Lary Lake in Tuscaloosa County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Alabama, Lary Lake belongs to Tuscaloosa County. The land about it is pine and hardwood. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Tuscaloosa County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Northport sits 5.2 miles out. Then Tuscaloosa, 6.6 miles, and Holt, 7.8 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lary Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Public wildlife records from this area list gulf darter, blackbanded darter and speckled darter. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Read Lary Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 80°F in July and bottom out at 42°F in January. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It holds true on Lary Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Carolwood Lake, 0.2 miles out. Ask locally about Lary Lake if anything is unclear.