Samford Lake Number One, Alabama: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Samford Lake Number One is set in Lee County, Alabama. The water sits 548 feet up. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Opelika, 8.5 miles out. Smiths Station lies 10 miles off, Auburn another 13 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end. The near end sees the visitors; the far end rarely does.

• Where to Fish on Samford Lake Number One

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover blackbanded darter, bluegill and redbreast sunfish. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. Samford Lake Number One responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 80°F on average, January about 45°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Samford Lake Number One that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. 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. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lee County Public Lake sits 2.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Samford Lake Number One carry more weight than any list.