Lake Guntersville is on the Tennessee River in Northeast Alabama. It is Alabama's largest lake, with 36 miles of hiking and biking trails. The locals generally refer to the lake as Lake Guntersville. It is located in northern Alabama between Bridgeport and Guntersville.Photo Credit: Lake Guntersville State Park
Guntersville Lake Location
The lake stretches 75 miles from the Guntersville Dam to the Nickajack Dam. Coming in at 69,100 acres, it is Alabama’s largest lake. Guntersville Lake was created when the Guntersville Dam was built along the Tennessee River. The lake, as well as the dam, got their names from the town of Guntersville, which got its name from an early settler of the area named John Gunter. The lake has an average depth of 15 feet, and a maximum depth of 60 feet deep in the river channel.
Fishing at Guntersville Lake is a fiserman’s dream. The fish is heavily populated with many different fish types. The large black bass population is a favorite of most anglers on the lake. A great place to target your fishing adventure is along the steep drop-offs in the lake where the river runs below the surface. This depth change gives them cover, and attracts their primary food source baitfish. You can also find fish in the shallows and around the boat houses. Follow the latest Guntersville Lake Fishing Reports out there, and plan accordingly.
Bass Fishing on Guntersville Lake
Bass fishing on Guntersville Lake is one of the favorites of both locals and fishermen that travel to this huge lake from both near and far. One of the best bets to try your luck at some bass fishing are to use some soft bait lures, rubber worms, and topwater hard bait lures, or some stickbaits. You can also do quite well with crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.
Catfish Fishing on Guntersville Lake
The catfish in Guntersville Lake can get rather large, even up over 80 pounds or more. The typical size catfish you might catch will be in the five to ten pound range. Using live bait like worms, chicken livers or the standard catfish dough baits work great. If you want to kick up a notch, you can make your own catfish dough bait that is quick and easy to make, and works great.
Bluegill Fishing on Guntersville Lake
Another local favorite fish species to target is the abundant blue gill scattered throughout the shallows. An ultralight spinning rod and reel combo and some small jigs or some nightcrawlers will do the trick. Look for submerged structures, or near the boat docks, and you will or near a boat dock, and it will be fish on!
Best Fishing Spots on Guntersville Lake
Pine Island
Pine Island is located in the middle of the lake in the middle of the town of Guntersville and Scottsboro. This spot was an original island from before the dam was built, and it is a bass haven that is filled with the vegetation they love to frequent. Fishing around the edges of the island are a sure bet.
Causeway that Crosses Brown’s Creek
Another great place to catch big bass is at the causeway that crosses Brown’s Creek and the humps downstream. Lots of grasses and vegetation to give the bass a place to chase baitfish, and have shelter.
Siebold Creek and Minky Creek
The creeks around the lake are fairly shallow, and are full of fish. Great baitfish for larger bass to feed on. The shallow creeks are a great place to target some great bass fishing.
Little Mountain Park
On the banks, a little downstream from Little Mountain Park has lots of humps, and grass, for Bass to hold up in. This area is great fishing, casting along the grass lines. Use shallow running crankbaits along current break lines and over the grass until you find where they are hiding.
South Sauty Creek
Another good fishing spot on the Guntersville Lake is where the South Sauty Creek channel merges with the river channel. Any cuts, and points, on any of the creek channels that you run across are a good place to throw a rubber worm, or some crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Lots of fish hold up in these spots throughout the year. Other good spots are Brown’s Creek, and Town Creek, and any funnel areas that you come across while navigating from spot to spot.
Lake Guntersville State Park Camping and Lodging
Lake Guntersville State Park has plenty of overnight and extended stay options available. They have a campground, as well as cabins located on the bank of the Guntersville Lake. They also have chalets nestled in the ridge-tops, and a resort lodge on the pinnacle of Taylor Mountain that has an absolutely amazing picturesque view. Some of the accommodations are handicap accessible and dog friendly.You can contact the Reservations Department at (256) 505-6621 for more information.
Lake Guntersville State Park Campground
Lake Guntersville State Park’s Main Campground is located alongside the lake. The main campground has 295 improved campsites, as well as a primitive camping area, bathhouses (two of them have a washer and dryer), a kids playground and recreation area. The playground has a splash pad to give the kids a place to cool off and play. There is also a Campground Store. All of the improved campsites have water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, grill, and a fire ring. Some sections even have sewer hookups. The park also offers the Town Creek Primitive Campground which provides primitive campsites (boondock camping allowed 7 night maximum) on the water, bathhouses, boat rentals, ethanol-free gas (accessible by water), and the Town Creek Fishing Center.
Lake Guntersville State Park RV and Tent Camping
RV camping rates vary by date, availability, and unit amenities. Visit their website at reservealapark.comto check the rates and date availability or call the camp store at 256-571-5455. Tents are not allowed on full hookup sites, but one extra tent is allowed on a site with an RV for children under the age of 18. They charge an additional $5 per night plus tax for the 2nd tent in the RV sites that allow it, and for the tent camping sites as well. Click here to view the Campground Site Map.•Check-in is at 2:00 P.M., and check-out is at 11:00 A.M.•Minimum age to rent a site is 18, and a responsible adult must check in and occupy the site during the entire reservation. •Maximum 8 persons per site.•Camp sites range from 30 ft. - 60 ft. •Pets are welcome and must be on a leash or line at all times.•Three (3) night minimum is required for major holiday weekends.•Cancellations must be made 72 hours before arrival for deposit refund. Not applicable in group or convention reservations.•Reservations must be secured with payment for the first night's stay, plus taxes, and will be charged when reservations are made.
Fishing Boat Rentals at Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake has several different types of boats rentals available for your fishing trip or vacation getaway with friends and family. Their largest boat is a pontoon boat that holds up to twelve people. The pontoon boats are a great full deck platform for plenty of fishing space, or just lounging with some good conversation while enjoying the beauty that Guntersville Lake has to offer. They also have smaller fishing boats that work great for a couple of people fishing, or trolling. Give your kids a trip to really remember and visit their website today and rent a boat for your amazing family fishing adventure.
RV and Trailer Rentals at Guntersville Lake
Talk about convenience, these are perfect for a small or large family. Upgrade your camping convenience, comfort, and style, by renting an RV from RVshare for your ultimate family fishing adventure at Guntersville Lake. Make this a trip to remember and go camping in style.
Cottages and Vacation Home Rentals At Guntersville Lake
Looking for a vacation rental at Guntersville Lake, or any destination you wish to go? Vrbo has vacation homes, cabins, and cottages for many locations that would be great for your next family vacation.
Guntersville Lake Fishing Guide
There are several different fishing guides that offer guided fishing trips on Guntersville Lake. FishingBooker is a service to help you find a local fishing guide to schedule your next guided fishing trip with. Click here to find your next fishing guide for Guntersville Lake, or any lake, or any location that you want to hire a guide to get you and your friends on some fish!About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Guntersville Lake Fishing Experience Awaits!