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Lake Information for Lewis Smith Lake
Like a diamond that is deep, clear and blue, Lewis Smith Lake is one of Alabama’s treasures. Located in Walker, Winston and Cullman counties, this 21,200-acre lake is different than most other Alabama reservoirs. If you typically fish a shallow, stained body of water, then your first trip onto Smith Lake can be intimidating. Watching your depth finder jump to 200 plus feet can leave you feeling lost. However, like most lakes, the majority of bass, bream and crappie fishing is done by casting to the numerous large rocks and fallen trees along the shoreline. With 500 plus miles of shoreline, it isn’t that difficult to find fish.
The Alabama record spotted bass came from Smith Lake on March 18, 1978. The eight-pound, fifteen-ounce fish was caught by Phillip C. Terry of Decatur.
Local accommodations may be found through Alabama Tourism: www.800alabama.com/places-to-stay/hotels-lodging/or the Cullman Chamber of Comerce: www.cullmanchamber.org/
Regional information may be found at the north Alabama regional tourism site, www.alabamamountainlakes.org/, call (800) 648-5381, or email [email protected]. Smith Lake area accommodations are listed under: Bremen, Crane Hill, Cullman, Cullman County and Double Spring, Lewis Smith Lake, and Phil Campbell.
A handicap accessible boating access is available at Smith Lake Park thanks to Cullman County and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Another boat ramp is at the Smith Lake Dam courtesy of Alabama Power Company and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
State fish management information and Alabama reservoir location, size and elevation are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/
Speelges Marina has a boat ramp usable at all water levels.
Smith Lake Park is owned by Cullman County, www.cullmancountyparks.com/smithlake.htm. The boat launch at Smith Lake Park has a new ADA compliant dock with a 40-foot walkway and a floating 16'X24' platform. This walkway is possible through Sport Fish Restoration funds, State Sen. Zeb Little, Cullman County Parks and Recreation Board, the Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council, and the Cullman County Parks Foundation Board. Smith lake Park has a rod and reel loaner program; they lend spincast fishing rods and reels to anglers. Lakeside cabins are available as well as picnic pavilions, camping hook-ups, tent campsites, swimming pool and water slide, carpet golf, boat launching and fishing.
The overall population of black bass in the lake is good. According to the April, 2007 electrofishing survey by fisheries biologists with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, largemouth bass and spotted bass were captured at the same rate. Sixteen percent (16%) of the black bass population exceeded fifteen inches (15"). This is a slight increase above that of 2003. The spotted bass population has responded well to the slot limit and has shown a positive shift towards larger fish, while the largemouth bass population has improved at a lesser degree.
For the slot limit to continue to restructure the black bass population, anglers are encouraged to keep bass less than 13 inches. This will result in both increased growth and overall size of the remaining bass. The creel limit is 10 black bass in combination (largemouth bass, spotted bass...) per day. The slot limit is 13 to 15 inches. Anglers must immediately release all black bass in the slot (13"-15"), but may keep black bass over 15 inches (15"). Remember, harvesting bass under 13 inches (13") is not only encouraged, but also recommended.
Smith Lake also produces monster striped bass. Fish in the 40+ pound range are present, and some anglers feel a 50+ pound Smith Lake record should be caught soon. Anglers have fought several huge fish that broke off. One angler hooked a fish that, "had to go at least 70 pounds;" the big one that got away. Live shad, available locally, are the preferred bait.
Anglers can fish from the bank on US Forest Service land, Bankhead National Forest, including the Sipsey Wilderness Area and Corinth, Houston and Clear Creek Recreational Areas, see: www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/recreation/rec_matrix.shtml
An hour north of Birmingham or south of Huntsville and just off I-65, the lake is not difficult to find.
Businesses Located Nearby
Bait & Tackle
- Tackle World
- 85 Breezy Ln - Cordova, AL
- (205) 483-0220
- Decatur Bait & Tackle
- 214 6th Ave Se - Decatur, AL
- (256) 353-6491
- Townson Bait & Tackle
- 903 Church St Ne - Decatur, AL
- (256) 351-0524
Boat Rental
- International Boat Rentals Incorporated
- 2521 Arbor Cv - Birmingham, AL
- (205) 967-8176
- Anderson Boats
- 5155 Al Highway 157 - Cullman, AL
- (256) 734-1354
- Davenport Boats
- 173 County Road 1154 - Cullman, AL
- (256) 734-9193
Vacation Rental
- Holiday Inn Airport
- 5000 10th Ave N - Birmingham, AL
- (205) 591-6900
- Sheraton
- 2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N - Birmingham, AL
- (205) 324-5000
- Premier Living Suites Corporate Housing
- 2736 Tyler Rd - Vestavia Hills, AL
- (205) 978-8885
Bar and Restaurant
- Mill Creek Barbecue #1
- 6590 Curry Hwy - Jasper, AL
- (205) 302-0100
- Dodge City Barbecue
- 885 Al Highway 69 S - Hanceville, AL
- (256) 287-0929
- Luna's Bar-B-Que
- Hwy 31 - Hanceville, AL
- (256) 352-6989
