Cullman County’s Year Round Trout Fishing

Lewis Smith Lake is well known throughout our state as being one of the cleanest man-made lakes in our country.

Smith Lake spans approximately 21,200 acres with over 600 miles of shoreline. The lake is held by a manmade 300-foot earthen dam, approximately 2,200′ long – one of few in the country, and among the largest. The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, Alabama’s well-known and only wild and scenic river, flows through the Bankhead National Forest and through the Smith Lake area, releasing into the Black Warrior River area below the dam.

Below the 300-foot-high Smith Lake dam, the Sipsey Fork holds one of Alabama’s unique fisheries. Since 1974, rainbow trout have been stocked into the cold waters of the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, the tailwaters below Smith Lake. The tailwaters remain below 70 degrees year-round and are capable of maintaining a rainbow trout population.

A quick release system near the Smith Dam fishing platform on the west side of the Sipsey Fork is used to stock the rainbow trout. 3,000 8-to-14-inch rainbow trout are released every month of the year. Trout are usually stocked on the third Thursday of each month. Trout are found along the entire 12.5 mile stretch of the Sipsey Fork. The Sipsey Fork is a “put and take” rainbow trout fishery with creel and possession limit of 5 fish.

When electricity is being generated in the Powerhouse, water levels in the tailwaters rise rapidly, as much as 15′ vertically, and water velocities become dangerously swift. Warning sirens notify the public when power generation begins. Anglers must be aware of the changing condition and quickly get out of the stream and up the stream bank, as the water level rises. Following a water release, it takes several hours for water levels to return to a normal flow that is safe for anglers and that allows a more advantageous environment.

Anglers can park at several pull off areas along County Road 95 in Cullman County and access the stream. There is also a large parking area located adjacent to the Birmingham Water Works Pumping Station.  A private boat ramp is located just downstream of the Hwy 69 bridge. The Sipsey Fork can only be fished from a boat downstream of the Hwy 69 Bridge. Only unmotorized boats and kayaks are allowed. A fee is collected at the Riverside Fly Shop.