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LAKE INFORMATION
Lake Guntersville is located in north Alabama between Bridgeport and Guntersville. Alabama's largest lake contains 67,900 acres and stretches 75 miles from Nickajack Dam to Guntersville Dam. Free boat ramps and private marinas dot the lake's perimeter. Fishing, boating, camping, hunting and eagle watching are popular sports in the area. Guntersville Lake fish habitat includes milfoil and hydilla weed beds from which big bass explode on topwater baits.
An impoundment of the Tennessee River, Guntersville Lake is known for its diverse fishery and abundance of aquatic vegetation. The lake is full of hydrilla, milfoil and grass, providing gamefish with an abundance of habitat. In combination with the vegetation, the lake is full of submerged stump fields that were left after the forest was cut before flooding ccurred. Guntersville Lake is a premier angling destination. Due to its robust and diverse fishery, numerous tournaments are held on the lake. There is a tournament almost every weekend, from local clubs to national trails. The lake has an extensive buoy system that all boaters should familiarize themselves with.
Lake Guntersville is 67,900 acres in size with an average depth of 15 feet and a maximum depth of 45 feet. From Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam, the lake measures 76 miles. A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impoundment of the Tennessee River, the Sequatchie River is the main tributary, followed by Town Creek and numerous smaller creeks. The deeper portions of the lake generally consist of sand, gravel and mud. The steep ledges of old stream channels consist of limestone. Most of the shoreline has a sand and gravel bottom. Heavy siltation has occurred in some creeks such as Mud, North Sauty and South Sauty. Annual winter drawdowns lower the water level about 2 feet. The TVA manages the entire 949 miles of shoreline which occupies a narrow valley between steep sloping, forested ridges. Approximately 15% of the shoreline is developed, mainly with residential housing and very limited commercial development.
FISH SPECIES
Though most noted nationally for large bass, Lake Guntersville is home to quality angling for a variety of fish. Historically, about two-thirds of the anglers on Guntersville target largemouth bass, although bream (bluegill, redear sunfish, and longear sunfish), crappie, sauger and catfish attract their fair share of anglers.
A 15-inch minimum length limit for black bass was implemented on 1 October 1993, to restrict harvest of small, fast growing bass. This minimum length limit has been changed to apply only to largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Sample data from 2004 revealed that the regulation has performed well over the past 11 years. Our samples not only revealed more largemouth bass greater than 15 inches than previous samples, but fish were more robust. Condition of largemouth bass between 12 and 24 inches has consistently improved each sample since 2001, and is higher than it has ever been since the Fisheries Section began sampling this reservoir.
America’s most popular game fish is the largemouth bass and many other members of the black bass family. The Alabama record was a monster lunker, weighing in at 16 lbs. 8 oz. – just imagine the fight of that hawg! When you hook a largemouth, you’d better be ready for its short, powerful runs as it tries to escape to cover. Put your skill to the test when you go for smallmouth bass; it’ll jump and fight aggressively on the surface in order to throw the hook. The Alabama record for smallmouth is 10 lbs 8 oz and for spots is 8 lbs 15 oz. Come fishing on the Alabama Bass Trail to see why we love fishing in this state.
Bream fishing is excellent throughout the lake, especially during late spring and early summer. Crappie fishing is best during the spring and fall, but night fishing in the summer around bridge pilings can be productive. Sauger and a few walleye run upstream during the winter and early spring, and anglers catch sauger within the reservoir at bridge crossings and below Guntersville Dam. Catfish angling can bring big surprises; several blue catfish over 80 pounds have been taken from Lake Guntersville.
ALABAMABASSTRAIL.ORG
Eleven of Alabama's premier bass fishing lakes are now features in a trail designed with you in mind. Discover the hottest spots with detailed maps. Get current pro guide reports, water conditions and weather forecasts all conveniently located in one angler-friendly web site. So before you launch your boat, be sure to launch the AlabamaBassTrail.org web site.
FISHING LICENSES
Alabama hunting and fishing licenses are available in all sections of the State from approximately 425 special license agents in many sporting goods stores, marinas, and at all county courthouses. Licenses may also be purchased by visiting our website at www.outdooralabama.com/licenses. Instant licensing is available via the Internet (2% fee), via the telephone by calling 1-888-848-6887 ($3.95 fee), or at 900 vendors and probate offices in Alabama. All youth age 15 and younger fish for free.
POSSESSIONS & CREEL LIMITS
For Alabama public waters are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/
FISHING GUIDES:
If you would like to hire a fishing guide for Lake Guntersville, ask us for a recommendation.
