Fishing at Mott Lake, Russell County, Alabama

• Overview

  Look for Mott Lake in the Russell County part of Alabama. The water sits 358 feet up. It measures about 25 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Russell County list. For a base, Ladonia sits 9.7 miles out. For a city, Columbus is 12 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Mott 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. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Records collected within a few miles name blackbanded darter, redbreast sunfish, bluegill and largemouth bass. The list reflects reported sightings and surveys rather than what is stocked. Fish Mott Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 80°F, the coldest about 46°F. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan any trip to Mott Lake around it. After heavy rain, give the water a day to settle.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try McCann Lake, 3.5 miles away. None of that is settled for Mott Lake in what we hold.