Winter Fishing Lake Demopolis
Demopolis, Alabama. A small town in south Alabama that borders
the combined waters of the Black Warrior River and the Tombigbee
River systems. There is a Y junction of these two rivers located
just a mile above the Demopolis city boat launch.
A dam built downstream (a couple of miles below the city launch),
created in 1954, created Demopolis lake. With waters stretching
north of the city of Demopolis, the backing up of these two
river systems created a huge, river-like man made impoundment,
featuring over 10,000 surface acres and 500 miles of shoreline
and some very fishy looking backwaters as well.
Most anglers don't really know how much water this is to navigate
by boat. If you left Demopolis City launch and headed north
up the Tombigbee river (the left fork of the Y), it would take
you 68 nautical miles before being halted at Gainesville Lock
and Dam. Or if you left the Demopolis City launch and headed
up the right fork of the obvious looking Y in the river, you
would travel 53 miles (east, to your right of this Y junction),
up the Black Warrior River. All the way to the Warrior Lock
and Dam situated just below the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
So think about it. From Gainesville Lock and Dam to the Warrior
Lock and Dam is over 120 miles! This includes loads of feeder
creeks, flats, backwaters, flooded Cyprus tree sloughs, backwater
ponds, swamps, small lakes and plenty of smaller, incoming
streams to fish along the way!.
Fishing up the Tombigbee River during winter evolves either
fishing creek mouths, backwaters such as Taylor Lake Slough,
Rattlesnake Bend, Twelve Mile Bend, Spidle Lake or McConnico
Lake. Twelve Mile Bend is actually just a dredged out portion
of the old, original Tombigbee River System, created during
construction years ago. Now a backwater slough for parked barges.
At the Y section of these two river systems you will see two
backwaters, Runaway Branch and French Creek. Big Prairie Creek
is another feature found along the Black Warrior River portion
of Demopolis Lake. Kelly's Slough, Citadel Cement Slough, Birdine
Slough and Birdine Creek, Powerline Slough, Yellow Creek and
Backbone Creek are all worth exploring this winter season.
Even near Demopolis City launch are backwaters such as Culpepper
Slough, Demopolis Yacht Basin and Foscue Creek, that all hold
good schools of bass during winter.
Fishing these southern waters of Demopolis lake either evolves
into fishing the main rivers or exploring the aquatic weed
infested backwaters, that in addition, are loaded with plenty
of fish holding wood cover like Cyprus trees, stumps, brush,
laying trees, logs and logjams.
Fishing the main river as waters begin to cool for the winter
months, anglers will not only encounter the largemouth bass
of Demopolis Lake (some of which can exceed 10 pounds), but
in addition another worthy adversary, the Warrior River Spotted
bass. Many of these Black Warrior River Spotted Bass relate
to deeper water cover found along river bends, points, islands,
the mouths of creeks and another very attractive spot found
up in the Warrior River near old Lock 5, the Green County Steam
Plant. It is situated just below the mouth of Big Prairie Creek.
When I was younger, fishing this river along with my dad and
Uncle, we used to launch at the old Lock 5 boat launch just
out of Greensboro, Alabama. We would fish some very cold, winter
days probing worms and jig combos all around all the wood and
weed cover, both in the main river and its many back water
sloughs nearby. We never had to go far to catch fish, but one
very cold day our travels led us to this warm water discharge
canal coming from the Green County Steam Plant. Just how cold
was it? Snowing in south Alabama with mid 20 degree air temperatures
says enough.
We entered the long, dredged out, man made canal exiting the
Steam Plant. It obviously held recently treated water coming
from the warm discharge upstream near the plant. You could
see the fog as it blanketed the entire canal, where both warm
water and the cold air met. We did not have water temperature
gauges on our boat back then. But the warm water was evident.
That very memorable day we had close to 50 bass among the 3
of us, including some big bass taken on rubber worms, spinners,
crankbaits and even topwater lures! It changed my whole outlook
on wintertime fishing. I still fish that warm water discharge
every winter I visit Demopolis Lake.
Looking for a fishing trip down south this winter? Always call
on Reeds Guide Service...first! "Over 40 years exploring every
lake in Alabama" Several professional guides and boats available
year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips.
Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds Guide Service makes
a great gift for Christmas, Father's Day, Birthday's or any
occasion, for those loved ones that love to fish.
*
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Go to: www.airportmarine.com and
see their bass tournament trail info found there. Alabama's best paying tournament
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* Looking for the best bass boat in the world?
Go to: www.rangerboats.com
* Looking for fishing rods, reels, fishing tackle and hunting items?
Go to: www.marksoutdoors.com
Good Fishin'
Practice catch and release year-round especially this Spring.
You won't regret it!
Good Fishin'...
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
