Finally moved to Alabama, looking for some suggestions and fishing buddies

[Scorcher214]

The Guntersville road trip was almost 10 years ago...While I was down here I thought about moving. Never did. Welp...work has lead me back. 

 

I've fished Oak Mountain with no luck and have been told I might as well avoid it. Pond at my apartment has some bass in it as well. That's it since I moved down here a year ago. This summer I'd really like to get out and try more lakes. I am limited right now with no boat but looking to pick up a kayak. So shore spots only for now. Located in Birmingham as well.

 

 

 

 

[Fishlegs]

I've never been there, but Google maps shows one lake named "Lunker Lake" in Oak Mtn park. It doesn't look like is has a lot of accessible shoreline for bank fishing, but it appears to have a kayak ramp. It might be worth a shot if it's available to the pubic for fishing. Good luck!

[Mike Badge]

On 2/26/2021 at 10:12 AM, Scorcher214 said:

The Guntersville road trip was almost 10 years ago...While I was down here I thought about moving. Never did. Welp...work has lead me back. 

 

I've fished Oak Mountain with no luck and have been told I might as well avoid it. Pond at my apartment has some bass in it as well. That's it since I moved down here a year ago. This summer I'd really like to get out and try more lakes. I am limited right now with no boat but looking to pick up a kayak. So shore spots only for now. Located in Birmingham as well.

 

 

 

 

I'm in Auburn, AL. and have a boat, but when I didn't have one I found some nearby lakes that would rent Jon boats w/trolling motors ~ 15 -20 $/day. There may be some places near you that do the same. I will say that you are very near some of the best bass fishing you can imagine. Also, I love catching striped bass in the spring behind the dams and you can probably do that too. You usually don't need a boat - but get a reel with plenty of line in case you hook a monster (I've met on person who was 'spooled' - he's using a large Ambassador reel now). 

[ceallaghguy]

I don't know why people told you not to fish at Oak Mtn.  There are four separate lakes there and I can attest there are bass in all 4!  Now I have not fished there in a couple of years, but it used to be good.  Gets a lot of bank pressure though.  Also as for shore line, there are miles and miles of trails around those lakes.  You have to be willing to hike though. Here is one place to go:

 

Go to the picnic area it is a turn off of the main road.  You will know you are in the correct area if you notice a field with a rappelling tower and on up the parking lot toward the back there is an old bmx track. Across from that track is a gate, and down the road a bit beyond the gate is a lake that is where the cabins sit.  (You can drive to that lake, but it is for the cabin dwellers and they may not let you park there if you are not renting a cabin). Once there, there are trails all along the shoreline, and most people don't want to bushwack so you wont have as much competition.  Sounds kind of complicated but you will find it.  Used to be very good fishing there.

 

 Beside that "secret" lake (it is really not a secret), at the main lake (where the rangers offices are) you can rent canoes, paddle boats, and the other two lakes you can rent johnboats.

 

I would not avoid it.

 

Beyond that check out the Cahaba river running through Birmingham for all manner of fishing, including largemouth and Redeyed bass.

 

Another place is Lake Purdy off hwy 119 in Inverness 

 

I had to move from Birmingham to take care of family this year, but I  lived there for over 20 years

 

 

[The_Last_Toddy]

There is some retention ponds I can share if you shoot me a message. You got to be willing to walk through some thick stuff to fish but there are fish.  Also, chace lake in hoover has some fish, its small, highly pressured but easy to get to and access from the bank.  

 

I would second the cahaba. You can walk it or find shore spots with some google searches. There are red eye and its fun to catch em. I haven't spent alot of time there but a buddy just moved to a house that backs up to it, we walked it once and caught a bunch of red eye bass through worms.