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Lewis Smith Dam tailwater. Alabama's only year-round trout water. The river tops out around 10 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 100 acres wrapped in 17.6 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 12.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. The basin spans about 5.5 mi end to end and 1.7 mi across at its widest. It sits in Cullman County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Walker County Public Fishing Lake, is 11 mi to the southwest.
Spring rainbow trout on Sipsey Fork hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 2 to 10 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Lewis Smith Dam tailrace — dam tailrace, 9 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Lewis Smith Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Smith Dam tailrace (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Lewis Smith Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Lewis Smith Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts spotted bass in skinny water — 3 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Spring spotted bass concentrate at Riffle & run (mile 2.2), a prime-rated rock pile around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.2) (4 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.2) (4 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Lewis Smith Dam tailrace at roughly 9 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alabama waters are set by the Alabama DCNR — and special regulations can apply to Sipsey Fork specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alabama fishing regulations →
Sipsey Fork is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, spotted bass on Sipsey Fork.
Lewis Smith Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 9 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 Sipsey Fork 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.
Walker County Public Fishing Lake 11 mi · Lewis Smith Lake 12 mi · Bankhead Lake 27 mi · Lake Tuscaloosa 48 mi · Tennessee River - Reach 1 of 3 50 mi, AL/TN/MS · Marion County Public Fishing Lake 52 mi · Logan Martin Lake 56 mi · Neely Henry Lake 57 mi · Bibb County Public Fishing Lake 60 mi · Lay Lake 61 mi · Lamar County Public Fishing Lake 67 mi · Wilson Lake 69 mi
See how Sipsey Fork 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. 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.