Fishing the Coosa River Lakes

The Coosa River watershed begins in Georgia and Tennessee before flowing into Alabama at Weiss Lake. Six dams impound the waters of the Coosa River before it meets the Tallapoosa River to form the Alabama River. Downstream from Weiss, these dams create Neely Henry Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lay Lake, Mitchell Lake and Lake Jordan.

The water from this watershed is naturally fertile and then receives additional nutrients from various sources within the watershed. 

Weiss Lake

Weiss Lake covers 30,200 acres and is fertile and shallow, making it very productive for fish. Major tributaries include the Chattooga River and Little River. The lake lies almost entirely within Cherokee County, Alabama. Fishing for crappie, largemouth bass and striped bass in Lake Weiss is excellent.

Book your stay today with Walcox Point and experience the best of Weiss Lake!

Neely Henry Lake

Downstream from Weiss Lake, Neely Henry is the next lake on the Coosa. It is next to the city of Gadsden, just off I-59. Neely Henry’s major creeks include Big Canoe, Big Wills, Little Wills and Terrapin.

Largemouth and spotted bass fishing is outstanding. Like Weiss, Neely Henry has excellent fishing for crappie and striped bass.

Logan Martin Lake

Logan Martin covers 15,263 acres and is 48.5 miles long. The lake receives a lot of fishing pressure due its location on I-20 and being near Birmingham.

The lake has good fishing for largemouth and spotted bass. In spring, spriped and hybrid bass fishing is very popular below the Neely Henry Dam where it’s possible to wade fish.

Lay Lake

North of Beeswax Creek, the upper end of Lay Lake in riverine, which is essentially a flooded channel. The lake covers 12,000 acres and is 47 nautical miles long, with 289 miles of shoreline. It addition to Beeswax, other tributaries are Paint, Peckerwood and Waxahatchee creeks.

The tailwater fishery below Logan Martin Dam offers excellent fishing for striped and hybrid striped bass. These waters have produced catches of trophy sized flathead catfish. 

The lake also has good fishing for bream, crappie and black bass.

Lake Mitchell

With 147 miles of shoreline, Lake Mitchell offers largemouth and spotted bass fishing, as well as bream, crappie and catfish.

Mitchell Lake is located just off I-65 and is smaller than the other lakes on the Coosa at 5,850 acres. Hatchet Creek is a major tributary.

Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake covers 6,800 acres and is 18.4 miles long. It has 188 miles of shoreline with the upstream stretch being riverine. Fishing for Alabama spotted bass and largemouth bass is very popular, plus it has good fishing for crappie, bream, catfish, and hybrid striped bass.

Read more about how successful anglers find and catch fish on the Coosa River.