Flowing from below Smith Lake Dam, Sipsey Fork is a unique place to fish in Alabama. For more than 40 years, stocked rainbow trout have thrived in its tailwaters, which remain below 70 degrees year-round.

Through agreements with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Alabama Power Company, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division stocks about 3,000 8- to 14-inch rainbow trout every month.

Creel and possession limit is 5 fish. There is no size limit and no closed season.

The best fishing is from the dam to the Birmingham Water Works Pump Station. However, trout are found on the Sipsey Fork, until it reaches the Mulberry Fork.

A year-round minimum flow from the dam creates stream conditions and improves trout survival.

When electricity is being generated, water levels in the tailwaters rises rapidly, and water velocities become dangerously swift. Warning sirens notify the public when power generation begins. Anglers must quickly get out of the stream as the water level rises.

Cullman County Road 95 runs parallel to and east of the Sipsey Fork. Anglers can park at several areas along County Road 95 and access the stream. The trails leading to the water’s edge are steep and anglers must exercise caution. A large parking area is located adjacent to the Birmingham Water Works Pumping Station.

A fishing platform is located downstream of the dam on the west side of the Sipsey Fork. The stream’s edge is accessible from the east side, which is the Cullman County side. The first 1000’ of the tailwaters is very channel-like and too deep to wade. Downstream, the Sipsey Fork is 75’-100’ wide. The next half mile of stream to the pump station contains riffles, runs, and pools and is wadable when electricity is not being generated. For the next 1.8 miles to the Hwy 69 Bridge, anglers can fish from the bank or wade.

Downstream of the Hwy 69 Bridge, the Sipsey Fork can only be fished from a boat. A private boat ramp is located just downstream of the Hwy 69 bridge. Only unmotorized boats and kayaks may launch and a fee is collected at the nearby Riverside Fly Shop. If you plan to float and fish the Sipsey Fork downstream to the next takeout point, a public boat ramp is located off of Hwy 22 in Sipsey (at the confluence of the Sipsey and Mulberry Forks), anglers should plan on spending 6-10 hours on the water.

Prior to traveling to the Sipsey Fork to fish, call 1-800-LAKES-11 for the generation schedule.