Anglers don’t visit Northern Alabama to experience the hustle and bustle of city life. They want to get away to the expansive forests, emerald mountains, vast lakes and endless rivers. And let’s cut to the chase. Most important of all, Alabama conceals a collection of world-class bass fishing spots where an angler can fight fish, not crowds and powerboats.
North Alabama: Fishing Central In the Middle of Nowhere
What’s Biting
Northern Alabama is home to largemouth, smallmouth and Alabama spotted bass. Big lakes like Lake Guntersville and Pickwick Lake offer deep-water fishing for big bass. The swift rivers and cold water lakes host world-class smallmouth bass fishing. Many anglers come to the area to target spotted bass. Look for the feisty little fish hovering over gravel shoals and hiding behind boulders and drops.
Every season is fishing season in North Alabama. While bass are biting in the colder months, the best time to visit, and prime time for trophies, is spring or fall. The weather is cooler and the fishing heats up as transition seasons encourage the fish to feed heavily.
Gear & Rigging
Whatever your favorite bass tactic, you can test your skills in North Alabama. Work deep structure for schooled bass with deep swimming crankbaits and swimbaits. Or punch through shallow vegetation with jigs and frogs. Change gears and river fish for smallies and spotties using a crankbait or topwater buzzbait. The best plan is to plan for anything with a full arsenal of bass fishing favorites.
To get the most out of a visit to North Alabama, carry two kayaks. One boat is a full-sized, fully rigged fishing kayak ready for big water and long days. The other kayak is a grab-and-go boat ready for commando launching from the side of the road and dragging over rocks and deadfalls to reach hidden backwaters.
Game Plan
Stay in Huntsville, North Alabama’s centrally located fishing headquarters. The biggest city in the region provides plenty of options for accommodations and plenty to do off the water. From the city center, you are a short drive to the area’s famous bass lakes and hundreds of smaller lakes, creeks and rivers. In between fishing trips, visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, one of the country’s largest museum and space experience destinations.
For the latest information and current fishing reports, stop at Kayak Bass Fishing headquarters and join a fishing trip with tournament founder and television personality Chad Hoover.
Where to Eat & Stay
Get the complete outdoor experience at Ditto Landing, a campground and RV resort with a full-service marina and access to the best fishing.
Refuel in style; eat at Superhero Chefs. For breakfast, try the waffle and pancake tacos and make lunch a southern eggroll stuffed with mac and cheese and chicken with a sweet potato sauce.
The hardest part of visiting North Alabama is deciding where to fish. | Feature photo: Chad Hoover
