Rutherford Lake Fishing near Alabaster, Alabama

• Overview

  The Shelby County entry here is Rutherford Lake, in Alabama. The country round it is pine and hardwood from end to end. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Alabaster lies 0.9 miles from the water. For a city, Birmingham is 19 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Rutherford Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists bluegill, blackbanded darter, longear sunfish, green sunfish and redeye bass. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. Read Rutherford Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 43°F and July at about 80°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Rutherford Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Dobbin Brothers Lake is 1.1 miles off. None of that is settled for Rutherford Lake in what we hold.