SOME ALABAMA LAKES ARE STILL FLOODED, SOME LAKES ARE NOW BACK TO FULL POOL, AFTER TORRENTIAL RAINS IN LATE DECEMBER 2015! - NOW, HOW’S THE FISHING? Slow… After several days of heavy rains seen state wide, some man-made lakes in Alabama have returned to normal, full pool lake levels. While other lakes are now kept down a few feet by the water authorities, such as Alabama Power Company on the Coosa River System and TVA on the Tennessee River System with most Impoundments down in anticipation of any more rain in 2016!In the mid-west there have been 20 people that have died in relation to flooded waters in many states recently. Missouri and nearby, the state of Mississippi have both seen their share of flooding and some fatalities as well.
So Alabama residents can give thanks that many people have lived through this life changing ordeal, although property damage is high statewide.
So Alabama residents can give thanks that many people have lived through this life changing ordeal, although property damage is high statewide.
Here is a list of most of the Alabama River Systems and the current lake levels on this last day in 2015. Hopefully, the year of 2016 will be much better!COOSA RIVER -
* Weiss Lake near the town of Centre Al. is four feet over full pool. It can be lowered 1-5 feet for Winter pool soon.
* Neely Henry Lake near the town of Gadsden, Al. is down five feet, but could be back to normal, full pool lake level soon.
* Logan Martin Lake near the town of Pell City, Al. is two feet over normal, full pool lake levels. Normally it is down 2-5 feet during the winter pool stage.
* Lay lake near the town of Columbiana, Al. is down one foot. Rarely does it fluctuate all year long and it will stay at or near full pool this winter season.
* Mitchell Lake near the town of Clanton in mid Alabama is currently down one foot. It is another lower Coosa River lake that is kept at or near full pool year round and it will be returned to full pool soon.
* Jordan Lake near the town of Wetumpka (and not to far from Montgomery the state capitol in lower Alabama) is down one foot. It is kept at or near full pool year round and Jordan lake will be back to a normal, lake level for winter pool soon.
* Weiss Lake near the town of Centre Al. is four feet over full pool. It can be lowered 1-5 feet for Winter pool soon.
* Neely Henry Lake near the town of Gadsden, Al. is down five feet, but could be back to normal, full pool lake level soon.
* Logan Martin Lake near the town of Pell City, Al. is two feet over normal, full pool lake levels. Normally it is down 2-5 feet during the winter pool stage.* Lay lake near the town of Columbiana, Al. is down one foot. Rarely does it fluctuate all year long and it will stay at or near full pool this winter season.
* Mitchell Lake near the town of Clanton in mid Alabama is currently down one foot. It is another lower Coosa River lake that is kept at or near full pool year round and it will be returned to full pool soon.
* Jordan Lake near the town of Wetumpka (and not to far from Montgomery the state capitol in lower Alabama) is down one foot. It is kept at or near full pool year round and Jordan lake will be back to a normal, lake level for winter pool soon.
TALLAPOOSA RIVER SYSTEM* Lake Wedowee located near the town of Wedowee, Al. is down one foot. But this lake can be lowered drastically during the winter season. Wedowee lake can be down a few feet or it can be lowered as much as fifteen feet below normal, full pool lake levels during the winter months.
* Lake Martin located near Alexander City, Al. is currently down two feet. It was down six feet before the flooding began in late December of 2015. This is another Tallapoosa River Impoundment that can be as low as fifteen feet or more during the winter season.
TENNESSEE RIVER SYSTEM
* Guntersville Lake located near the town of Guntersville, in north Al. is down one foot. It is kept at or near full pool during the winter season, but Guntersville Lake (Alabama’s largest, man made impoundment at over 80 miles in length), can fluctuate as much as two feet when flooded or when lowered in anticipation of heavy rains.
* Wheeler Lake (Alabama’s second largest, man-made impoundment), is located near the town of Athens, in north Al. is currently down two feet. Wheeler lake can be down as much as five feet below normal, full pool lake level during the winter season, when at low pool.
* Wilson Lake is small when compared to other Tennessee River Impoundments at only 17 miles in length. It is located near the town of Decatur in north Alabama. It is currently down one foot below normal, full pool lake level. Wilson Lake is usually at or near full pool during the winter season but it can fluctuate with heavy rains or when lowered, anywhere from 1-3 feet down during winter.
* Pickwick Lake is located near the town of Florence in north Alabama (some of this Alabama lake is also located in Mississippi, near the lower Pickwick Lake dam). Flooding conditions in this northern Alabama location now has this lake flooded. Pickwick Lake is currently three feet over normal, full pool lake level! But it will again be lowered for winter pool soon, as much as three -five feet down, like during past winter seasons.
* Guntersville Lake located near the town of Guntersville, in north Al. is down one foot. It is kept at or near full pool during the winter season, but Guntersville Lake (Alabama’s largest, man made impoundment at over 80 miles in length), can fluctuate as much as two feet when flooded or when lowered in anticipation of heavy rains.* Wheeler Lake (Alabama’s second largest, man-made impoundment), is located near the town of Athens, in north Al. is currently down two feet. Wheeler lake can be down as much as five feet below normal, full pool lake level during the winter season, when at low pool.
