Campbells Lake Fishing Guide, Sumter County, Alabama

• Overview

  The Sumter County entry here is Campbells Lake, in Alabama. This is open plain country. Surface area runs to about 22 acres — small enough to read in one session. It lies lower than most water we list in Alabama. 18 miles away sits Aliceville, the nearest town. Livingston is 22 miles and Macon 22 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Campbells Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, channel catfish, dusky darter, rock darter and speckled madtom. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. At Campbells Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 81°F, with January the cold end at about 44°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Time your trip to Campbells Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Sumter Lake Number Four sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Campbells Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.