BANKHEAD LAKE

DAY: This is the origin of the Warrior River near Birmingham, Alabama. To most of the locals its just known as "The Warrior". A dam was built in 1916 to back up this old river and Bankhead Lake was created. This inundated old houses and buildings, feeder creeks, streams and the incoming Big and Little Warrior Rivers, creating a vast lake full of fish-holding cover. It still produces good catches of bream, catfish, crappie, striped bass, spotted bass and some BIG largemouth bass.

When summer arrives and the residents hit the water it can get crowded at times, but there are many places to escape the crowd on the Warrior River and adjoining Little River, near Howton's camp...that is if you can stand the heat. Far back in the many feeder creeks or far up the river headwaters are places with current, shade, cooler water and some big ol' bass. One factor always holds true on The Warrior River. Find the baitfish and you will find the bass.

Spotted bass, largemouth’s and striped bass stay with these baitfish all summer, as they follow them up in the many creeks and small pockets off the main river. Schooling takes place at times and the fishing can be fast and furious. On the main river, boats, water skiers, jet skis, sight seers, pontoon parties and more traffic gets thick. Fishing and concentrating gets pretty unbearable on top of the hot sun bearing down. Travel far up the river or explore the creeks to get away from these water vehicles and to cool off.

Thick weeds, logjams, rock bluffs, creek mouths, points and islands are just a few of the cover-filled areas on this long and winding river. Conventional lures always get a few bites. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, worms, crankbaits, rattletraps, various topwaters and weedless lures all work well, when fished in the right spot. Jigging spoons on the main river channel always gets some bass. A good tactic is to fish from river buoy to buoy as you work your way up or down the river. When a few bass are caught rework the area with bottom-bumping lures such as worms and jigs for less active bass. If fishing during the day is to hot or crowded try the peaceful setting of night fishing.

NIGHT: There are at least three night tournaments out of Howton's camp each week. Participation is good usually resulting in a good payback. If tournaments is not your cup of tea, then you can get a head start on the crowd for night fishing by launching before 6 p.m.. When its hot the bass bite better at night, its much cooler, more comfortable and much less boat traffic than during the day.

Fishing this cover-filled river takes some knowledge of your surroundings, because after dark everything looks the same. Run the lake during daylight hours to better familiarize yourself with obstacles and choice fishing spots. Look for landmarks that are easily seen after dark. Barge traffic runs all day and night and can be hazardous when one approaches. Stay far away and prepare for huge wakes afterwards. When running at night use a spotlight and run at moderate speeds, floating logs are always in this river and can't be seen ...until its to late.

Best lures for fishing on this portion of the old Warrior River for nighttime are a matter of preference. Its a known fact that more tournaments are won with worms (all sizes) on a regular basis. Frogs, rats and buzzbaits also take their share of the topwater bite. There are weeds, lily pads and scummy backwaters that these lures will penetrate when other lures just hang up. Spinnerbaits always take some hefty bass especially just before sundown, at dawn and after dark when bass track down a lure. Experiment, there is always something in your (or your buddy's) tacklebox that these nighttime feeding bass will hit.

Summer 2003 Bankhead Lake

BANKHEAD LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Impounded 1916
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Upper 80's

SUMMER ON BANKHEAD LAKE

LOWER LAKE
Bankhead Lock & Dam was completed in 1916. This backed up the waters of the Big Warrior River and the Little Warrior River. Basically, this created "Bigger Rivers," more than a lake, like expected. Although dozens of major feeder creeks, do create many backwaters. Big Yellow Creek near the dam, offers plenty of cover for bass to hide in and for anglers to search this summer, when both day and night fishing. Valley Creek (just above the Big bridge), twists and turns throughout Bankhead Forrest. It is bordered by many small, weedy cuts and pockets, and is a very scenic Creek, with towering rock bluffs featured for over 10 navigable miles.

Bankhead Lake. Or just known by the locals as "The Warrior" is also a very recreational lake during the summer months. Getting away from all the jet skies, water skiers, pontoon parties and dozens of other anglers, seems impossible at times. But there are ways to avoid the Warrior River crowd this summer.

Getting on the water at dawn, will help an angler avoid the crowds, at least for a few hours, and always shows some excellent fishing. Fishing late evening hours, or traveling far up a major tributary, will also show less company this summer. Or just do like most of the Warrior River anglers and just go night fishing. This nocturnal bassing, always shows plenty of seclusion, and usually much more cooperative bass, that often slow down during hot, summer days. There are also several night tournaments held throughout the week and on weekends, out of Howton's Camp at the junction of the Big and Little Warrior Rivers. Or you can find bass nighttime bass tournaments around Smith's camp and The Big Bridge area (both just below Valley Creek) as well.

MID LAKE
If looking for some peace and quite this Summer, choose your fishing destinations carefully, or simply avoid the mid lake region during the day. From Valley Creek upriver, to the junction of the Big Warrior River and the Little Warrior River, can become very crowded, especially weekends, usually from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As mentioned, early morning, late evenings or night fishing will show less company.

As for fishing this mid lake region, it can show a variety of fishing situations this summer. Small creeks, log-filled cuts and pockets, and throughout Bankhead Lake main lake flats, are all loaded with wood and weedy cover. Scattered logjams, trees, brush and stumps, are found lake wide. Many main lake points, creek mouths, islands, and dozens of rock bluffs, all offer the deep water angler many choices this summer. River ledges and drop-offs, all account for some huge schools of fish, that congregate in these more comfortable surroundings, all throughout the summer months. Many of these largemouth and spotted bass, found in deeper water, go unmolested by the bank beating crowd.

