Angling For Adventures
Three stocked cobalt-blue lakes-Pickwick, Wilson, and Wheeler-make for some of the best sport fishing in the nation. Dam tailwaters make miles of run-of-the-river lakes with numerous gravel islands, shallow slough, grass-filled backwaters, feeder streams, standing timber, rocky points, and underwater structures-and that means trophy fish for you!
Real fish stories. Catches of 100 fish a day-bream, crappie, sauger, bass. Powerful bronzeback, blue and channel catfish. They're jumping, and we're hauling them in. That gives us pretty good bragging rights- and some downright good fish frys.
Plus we're the Smallmouth Bass Capital of the World. Right here. Strong currents and excellent habitat in the northwest Alabama tailraces make bass fishing so good that several line class records are certified by the International Game Fish Association. And other bass are biting--the large mouth, spotted, striped, and shadow bass.
Need a Fishing License?
For license information visit
www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/license/
Annual fishing licenses are good for 365 days. Instant licensing is available on the Internet (2% fee), or by telephone-1-888-848-6887 ($3.95 fee), or at 900 vendors and probate offices in Alabama. All youth age 15 and younger fish for free. License requirements vary because the lake includes three states. Possession and creel limits for Alabama public waters are listed at
www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/
Alabama Resident-$12.50 annual license
Florida/Tennessee Resident--$16 (7-day permit)
Louisiana Resident-$26 (7-day permit)
Mississippi resident-$15 (7-day permit)
All other state residents-$11 (7-day permit)
Out-of-state resident annual license fee--$31
For a free Fishing Package, call 1-888-FLO-TOUR (356-8687)
Good Fishing Year-Round
Spring-March-June
Expect gravel points and bars, rip rap banks and bluffs. Fill your tackle box with jigs, big crank baits, spinner gaits, small jigs and spinning rods.
Summer-June-September
Now is the time for blue and channel catfish. For all fish, your best luck is to follow shell mounds, Indian mounds and underwater humps. Local fishermen say to use jig, big crank baits, spinner baits, Carolina Rig Lizard and live shiners to lure in the big ones.
Fall-September-December
Trophy fish abundant along the riverbanks, woods, rocks and where the bait fish are. Smallmouth bass congregate in the tailwaters of Wheeler Dam. Most anglers drift live threadfin shad (locals call them yellowtails) in the swift current for trophy smallmouths. Also fill your tackle box with top water baits, spinner baits, and live bait.
Winter-December-March
Tailwaters of Wilson and Wheeler Dams provide excellent opportunities to catch sauger we (we call them jack salmon) when they migrate upstream to spawn. Also winter is the best season for smallmouth bass fishing on the Tennessee River. Use willow leaf spinner baits in white or white/chartreuse.
All Florence Hotels conveniently located near Florence Harbor & offer boat parking
Lake Maps available through Florence/Lauderdale Tourism
Fishing License by Phone 24 Hours/Day 7 Days Per Week 1-888-848-6887
Lake Levels & Temperature 256-386-2264 or www.lakeinfo.tva.gov
Alabama Boat Operator's Certification
Manual Marine Police Division 334-242-3673
Folsom Administrative Building
Montgomery, AL 36130-1451
Local Fishing Guides:
Sam Parker Jimmy Mason
7731 Dr. Kennedy Dr. 1400 Lee Street
Florence, AL 35630 Rogersville, AL 35633
256-762-4924 256-247-5859
samparker@fishinalabama.com
Bill's Trophy Fishing Carl Boaz
P.O. Box 1404 1759 Hwy.101
Killen, AL 35645 Rogersville, AL 35652
256-757-5064 256-247-0752
Huntnfishn@earthlink.net
John T. Muse (Tony) Cox Fly Fishing
17620 Co. Rd. 2 221 Co. Rd. 416
Florence, AL 35633 Killen, AL 35645
256-766-3424 256-757-0449
tcox26@msn.com
Ricky Sizemore
Outdoor Adventures of the Shoals
393 Wienbaum Ln.
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
256-762-6661
jrsizemore@bellsouth.net
Boat Sales, Service & Repair
Travis Boat Center Longshore Cycle Cntr.
4120 Florence Blvd. 913 Mitchell Blvd.
Florence, AL 35630 Florence, AL 35630
256-757-5000 256-764-3038
Shoals Marine Emerald Beach Marina
105 Cox Blvd. Shoals Creek
Sheffield, AL 35661 Killen, AL 35645
256-381-5006 256-757-9086
Scotts Marine Service Jim's Prop Service
1013 Koonce Street 3407 Huntsville Road
Florence, AL 35630 Florence, AL 35630
256-767-3145 256-766-1717
Area Marinas
Florence Harbor and Marina
1050 Clayborn Liles Dr.
(McFarland Park)
Florence, AL 35630
256-768-1299
Emerald Beach Marina
Shoals Creek
Killen, AL 35645
256-757-9086
Marina Mar
Hwy 72 / Shoals Creek
Killen, AL 35645
256-757-1122
Joe Wheeler State Park
Hwy 72
Rogersville, AL 35652
256-247-5461
Fishing Supplies, Bait & Tackle
Alabama Outdoors
Full Line Orvis Dealer
468 N. Court St. Florence, AL 35630
256-764-1809
Gray's Tackle Shop
2813 Jackson Hwy. Sheffield, AL 35660
256-383-2716
Gene's Bait & Tackle
Hwy. 72 / 15261 Hwy. 72 Rogersville, AL 35652
256-247-7700
Joe Wheeler State Park Marina
4601 McLean Drive Rogersville, AL 35652
256-247-6971
Tom Smith Custom Rod & Reel
3303 Veterans Drive Florence, AL 35630
256-766-8036
Fun Land Tackle Shop
Hwy. 20 / 305 Coffee Road Florence, AL 35630
256-764-1239
Bass Plus
100 Francis Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL 35662
256-383-2611
Wal-Mart Super Center
3100 Hough (off Hwy. 72) Florence, AL 35630
256-767-7581
K-Mart
105 Cox Creek Pkwy. South Florence, AL 35630
256-764-2223
Dick's Sporting Goods
346 Cox Creek Pkwy. Florence, AL 35630
256-760-4211