Can you catch trout in Alabama? Kind of.
The limited trout waters in Alabama include:
In addition to the Lake Guntersville area, anglers can also spot trout in Alabama's southwestern corner. The limited trout waters in Alabama include:
The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River below Smith Lake Dam (Henry County).
Bankhead Lake (Wilcox County).
The state also stocks trout in a few lakes in the northeast corner of the state, but these are not open to fishing except during special events.
Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River below Smith lake Dam
The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River is Alabama’s only trout river that can be fished from a boat. It's about 30 miles northwest of Birmingham, and there are several launch sites along Highway 41 between Birmingham and Gadsden.
You'll need to pick up a free 14-day fishing license at one of two locations: The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division in Montgomery (334-287-4850) or the District 2 office in Russellville (256-226-2760).
The best time to fish is May through October; however, due to low water levels in recent years, catch rates have been reduced. If you plan on targeting large brown trout with flies or spinners (which require heavy equipment), it would be wise to bring your own float tube because they aren't available at many of the launch sites along this stretch of river.
Bankhead Lake
Bankhead Lake is a reservoir on the Black Warrior River. It's a great place to catch trout, but it's smaller than Sipsey Fork and has fewer varieties of fish. Bankhead Lake has more than 20 species of fish, including bass and catfish.
There are limited places in Alabama you can catch trout.
There are a limited number of places in Alabama where you can catch trout. As you might imagine, there are no natural trout streams or rivers in the state. With three exceptions, all of your fishing opportunities will be on lakes.
The exception is located on the Black Warrior River near Bankhead Lake, but if you're thinking about going there it would be best to check with local authorities first to see if they've closed down any areas due to flooding concerns. The other two spots are Sipsey Fork and Little River Lakes; both are stocked with rainbow trout by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR).
