Fishing Lake Rhea in Etowah County, Alabama

• Overview

  Lake Rhea sits in Etowah County, out in Alabama. Elevation runs to 574 feet. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. Most waters listed here for Etowah County are larger. Attalla sits 1.7 miles from the bank. It is 52 miles to Birmingham, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Rhea

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Nearby survey and observation records mention redbreast sunfish, black redhorse, blacktail redhorse, gulf longear sunfish and blacktail shiner. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. At Lake Rhea the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 40°F and July at about 79°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Temperatures stay workable through the cold season. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Lake Rhea runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Glassco Lake is 3.7 miles off. Treat access at Lake Rhea as something to verify.