Fishing Lewis Smith Lake

AKA: Smith Lake

Popular Fish Species
Lewis Smith Lake Fishing Video
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Lewis Smith Lake, AL

Popular Fish Species Lewis Smith Lake, AL

Spotted Bass Fishing

Spotted bass are more popular here than largemouth bass or smallmouth. They tend to gather in small schools in search of food. Here at Lewis Smith Lake, they are a favorite of many local anglers, as they are plentiful and put up a very strong battle. Fishing for spotted bass can be good anytime you can locate them. Their diet consists mainly of crayfish and insects, but they also eat small baitfish, sunfish and bluegill. Most of the time, spots prefer to stage on steep rocky or gravel banks, and may move up and down the water column throughout the day. When shallow, use topwater or shallow crankbaits around rip rap. When they are deep, use worms and jigs. In winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass also reside here in good numbers.

Crappie Fishing

Black and white crappie both reside in Lewis Smith Lake, with black crappie typically providing the bigger "slabs". They do school together so when you find them you may catch both species. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Striped Bass Fishing

Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lewis Smith Lake. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. The most productive way to catch stripers here is using live blueback herring or shad legally caught in the lake for bait. At times, artificial lures work with top-water being the most exciting. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.

Smith Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, white bass and striped bass at Smith Lake in Alabama.

Lewis Smith Lake, located in north-central Alabama, is a renowned fishing destination known for its clear waters and abundant fish populations. Known for monster striped bass, Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama about an hour north of Birmingham. In addition to big stripers, catfish, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sunfish and largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all thrive here.

With over 500 miles of shoreline everyone can wet a line and know there is that chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. Much of the shoreline is dotted with boat docks, rocks and trees which all hold fish from time to time. Multiple boat ramps and marinas serve the public with gas, launching, fishing tackle, sundries, ice, food and a host of other items to enhance boating, fishing and camping trips at the lake. Bring your pleasure or fishing boat or find boat rentals locally. Choose from multiple campgrounds around the lake as headquarters for a family vacation or a weekend fishing trip.

Fishing Report

Primary fish species residing in Lewis Smith Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Smith Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: YES

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