Fishing Neely Henry Lake

AKA: Neely Henry Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Neely Henry Lake Fishing Video
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Neely Henry Lake, AL

Popular Fish Species Neely Henry Lake, AL

Neely Henry Lake Popular Fish - Spotted Bass

Spotted Bass Fishing

Spotted bass are often found in small schools on steep banks, around rocky or sandy shorelines, points and ledges. They often prefer hanging out in slightly deeper water than largemouths. Here at Neely Henry Lake, they are a favorite of many local anglers, as they are plentiful and put up a good tussle when hooked. 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, small sunfish and small 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 drop-shot worms and jigs. Throughout winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass also reside here in decent numbers.

Neely Henry Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

As a popular bass fishing tournament lake, Neely Henry Lake is well known to locals and anglers in the region as a good bass lake. Both weekend and tournament anglers have been catching bass in good numbers, and fish over 4 pounds are not uncommon. Decades of careful fisheries management by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has helped to maintain a thriving bass fishery here. Fishing for largemouth bass can be quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 6 pounds being caught. In Neely Henry Lake, bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Neely Henry Lake Popular Fish - White Crappie

White Crappie Fishing

Plenty of healthy white crappie reside in Neely Henry Lake, as they are making a nice comeback this year. The fish population is healthy and crappie fishing is excellent. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate shallow brush and vegetation in Spring and Fall focusing on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out to as deep as 30 to 35 feet, as well as ledges near channels at these depths. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here.

Neely Henry Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, white bass, striped bass and hybrid striped bass at Neely Henry Lake in Alabama.

An area favorite for largemouth and spotted bass, Neely Henry Lake is a bass tournament mecca. This 11,000-acre, lake is located on the Coosa River in the northeast part of the state directly south of Gadsden.

Popular fish species found in Neely Henry Lake include spotted bass and largemouth bass. Crappie fishing is also popular here year-round. Both black crappie and white crappie can be found in the lake. Catfish anglers will find opportunities in Neely Henry Lake as well. Channel catfish and flathead catfish are commonly caught in the lake.

There are 339 miles of shoreline, much of which is dotted with boat docks which offer cover for bass and sunfish. Gravel points and laydowns are also magnets for bass. Crappie are a second favorite here, and the lake also sports healthy populations of catfish, white bass, striped bass, hybrid stripers, bluegill and other sunfish. There is limited access to the shoreline for bank fishing, but two fishing piers are available to the public. The public boat launch ramps allows launching of power boats, pleasure boats and all types of fishing boats. Ten Islands Historic Park has a boat ramp, parking and shoreline accessible for fishing or launch of a canoe or kayak.

Primary fish species residing in Neely Henry Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Neely Henry Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: NO
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Canoe Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Byrd Lane, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Coosa Landing Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off at the east end of the E Broad Street Bridge, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Greensport Marina and General Store Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Greensport Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with docks and gravel parking.

Rainbow Landing Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off State Route 77, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Tillisons Bend Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, south side, off Lonz Street, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.