21
Shor e l i n e S
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2014 Vol :3
Finding a spot to reel in rainbow
trout year-round in Alabama can be a
challenge, but one location in north
Alabama provides the fish with an
adequate habitat for survival and a
showcase for anglers.
In the shadow of Lewis Smith
Dam – which stands 300 feet tall
and stretches 2,200 feet long – water
flows into the Sipsey Fork of the
Black Warrior River. The river, fed
by cold waters pulled from the depths
of Smith Lake, offers the fish cool
enough temperatures during the
hot summer to survive. Despite the
heat, the water never warms above
70 degrees, providing the one spot in
Alabama where trout can be caught
year-round.
The Smith Dam tailrace, which is
the area below the dam where water
leaves the hydroelectric facility, requires
restocking regularly to maintain a
growing population of trout.
Left: Photo by Billy BroWn — The Smith Dam tailwaters provide the only place for year-round trout fishing
in Alabama. Above: Photo by Billy BroWn — Brandon Jackson reels in a trout below Lewis Smith Dam.
Cold water,
HOT FISHING
Y E A R - R O U N D R A I N B O W T R O U T F I S H I N G B E L O W S M I T H L A K E I S R E E L I N G I N A N G L E R S .
