State Cattle Ranch Lakes, Alabama: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  State Cattle Ranch Lakes is a Hale County water, Alabama side. The ground round it is oak and grass. Ground here is low by Alabama standards. The nearest place of any size is Greensboro, 7.3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Tuscaloosa, 40 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. The setting is plain rather than dramatic, and it fishes well for it.

• Where to Fish on State Cattle Ranch Lakes

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records collected within a few miles name black crappie, blue catfish and bluegill. Records show what people reported, not what is stocked. At State Cattle Ranch Lakes the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 81°F in July and bottoms out near 44°F in January. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. State Cattle Ranch Lakes fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. State Cattle Ranch Lakes, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for State Cattle Ranch Lakes.