UPPER LAKE
Traveling up the lake can send an angler in two directions. Launching at Howton's camp and taking an immediate right, will send you up the Little Warrior River, that winds up through the hillsides for over 20 navigable miles. Barge traffic, comes from this direction, and heads south to the gulf, after being loaded near Birmingport Hwy. that crosses the Little Warrior River. These huge barges are responsible for the ever changing terrain of the Little Warrior River.

Log jams are rearranged every week and are featured in every river bend, creek mouth, the heads (upper ends) of islands found here, and all along main river flats. These wooded structures (and other washed in debris) are homes to the many big largemouth bass taken on Bankhead Lake year round, and most logjams harbor some big schools of bass. These bass relate to the shade and current found here during the summer. You will also see many piers, boat houses, marinas and other fish holding structures in this mid lake region, that are excellent places to fish both day and night this summer.

Leaving Howton's Camp, at the junction of the Big and Little Warrior Rivers and taking a slight left heading north, will send you up the Big Warrior River. This section of the Warrior River goes for miles and miles, all the way to rocky shoals, found below Smith Lake Dam. Like fishing the Little Warrior River, this upper lake section offers weeds, wood cover, rock bluffs, piers and boat houses, and plenty of scattered logjams, for the summertime angler to investigate.

About 5 miles up the Big Warrior River (from Howton's Camp) is Lost Creek, junctioned by Wolf Creek. These two scenic backwater feeders, feature vast weedbeds, like Lilly pad fields (often entire pockets) loaded with this natural, aquatic weed. Huge log jams, scattered for over one mile, fill the entire Lost Creek mouth, including the upper and lower main lake points, making it very easy to find.

*NOTE: For fishing tips and lure suggestions on Bankhead Lake (and all other Alabama Lakes) for both day and night fishing, go to my website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com and click on "Fishing Tips" on the cover page.

Visit the Warrior River impoundment, known as Bankhead Lake, this summer. Or call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133. I grew up fishing this huge waterway and know Bankhead Lake very well, after over 40 years of exploring the Warrior River.
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama's Lakes for bass and stripers"

WARRIOR RIVER / HOLT LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

Winter on Holt Lake

Nestled deep in the woods of mid Alabama is a lake that is known as a, "Sleeper Lake" seldom mentioned within the confines of Alabama's fishing circles. A Lake that goes without much recognition, especially for the exceptional bass fishing it displays during winter.

Each winter season anglers probing the waters of the Warrior River's hidden impoundment, Holt Lake, catch huge, trophy sized spotted bass, largemouth's and an occasional striped bass. But usually they keep it to themselves.

This small lake, only 18 miles long, has given up many 6-7 pound spotted bass and largemouth's in the 10 pound range. In recent years, hybrid stripes and some huge striped bass, some in the 20 pound plus category, are showing up in numbers.

There are no major cities near Holt Lake. Although just south of Holt Lock and Dam is the city of Tuscaloosa, that displays the mighty waters of the Warrior River, running right through town. Between the city of Tuscaloosa and Holt Lake, is a smaller lake named, William Bacon Oliver Lake.

The headwaters of Holt Lake, stretch far north of mid western Alabama, into the tailrace waters of Bankhead Lake's Lock and Dam, built in 1916.

Here, in Holt Lake's headwaters, you will find some fantastic winter fishing. Especially when targeting the underwater remains of an old Lock found here consisting of huge rocks, boulders and tons of concrete. This man made, underwater fish habitat, is all that is left of the Old Lock 16, that was dynamited many years ago, as it was put out of service and replaced with the new Lock 17 dam.

Just below here a few miles, is the old Lock 16 Park with picnic facilities, boat launch and campgrounds. While in this scenic part of Holt Lake's headwaters you may see an abundance of wildlife including, White Tail Deer, Wild Turkey, Red and Gray Fox, Gray Squirrels and some huge Fox Squirrels, including rabbits and plenty of bird species as well.

One particular bird found here, The American Bald Eagle that winters annually in Holt Lake, can be seen nesting in some huge, man made nests, found planted along the scenic hillsides.

There are many deep, valley like creeks and some deeply entrenched stream beds, feeding this Lake. Two creeks, Deerlick Creek and Rocky Branch Creek, are both found on the lower lake. They have boat launches, and many facilities for swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating and camping.

Getting to this lower lake region calls for simply taking Hwy. 11 off of Interstate I-59 & I-20 Southbound of Birmingham. Follow Hwy. 11 south to Hwy. 216 north and turn right. Go up Hwy. 216 a few miles and then turn left onto Hwy. 93. This road leads straight to the Holt Lock and Dam Visitors Center, Tourist Information and boat launch. There are many marinas found here as well.

Explore Holt Lake this winter and discover some of its hidden secrets. Especially when it comes to tackling with some of its true, trophy sized bass. But be prepared to spend a day all alone on this small lake on the Warrior River. A Lake that gets very little recognition for being an excellent lake to fish this winter, while other lakes in Alabama, get all the attention.

(For more info on Holt Lake and its recreation areas, you can write the Army Corp of Engineers P.O.Box 295 Peterson, Alabama 35478. Or you can call them at: (205) 553-9373.)

Or you can call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 and discover how to fish Holt Lake. "Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama's Lakes for Bass and Stripers" Many of those years spent exploring the waters of the mighty Black Warrior River's...Holt Lake.