FISHING TOURNAMENTS:
Find out about local and national tournaments being held on Lake Guntersville. http://www.bassinbigg.com/
Activities
BIRD WATCHING
We are right in the heart of North Alabama Birding Trail one of the eight recognized trails of the Alabama statewide birding trail system. Guntersville is home to three of those eight sights.
Alabama’s northeastern corner has a wilder, more primitive side than much of the state, with the Appalachian chain rising in the east. Birds known for their vulnerability to disturbance thrive in this corner of the state, with Cerulean Warblers nesting in remote valleys, Ruffed Grouse drumming from wooded draws, and some incredibly endangered aquatic life hanging on in the Paint Rock River Valley.
T
his unique landscape is pock-marked with some of the most environmentally important cave systems east of the Mississippi. These caves hold almost all of the hibernating Gray Bats in the world. Visitors are drawn to the caves each summer when hundreds of thousands of these rare mammals can be seen leaving their roosts to start their evening hunt. Although their numbers once declined dramatically, careful management is bringing them back from the brink. Eagle watching centers on Guntersville State Park and the dam during the winter, though some bald eagles stay all year.
Beneath the towering Cumberland Plateau, Guntersville Lake extends its thin arms up steep valleys, forming even more habitat for winter waterfowl. You may see numerous Bald Eagles, some of which have taken up residence around the lake – due to the assistance from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Each year, Guntersville Peninsula, which lies at the heart of the Northeast Loop, provides some exciting rare birds for the state. Previous bird celebrities have included Glaucous Gull, Pacific Loon, Red-necked Grebe.
Whether you are wanting to escape to the outdoors or looking for rare birds, this out-of-the-way corner of the state is well worth exploring. So pack those bird guides, binoculars and walking shoes. More information can be obtained at the North Alabama Birding Trail website.
GOLFING
Golf is not a stranger to our area, as we are located between Hampton Cove and Silver Lakes golf courses, which are two of the 11 statewide Robert Trent Jones Golf Trails. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail was the largest golf construction project ever attempted. The New York Times called the golf trail “some of the best public golf on earth.” (RTJGolf.com) In addition to the Robert Trent Jones Golf courses, we have several public and municipal courses within close proximity and awaiting your arrival. Pick a course that fits you best, from 9 to 18 holes, from difficult to leisurely, we have everything an aspiring golf champion could desire. Great information on all of the Northeast Alabama Golf courses can be found at the Alabama Travel website.
HIKING
Guntersville State Park has several hiking trails covering 36 miles of park property. They are multi-use trails, serving as hiking, biking and horse trails. The trails are varied with some following alongside the banks of the Tennessee River, others lead to seasonal waterfalls and wildflowers, and some that peak your interest just by their name alone such as the Old Still Path and the Moonshine Trail. Trails are color-coded and range from moderate to difficult terrain. The trails differ in length from .5 miles to 3.5 miles yet connect with one another to form a loop of trails that add up to 36 miles. Enjoy a short 30 minute hike, guided Saturday morning interpretive hikes, or pack a picnic lunch and head out for a day exploring the ridges, waterfalls and river in beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park. Check the Alabama State Parks website for trail information.
SHOPPING
Main Street USA shopping is alive and well in Guntersville, Alabama. Located 11 minutes away from Waterfront Bay, you can park, walk and shop at a variety of charming awning covered shops located on Gunter Avenue. The stores are filled with shopper’s treasures as well as southern hospitality greeting you at the door. If you need a shopper’s break, stop in at one of the cafes for a bite to eat and drink. Power 
Shopper’s can continue their trip by visiting Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro. If searching for bargains is your passion and the thrill of discovering a one-of-a-kind treasure that makes your heart race, come on a shopping adventure that is unequaled anywhere in the United States. At the Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama, they buy unclaimed baggage and cargo by the truckload. They have more than 7,000 new and pre-owned items daily - designer clothes, jewelry, electronics, cameras, sporting goods and more - stocked in easy to prowl departments. You can even explore their website where they showcase a sampling of products to entice you. Make sure you take the time to visit the Unclaimed Baggage Center located at 509 West Willow Street, in Scottsboro, AL. Call 256-259-1525 if you need any additional information.The final destination for lost luggage and the treasures they pack. Need more you say? Boaz Outlet Center is ready for the serious bargain hunters. Plan your shopping adventure by the shopping guide/information found on the Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce Website.
