Fishing at Nelsons Lake, Cleburne County, Alabama

• Overview

  Nelsons Lake sits in Cleburne County, out in Alabama. It sits in open plain. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Cleburne County standards. The closest town, Tallapoosa, is 8.5 miles distant. It is 45 miles to South Fulton, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Nelsons Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists tallapoosa darter, muscadine darter, black madtom, bronze darter and silverstripe shiner. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. Anyone new to Nelsons Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 77°F and January reads 40°F. The surface stays open the year round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That shapes the year on Nelsons Lake. A rising level after rain switches things on for a day or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Parking sits 0.9 miles out, which makes for a walk with tackle. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Laminack Lake at 2.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Nelsons Lake are worth checking on the day.