Fishing at Matthews Lake, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

• Overview

  Matthews Lake lies in Tuscaloosa County, in Alabama. The surface lies 285 feet up. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Tuscaloosa County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest town is Coaling, 7.2 miles away. Holt lies 11 miles off, Tuscaloosa another 12 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Matthews Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include blackbanded darter, speckled darter, longear sunfish, tombigbee darter and cypress darter. Check the state or provincial list before planning around one species. Matthews Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 80°F and January reads 43°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Expect Matthews Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Cain Lake Number 1 at 5.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Matthews Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.