Minimum Length: 14 inches It is not uncommon to catch solid bags of both … Weighing must be witnessed by two people. Some of the most productive lures for stream smallmouth fishing are 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits and buzz baits. Topwater Fall Fishing on Pickwick Lake! Walter F George Lock and Dam is a dam located just 10.9 miles from Abbeville, in Henry County, in the state of Alabama, United States, near Fort Gaines, GA. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including largemouth bass, striped bass, bream/bluegill, smallmouth bass, carp and smelt here. Call or email now to book your trip with a proven Smith, Guntersville Lake or … That makes this reservoir the odds on favorite for a new record, but there are other contenders in the region that have produced fish over 10 pounds. Are Alabama bass in California different fish? They are suspected to be present in Diascund Reservoir and possibly other lakes. By this point, I would recommend casting parallel to the river towards the pond and try to find any areas of stagnant water where a school might be hiding out. Keep your catch for all other species of fish. Pickwick Lake Trophy Smallmouth Fishing Guide Service 256-486-4306 CarlBoaz@smallmouthguide.com Carl Boaz Guntersville, AL For fall bass fishing baits grab your favorite topwater lure, so long as it’s a buzzbait, a few shallow running crankbait lures, some spinnerbait lures that are white or mostly white, some swim baits and where legal, an Alabama Rig when bass are suspending. ... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho. The Types of Fishing Lures You Will Need Are Minimal. Fall Frog Fishing Patterns for Lake Guntersville Fish must be identified by Alabama Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist. If you took all the things necessary for major smallmouth productivity and … They’re also great for fall smallmouth bass fishing. For those of you who have not heard this bait was invented by Andy Poss of north Alabama. Get Licensed. Alabama Bass are confirmed to be present in Lake Gaston, Claytor Lake, Philpott Lake, and Martinsville Reservoir. WE ARE YOUR SOURCE FOR FISHING DESTINATIONS IN ALABAMA! A relentless attitude is a must and the will to battle mother nature takes a small amount of crazy. Guntersville Lake through Pickwick Lake offer the best bass fishing on the Alabama Bass Trail, and local guide, Captain Ryan Salzman started his fishing career growing up on these lakes. Smallmouth Bass Fishing: Big Water vs. Small Rivers Streams and river have currents making it easier to find smallmouth. Maybe, maybe not. The lure was then made famous by Paul Elias’ miraculous showing this last fall on Guntersville. Alabama Bass Guide Ryan Salzman, 256-508-5260 Pickwick Lake will always have a special place in my heart. Smallmouth Bass Fishing Baits. Lake St. Clair, Michigan. When it comes to the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet, few lakes enjoy the reputation of Pickwick. Bassmaster Elite Series tournament angler Timmy Horton was a fishing guide at Pickwick before he became one of the top bass pros in the country. Nothing could be further from the truth. Brian Barton, a Tennessee River guide, shows off a smallmouth bass (left) and a largemouth bass (right) he caught while fishing on Pickwick Lake near Florence. albasstrail_russlane_opt.jpeg. If you are an avid smallmouth angler, don’t let this bucket list adventure pass you by. Admittedly, Pickwick Lake, the second stop in the North Division of the Alabama Bass Trail, has trended toward an elite largemouth fishery in recent years. Alabama Bass are native to Georgia and Alabama, occurring primarily in large river systems and large impoundments. This time of year on the Tennessee River, especially Pickwick, is prime time for throwing topwater for chasing fish. Smallmouth bass. (John Felsher/Alabama Living) From 100 yards away, we could feel the power of the water rushing through two gates of Wilson Dam at Florence. Dale Hollow has produced the two largest smallmouth bass ever recorded (11 pounds 15 ounces & 10 pounds 14 ounces). Procedures for the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means. Current breaks, eddies, shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there's dissolved oxygen and food there. One of the best big smallmouth bass waters is the Tennessee River, especially the southern half that runs through north Alabama, west Mississippi and south Tennessee. Bass Fishing Smallmouth Tips From Three Pickwick Lake Guides When it