* Wilson Lake is small when compared to other Tennessee River Impoundments at only 17 miles in length. It is located near the town of Decatur in north Alabama. It is currently down one foot below normal, full pool lake level. Wilson Lake is usually at or near full pool during the winter season but it can fluctuate with heavy rains or when lowered, anywhere from 1-3 feet down during winter.* Pickwick Lake is located near the town of Florence in north Alabama (some of this Alabama lake is also located in Mississippi, near the lower Pickwick Lake dam). Flooding conditions in this northern Alabama location now has this lake flooded. Pickwick Lake is currently three feet over normal, full pool lake level! But it will again be lowered for winter pool soon, as much as three -five feet down, like during past winter seasons.
WARRIOR RIVER SYSTEM
* Smith Lake located near the town of Jasper, Al. is still flooded from recent heavy rain. It is six feet over normal, full pool lake level! But Smith Lake was down eight feet before this flooding in mid December. In Winter’s past it has been lowered as much as fifteen to thirtry feet! So count on Smith Lake being lowered again for the winter season soon.
* Bankhead Lake only 17 miles south of Birmingham, Al. (better known by the locals as the “Warrior”) is currently flooded at one foot over normal, full pool lake levels. Bankhead Lake can fluctuate (up or down 1-2 feet), during the winter season, but it is usally at or near full pool, year round.
* Holt Lake is situated right below Bankhead Lake dam and it runs south on the Warrior River System, close to the town of Tuscaloosa, Al. It is currently down two feet. But Holt lake can be down 1-3 feet during the winter season at low pool.
* Lake Tuscaloosa located near the town of Tuscaloosa, in lower Alabama is currently down five feet in anticipation of more incoming winter rain. It can be down during the winter season a few feet, but this deep and normally clear reservoir, Lake Tuscaloosa, is usually at or near full pool year round, under normal conditions..
* Lake Demopolis near the town of Demopolis in south Alabama is flooded at nine feet over normal, full pool lake levels! Navigation for any boat is very hazardous right now on this lake! My advice, “stay away for now” until Lake Demopolis is back to normal, conditions!
* Smith Lake located near the town of Jasper, Al. is still flooded from recent heavy rain. It is six feet over normal, full pool lake level! But Smith Lake was down eight feet before this flooding in mid December. In Winter’s past it has been lowered as much as fifteen to thirtry feet! So count on Smith Lake being lowered again for the winter season soon.* Bankhead Lake only 17 miles south of Birmingham, Al. (better known by the locals as the “Warrior”) is currently flooded at one foot over normal, full pool lake levels. Bankhead Lake can fluctuate (up or down 1-2 feet), during the winter season, but it is usally at or near full pool, year round.
* Holt Lake is situated right below Bankhead Lake dam and it runs south on the Warrior River System, close to the town of Tuscaloosa, Al. It is currently down two feet. But Holt lake can be down 1-3 feet during the winter season at low pool.
* Lake Tuscaloosa located near the town of Tuscaloosa, in lower Alabama is currently down five feet in anticipation of more incoming winter rain. It can be down during the winter season a few feet, but this deep and normally clear reservoir, Lake Tuscaloosa, is usually at or near full pool year round, under normal conditions..
* Lake Demopolis near the town of Demopolis in south Alabama is flooded at nine feet over normal, full pool lake levels! Navigation for any boat is very hazardous right now on this lake! My advice, “stay away for now” until Lake Demopolis is back to normal, conditions!
CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER SYSTEM IN SOUTH ALABAMA / GEORGIA STATE LINE
* LAKE Eufaula (Walter F. George Reservoir) is located near the town of Eufaula Al., right along the Alabama / Georgia state line in south Alabama. It is currently down one foot, but Lake Eufaula (at over 70 miles in length) can be lowered for winter pool as much as 3-5 feet, it may be back down soon.
* LAKE Eufaula (Walter F. George Reservoir) is located near the town of Eufaula Al., right along the Alabama / Georgia state line in south Alabama. It is currently down one foot, but Lake Eufaula (at over 70 miles in length) can be lowered for winter pool as much as 3-5 feet, it may be back down soon.So there you have it for most Alabama lakes right now as the New Year begins on Friday, January 1 2016. Lets hope and pray next year will be better as far as the weather goes!
* A few words of cautuion - Just like when driving your car or truck down Alabama’s flooded roads, use caution when navigating your boat on these lakes during the flood season. Slow Down! There is floating debris when these lakes are flooded with high, muddy water conditions. Trees, logs and even boat houses can be seen floating down these lakes!
* More Caution! - If a lake is down several feet for winter pool it can be dangerous as well. Unseen underwater rock piles, stumps and bouders or an irregular lake bottom, can be just inches under the surface of the water. This can damage your boat, your motor or worse yet, endanger lives! So use caution on any lake during the winter months and remember to always wear your life jacket and wear an outboard motor kill switch, in case your thrown out of the boat! On top of all that, if you fall in the cold water, hypothermia can set in real fast, in just a matter of a few minutes! This can kill!
Our Alabama lake’s will soon be returned to good, normal fishing and boating conditions, so patience is advised for those with “cabin fever”. Then you can always call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504 B’ham, Al. Internet Website www.fishingalabama.com and then you can see how its done! “Guiding on all of Alabama’s lakes for over 40 years, year round, Alabama’s oldest, professional - bass fishing only - guide service!Thanks and Good Fishin’ in 2016! Reed Montgomery Owner of Reeds Guide Service for over 50 years!
