Lewis Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,200-acre Alabama Power reservoir on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior, impounded by Smith Dam in 1961 — 264 feet deep, gin-clear, and the Southeast's best deep-water spotted bass fishery.

Ryan Creek Arm
Major creek arm with shallow bushes, flooded timber, pockets, and deep channel swings · Swim jig through shallow cover; drop-shot on timber; topwater at first light · Spring + Fall

Rock Creek Arm
Deep creek arm with bluff walls, rock points, and secondary pockets · Drop-shot on bluff walls; jerkbait on secondary points; deep hair jig in winter · Winter + Summer

Sipsey Fork Arm (Upper Lake)
Upper-lake river channel with stained water, standing timber, and shad migration funnel · Crankbait and swim jig on the mudline when upriver runoff clashes with clear main-lake water; ChatterBait on timber edges · Spring

Smith Dam Area
Deepest water on the lake (264 ft at dam), bluff walls, submerged ridges, and rock pile stacks · Live shad for stripers suspended 30-80 ft; drop-shot for spots on the ridges; main-channel deep crankbait · Year-round

Clear Creek / Bankhead National Forest Shoreline
Forested western arm bordered by William B. Bankhead National Forest — bluff banks, feeder creeks, and deep timber · Finesse drop-shot and small swimbait on bluff walls; light-line spotted bass tactics · Spring + Summer

Crooked Creek (Cullman Side)
Major east-side creek arm with deep standing timber and suspending spotted bass · V&M Drop Shad on 3/16-1/4-oz jighead, 8-lb fluorocarbon leader, over suspended fish on forward-facing sonar · Summer + Fall

Smith Lake Park (Cullman County)
Cullman County park with public ramp, campground, fishing pier, and shallow flats · Shoreline and pier fishing for bream, crappie, and catfish; bank-access spotted bass near the bluff points · Spring + Summer

Curry Creek Arm
Walker County arm with rock points, standing timber, and deep main-lake transition · Jerkbait on main-lake points above 52°F; drop-shot on deep ridges; live shad for stripers · Winter + Spring

Duncan Bridge Area
Mid-lake bridge crossing with deep channel, pilings, and current break · Shaky head on pilings; suspending jerkbait on the channel break; live shad off pilings for stripers · Year-round

Lewis Smith Lake — Lake Center