Madison County Public Fishing Lake

MADISON COUNTY STATE PUBLIC FISHING LAKE, near Huntsville, Alabama Allen Smallwood, Manager 2501 County Lake Road Gurley, AL 35748 (256) 776-4905

Directions: From Huntsville, take U.S. Highway 72 east for 5 miles, then left on Ryland Pike Road for 6-1/2 miles (through Maysville) to County Lake Road, right 1 mile to Madison County Lake (aerial view).

ALL INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Madison County Lake is normally open Sunrise to Sunset as follows:
February 1 – November 30: Open 6 days a week, closed on Wednesday.
December 1 – January 31: The lake is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and trout fishing is available for a $5 daily permit. (Fishing for rainbow trout begins the day after Thanksgiving, and trout are stocked again in December and in January. Fish license requirements apply in addition to the daily Madison County Lake permit.)
But call the manager at (256) 776-4905 to verify the schedule before making the trip.

Fishing:
Largemouth bass fishing is good year-round, with the biggest usually caught from March through May when they are near the bank.
Bream, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker), are caught by bank and boat anglers from late spring through summer.
Channel catfish are caught year-round, but the summer and late fall months are best.
Crappie fishing is best from late February through April.
Rainbow trout are stocked in a 1-1/2 acre area of Madison County Lake. Trout season opens the Friday after Thanksgiving. Trout also stocked in December and January.

Facilities: Clean public restrooms and concessions are available, including a wide variety of fishing tackle, live and artificial baits, and other fishing supplies, as well as drinks and refreshments. An accessible fishing pier makes it easy to reach deeper water without using a boat. Boats, electric motors, and batteries are also available for rent. A launching ramp is available for anglers with their own boats. Boats may have an outboard motor attached, but anglers may not use the outboard motor, only the trolling motor.

Regulations (partial list; complete regulations are available in the current regulation book and the "Alabama Game, Fish, and Wildlife Law Book"):

(1) Any person 12 years old or older must have a valid daily fishing permit in possession to fish. No child younger than 12 years old can legally be left unaccompanied by an adult.

(2) The daily creel, possession and size limits for each species are posted at the lake.

(3) Fishing is limited to daylight hours, or as specified by the lake manager.

(4) Swimming and wading are not allowed.

(5) Fish taken from the lake must be carried to the lake manager, who will count and weigh them.

(6) No method other than hook and line with natural or artificial bait may be used to take fish from a State Lake. Taking, or attempting to take, fish by any other means is not allowed, including but not limited to: snagging, snatching, trot lines, set hooks, limb lines, jug fishing, spear, or bow and arrow.

(7) Anyone launching a boat at a State Lake must have a valid launch permit and fishing permit.

(8) State fishing license requirements are in effect and fishing licenses may be purchased at State Public Fishing Lakes.

(9) A person fishing shall upon demand exhibit his catch, fishing permit, and fishing license to any Conservation Officer, concessionaire, or other agent or employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for inspection.

(10) No species of fish shall be stocked in the state-owned public fishing lakes. Live minnows used for bait shall be limited to goldfish minnows (Indiana minnows); golden shiners (shiners) and fathead minnows (toughies or tuffies) and no minnow, either dead or alive, shall be released from a minnow bucket or other method.

This information is subject to change without notice. Additional information and rules about the lakes are available from the lake manager, the Alabama Fisheries Section at (334) 242-3471, or Jack Turner. The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries intensively manages the 23 state lakes totaling 1,912 acres.