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67 km of the Alabama River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 58 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Alabama River maps at 83,734 acres behind 186.3 miles of shoreline. The 4.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 50% of this chart. Call it 33.6 mi long by 26.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. If the bite dies, Monroe County Public Fishing Lake is 36 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter an 8 to 40 ft one. Start at Channel current seam (mile 31.6). It's a current seam holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 31.6) (11 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 31.6) (11 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 31.6) (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Channel current seam (mile 31.6) (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: spotted bass in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 40 ft before dropping to 25 to 50 ft for winter. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 51.5), a point in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for spotted bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 51.5) (16 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 44.0) (36 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 51.5) (16 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 25 to 50 ft | midday | Channel bar / point (mile 44.0) (36 ft) | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
34 pieces of structure are mapped here — Outside-bend hole (mile 55.2), around 38 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alabama waters are set by the Alabama DCNR — and special regulations can apply to Alabama River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alabama fishing regulations →
Alabama River is about 58 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, spotted bass on Alabama River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Channel current seam (mile 31.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Alabama River is regulated by the Alabama DCNR. Check the official Alabama regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Monroe County Public Fishing Lake 36 mi, AL · Washington County Public Fishing Lake 41 mi, AL · Escambia County Public Fishing Lake 58 mi, AL · Turkey Fork Lake 58 mi, MS · Bear Lake 64 mi, FL · Hurricane Lake 64 mi, FL · Mobile Bay 64 mi, AL · Escambia Bay 68 mi, FL · Perdido Bay 70 mi, AL/FL · Dallas County Public Fishing Lake 72 mi, AL · Lake Perry 72 mi, MS · Karick Lake 72 mi, FL
See how Alabama River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alabama · best spotted bass lakes in Alabama
Browse all Alabama fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.