comes to the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet, few lakes enjoy the reputation of Pickwick. However, with the recent emergence of hydrilla in the lake, the largemouth fishing is becoming just as good on this aging reservior. Check out the links below for pictures from my previous fishing guide trips. Then you’re ready for autumn bass fishing. Smallmouth Bass in Alabama Ponds. Many pond owners are under the impression that smallmouth won’t survive in ponds, or at a minimum, won’t thrive. I love fishing frogs no matter what the season is, but I especially enjoy these guys during the fall. Some humps, ledges and rocks farther downstream give up some smallmouths as well, but the premier hotspot for big bronzebacks at this time of the year lies at the foot of Wheeler Dam. From $180.00. The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is conducting genetic testing to better identify the … Fall Frog […] Aliceville Lake. FLW Tour pro Jimmy Reese provides guidance for catching West Coast Alabama bass and a few tricks to up the odds for a big bite. Completed in 1938, the bass fishing in this storied 47,500-acre Tennessee River reservoir is better than ever. Soft plastic lures, such as spider-style plastic grubs (rigged on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads), tube baits, jerk baits and 6-inch plastic worms are also popular. “The Alabama River usually has a nice stained color to it,” Lane points out. Book your charter trip now and take advantage of the best time to catch trophy Smallmouth, Largemouth or spotted bass in North Alabama. It has been widely transplanted so that today it occurs in almost every state and many other countries. Pickwick Lake in northwest Alabama belies the notion that all good things must come to an end. How To Fish & Boat Where To Fish & Boat State Info. I was skeptical about this lure at first. If you like fishing for shallow bass, the Alabama River is the place to be in July and August, says Bassmaster Elite Series pro Russ Lane. If you are an avid smallmouth angler, don’t let this bucket list adventure pass you by. Where to catch Smallmouth Bass The smallmouth bass is native to the eastern half of the U.S.A. and southeastern Canada, from Manitoba and Quebec south to the Tennessee River system in Alabama and west to eastern Oklahoma. 7-pound Personal Best Smallmouth Bass. But regardless of which spot they're in, most often the best method for catching the bass involves drift-fishing with live shad minnows. Daily Bag: 5 fish for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass. "In spring when lake temperature is 58° to 60°F, look for current from water running into the reservoir from creeks," Reese says. Five and six pound brownfish are common, and provide the most thrilling jumps in fishing when they are hooked. Fish must be weighed on certified scales. Growing up in the small town of Wylam located only five miles from downtown Birmingham, I learned how to fish nearby, renting a small boat in my teenage years. Native to central Alabama and north Georgia, Alabama bass have been reported in Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and even … Learn amazing fishing tips about how to catch Smallmouth Bass, different fishing methods, what tackle and bait to use to catch Smallmouth Bass and more! I knew it would catch fish in the fall when the bass have the bait pushed up and feeding. Come check out Garmin's Live Scope and be amazed at what you see. The two lakes that get the most publicity and produce the biggest smallmouths are Pickwick and Wilson lakes. Targeting big smallmouth bass is not easy. He lives only 3 miles from the Cooter’s Pond boat ramp in the Jones Bluff (R. E. “Bob” Woodruff Reservoir) stretch of the Alabama River. In the fishing world, Pickwick and smallmouth has a certain ring to it, an attractive combination that lures fishermen from near and far in search of brown bass. Smallmouth are indeed found all the way to Canada, and some of the best smallmouth lakes anywhere are up north; but the world record came from right here in the South, near the Kentucky/Tennessee … All smallmouth bass caught are released except for one per person per trip. I’ve learned a lot about fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass and smallmouth bass during the past, often brutal cold, fifty plus years of winter months in Alabama. Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama has always been one of the top Smallmouth Bass lakes in the country. 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