Page 49 - Sports Planner Guide 2018
P. 49
TOURNAMENT FISHING
BANKHEAD RESERVOIR LAKE NEELY HENRY
(P) 205.436.4366 (P) 256.543.3472
(W) OUTDOORALABAMA.COM/FISHING/FRESHWATER/ (W) OUTDOORALABAMA.COM/FISHING/FRESHWATER/
WHERE/RESERVOIRS/BANKHEAD WHERE/RESERVOIRS/NEELYHENRY
If trophy spotted bass is your fishing fantasy, this lake on The lake has played host to notable events including the
the Warrior River is a must. This lake has been one of the Wrangler/B.A.S.S. national championship, the Bass N’
hottest spotted bass fisheries in the South in recent years. Gal women’s world championship and the BASS Masters
A recent bass tournament on the lake took five spotted Alabama Invitational. It was during the B.A.S.S. amateur
bass weighing 26.57 pounds to win. Alabama Wildlife and national championship that anglers set the B.A.S.S. all‑time
Freshwater Fisheries recently monitored bass fishing record of 635 bass weighing 1,412 pounds, eclipsing the
tournaments on 30 Alabama lakes, and in that study, no previous record by more than 800 pounds. The lake has an
other lake produced 73 5‑pound‑or‑larger bass in just 27 incredible population of both largemouth and spotted bass.
tournaments. The lake, located southwest of Birmingham, A combination of standing timber, flooded flats, ledges and
has Howton’s Camp as its primary launch site. hundreds of piers and boat docks guarantee that an angler
can fish the habitats he finds most productive. Gadsden
ACRES FISH TYPE MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN City Docks is headquarters for the lake and offers three
launches and ample parking.
9,945 Spotted Bass 30
ACRES FISH TYPE MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN
11,200 Largemouth 45
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Bass
Spotted Bass
(P) 256.582.6060
(W) OUTDOORALABAMA.COM/FISHING/FRESHWATER/ LAKE LOGAN MARTIN
WHERE/RESERVOIRS/GUNTERSVILLE
(P) 205.338.6393
The Washington Times called this 69,000‑acre Tennessee (W) OUTDOORALABAMA.COM/FISHING/FRESHWATER/
River lake the best bass lake in America. The mountain lake WHERE/RESERVOIRS/LOGANMARTIN
produces stringers of bass like no other lake in the U.S. The
bass fishing world is still reeling from the five fish totaling The frequent host lake of the BASS Master Classics and
34 pounds, 12 ounces caught by a tournament angler in FLW Tour Championships, this lake offers some of the best
2002. In addition to one 7‑pound bass and two 6‑pounders, bass fishing found in the U.S. It was here that anglers set
that stringer included a 14 pound, 2‑ounce largemouth. BASS Masters Classic records for heaviest total weight,
It was the largest 5‑fish stringer in state history and most bass caught, most limits caught, and largest winning
the largest bass ever caught in Alabama. In addition, a weight. The former Alabama state record bass – weighing
tournament two weeks later resulted in the top 20 anglers 14 pounds and 2 ounces – was caught here. The lake is
all presenting stringers with at least a 4‑pound‑per‑fish noted for its numerous 7‑pound‑plus spotted bass. Lake
average. Major launches include Guntersville State Park, Logan Martin is also Alabama’s top location for crappie. The
Mac’s Landing and the City of Guntersville public launch. lake has a number of excellent launch sites, with Pell City
Park in Pell City and Lakeside Landing in Cropwell being
ACRES FISH TYPE MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN the most popular. Lakeside Landing also offers camping.
69,000 Largemouth 75
Bass ACRES FISH TYPE MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN
15,263 Largemouth 40
Bass, Spotted
Bass, and
Crappie
SP ORTS PLANNERS GUIDE | 49