black Warrior River. Smith Lake is known for its huge Striped Bass which can get well over 30 lbs. I prefer fishing for Rainbow Trout at the dam. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries stock the Sipsey Fork with 3,000 plus 8-15 inch Rainbow Trout each month. The deep cool waters of Smith Lake and the powerful turbines of the dam provide the perfect flow and water conditions for the trout to survive.

Any question or need further information? Send me a note.