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Lewis Smith Lake - Lake Map
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Smith Lake has over 500 miles of shoreline for camping, and 21,200 acres of clear water for sport fishing, skiing, and boating. Smith Lake draws campers, fishermen and recreational boaters from all over the Southeast. It is located midway between Birmingham and Huntsville. Smith Lake serves as a perfect get away for individuals in both metro areas. Smith Lake is probably the largest and definitely the cleanest lake in Alabama.
If you’re interested in lake house rentals, set your sights on Lewis Smith Lake, spanning Walker, Winston, and Cullman Counties, Alabama. Lewis Smith Lake is prized by anglers and nature enthusiasts alike, boasting crystal-clear water and more than 500 miles of shoreline.
Anglers appreciate the lake’s diverse and difficult fishing options. Spotted, largemouth, striped, and white bass, along with black and white crappie, and several varieties of catfish and sunfish are the most prevalent catches you’ll find in Lewis Smith Lake. Monster striped bass roam the waters, weighing in at over 40 pounds, and evidence of even larger bass makes the hope of catching “the big one” a real possibility. Prime bass fishing months include October, November, February, March, and April. Fishing for Crappie is recommended from April to May. The lake has garnered a reputation for offering great fishing year round and has hosted several notable professional fishing tournaments. The clarity of the water makes all water activities a joy, while the impressive depths of the lake (reaching over 200 feet) keep the fishing exciting and challenging.
Lewis Smith Lake offers much more than fishing. The 21,200-acre lake borders the William Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness Area, encouraging visitors to explore the surrounding areas and animals. You may even catch sight of a bald eagle in flight! Homes for rent along the lake enjoy access to the many amenities available. Numerous boat launches are placed strategically around the lake, in addition to one ADA-compliant dock for excellent lake accessibility. The lake’s swimming pool with waterslide is a popular attraction with visitors of all ages, and carpet golf is another favorite among guests. Many people also take to the water in boat, pontoon, and Jet Ski rentals.
Lewis Smith Lake is a short drive from Birmingham (to the south) and Huntsville (to the north), giving lake home renters the opportunity to enjoy the city life whenever they please. If golf is your game, you’ve come to the right place! There are a number of great golf courses you can play near Lewis Smith Lake. In addition to area golf courses like the Cullman Golf Course and Chelsey Oaks Golf Course, Alabama’s own Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is recognized as being one of the finest public golf establishments in the country.
The Clarkson Covered Bridge near Lewis Smith Lake is a functioning piece of history, as it survived the Battle of Hog Mountain in 1863. Berkeley Bob’s Coffee House, LLC, will get you charged for a day on the lake, and Hunan Chinese Buffet satisfies the appetites of small and large groups alike. When the hunt turns from fish to antiques, look no farther than Finders Keepers Cullman; with 150 booths of craftsman gifts and treasures to scour, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Smith Lake contains over 70 species of fish. The dominant species are spotted bass, large mouth bass, crappie and blue gill. Gulf Coast striped bass and Florida large mouth bass have been stocked annually in the lake since 1980. It is very common for the striped bass to be in the 30 pound range. Striped bass in the 40 plus pound range are present. Seth Lucas and Amy Sorenson set World Record catches in Smith Lake.
The Lewis Smith Lake is ranked as the number one lake in Alabama for spotted bass fishing and number three for crappie. Five world record catches for spotted bass is held by Smith Lake; a state record was set by a 32.8 stripped bass catch. Holder of five previous World Record spotted bass catches and highly rated in the state as a trophy saltwater striped bass fishery. The current lake record is 45 lbs. A deep, clear lake with feeder streams, bays and sloughs. Rainbow trout fishery is located on the Sipsey Fork. It is a deep, clear lake with dozens of different feeder streams, winding bays, and sloughs. Steep bluffs cradle much of the lake, with water depths dropping as deep as 60 or 70 feet just a few yards offshore. The water often appears emerald green, and a bass that strikes a lure 10 feet down can be seen as it hits. Access to the lake is easy from Cullman via Alabama Highway 69.
Anglers begin their search for spotted bass on Smith Lake by fishing points, and because there are hundreds of coves along the shoreline, there is no shortage of points. Smith Lake is a difficult lake on which to pattern the bass because the fish are frequently moving as they follow their main food source, crawfish. The big bass months on Smith Lake are February, March and early April with October and November being excellent times. Action continues through the summer, but is best very early and late, or at night. Crappie action is best in April or May with striped bass hunting good year-round.
There are several well-known fishing areas on Smith Lake, with Dismal Creek being the most famous with two world spotted bass having been caught here. Other good spots are Brushy Creek and Rock Creek. There is no a great deal of standing timber in this impoundment, so crappie anglers concentrate in the backs of coves, along some of the shallow shorelines, at feeder streams and near piers and boathouses. The Gulf Coast strain of striped bass that has been stocked in Smith Lake since 1982 are at maturity with weights of over 20 lbs. Commonly being recorded. Trolling with a three-way swivel lure produces the best results during the summer with the Red Fin lures being popular in late October and early November.
Seymore Fish & Game
256-747-7320, 34 County Road 137, Cullman, AL
Online Fishing Guide Service 205-706-5658
The best online resource for Alabama bass anglers. Get the latest fishing reports, read about local news headlines, find tournament dates and locations, educate yourself with articles, and much more to help you catch more and bigger bass.
Lewis Smith Lake Boating Information
Alabama Boat Lifts
Arley, AL
205-302-0788 or 1-866-504-LIFT
Speegle's Marina & Campground
256-739-0364, 7146 County Road 310, Crane Hill, AL 35053-4303
Duskin Point Marina
205-384-6942, 196 Duskin Point Rd, Jasper, AL 35504-3808
Richard's Clearwater Marina
205-387-2952, 65 Marina Dr, Jasper, AL 35504-3840
Ram Docks Inc
256-287-2227, 850 County Road 225, Cullman, AL
Castle Rock Marina
200 Co Rd 96, Crane Hill, AL 35053, (256) 287-1117
Lewis Smith Lake Camping Information
Smith Lake Park - Located on Lewis Smith Lake at Trimble, it is one of the top rated recreational areas in Alabama. This back to nature park offers 200 plus tent and RV campsites, a swimming pool (in season), spiral waterslides and lake swimming, picnic area, shelters, and special events throughout the summer.
Arrowhead Park
256-747-2519, 1146 County Road 941, Crane Hill, AL 35053-2722
Big Bridge Camp Ground
256-287-0440, 21899 County Road 222, Crane Hill, AL 35053-3343
Camp David
256-747-3828, 3735 County Road 940, Cullman, AL
Country View RV Park
15959 AL Hwy 91, Hanceville, AL 35077, (256) 352-4678
Camp Meadowbrook
205 4th Ave NE, Suite 102, Cullman, AL 35055, (256) 734-6471
Cullman Campground
220 Co Rd 1185, Cullman, AL 35057, (256) 734-5853
Local Area Businesses near Lewis Smith Lake
White Pines Golf Course
256-287-2400, 2320 County Road 30, Bremen, AL
Pace Grocery Inc
205-221-9315, Highway 41, Arley, AL 35541
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