Fishing in Chilton County, Alabama
County seat: Clanton. Population 45,014.
- 2lake pages
- 2listed ramps
- 3river and creek pages
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How Chilton County lines up for anglers
Clanton serves as the county seat of Chilton County, which counted 45,014 residents in the 2020 Census. On the ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map the county's sites sit in ADCNR Fisheries District II.
Lay Lake leads 2 lake guides that reach into the county. ADCNR records 2 listed ramps in the county. Shore anglers get 4 bank or pier sites on the ADCNR map, 2 of them with a pier.
Census 2020 population; NHD lake outlines with the ADCNR reservoir program; ADCNR WFF boat ramp list, coastal boating access and fish-from-the-bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Every mapped put-in across Chilton County
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Reservoirs and lakes inside Chilton County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay Lake | 12,000 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 7 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Mitchell Lake | 10,856 (NHD outline) | Alabama Power reservoir | 1 |
Measured from Clanton, these lakes outside Chilton County come up first.
| Lake | From Clanton | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodruff Lake | 32 miles southeast | 12,510 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 1 | largemouth bass, alabama bass, striped bass |
| Lake Jordan | 34 miles east | 6,800 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 2 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Double Oak Lake | 34 miles north | 61 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Tallaseehatchee Watershed Number 1 | 35 miles northeast | 136 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Oak Mountain Lake | 37 miles north | 76 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Lunker Lake | 37 miles north | 91 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 |
USGS NHD lake outlines (acreage of the mapped outline unless ADCNR prints one), ADCNR reservoir pages and the ADCNR WFF boat ramp list; read November 1, 2026. ADCNR publishes no lake depths.
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Each bar is a count of nearby water pages, out to 50 miles from Clanton; channel catfish leads.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Rivers and creeks of Chilton County
- Coosa RiverADCNR river page, 2 bank or pier sites, 234 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Mulberry Creek51 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Autauga CreekADCNR river page, 1 bank or pier site, 34 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
More running water in Chilton County (4)
- Buck Creek (Autauga County)21 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Little Mulberry Creek39 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Oakmulgee Creek55 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Swift Creek38 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Gauge stations inside Chilton County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek Above Clanton, Ala | 4 cfs, 3.50 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines and lengths, ADCNR river pages, ADCNR ramp lists and USGS gauges; read November 1, 2026.
Put-ins on the ADCNR lists for Chilton County
- Flatlands (Pineview) boat ramp on Lay LakeLay Lake, 2 lanes, 3 docks, 38 trailer spaces
- Higgins Ferry boat ramp on Mitchell LakeMitchell Lake, 3 lanes, 1 dock, 85 trailer spaces
Operator and municipal ramps are not part of these ADCNR lists.
Fishing from land in Chilton County
- Lay Dam boat rampfishing pier, ADCNR
- Lay Dam tailrace on Mitchell Lakebank access, Alabama Power Company
- Mitchell Tailrace on Lake Jordanfishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- <![CDATA[Higgin's Ferry Boat Ramp]]> on Mitchell Lakebank access, ADCNR
ADCNR WFF boat ramp list (public.dcnr.alabama.gov), ADCNR coastal boating access, fish-from-the-bank map and public access sites layer; read November 1, 2026.
Creel and size rows for Chilton County water
In Chilton County, statewide rows apply first; named exceptions override them. The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
Chilton County waters named in the exception list (1)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Mitchell (Coosa River between Mitchell Dam and Lay Dam) and its tributary streams | Walleye | Illegal to take or attempt to take walleye by any method; any walleye taken must be released immediately with least possible harm. |
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026. Size and creel exceptions as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition), limits page, read November 1, 2026.
Alabama record fish linked to Chilton County
The record lists name no Chilton County water; these nearby waters, all inside 70 miles, do.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose gar | 32 lbs., 14 oz. | Lake Jordan | 4/18/85 |
| White crappie | 4 lbs., 9 oz. | Lake Martin | 5/8/00 |
| Yellow perch | 2 lbs., 2 oz. | Yates Lake | 3/7/15 |
| Redeye bass | 3 lbs., 2 oz. | Choccolocco Creek | 3/8/00 |
Alabama state record lists kept by ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater) (freshwater, saltwater), read November 1, 2026.
Crickets, crankbaits and hired captains in Chilton County
Shops in Chilton County
- T & N Baitbait and tackle shop, Clanton
- The Fishing Holebait and tackle shop, Clanton
- Grace's Marina On Lake Mitchellmarina, Verbena
- Lake Mitchell Marinamarina, Clanton
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
Minutes from Chilton County
Overnight options in Chilton County
- Clantonpop. 8,768
- Jemisonpop. 2,642
- Thorsbypop. 2,064
Adjoining Alabama counties for Chilton County
- Autauga County23 miles south
- Bibb County26 miles northwest
- Coosa County29 miles east
- Shelby County29 miles north
A Piscifun setup to pack for Chilton County
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Chilton County
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: User:Deskana, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Replies on where to fish in Chilton County
How many listed ramps serve Chilton County?
2 listed ramps, 2 of them on the ADCNR WFF list.
Which Chilton County lake has the largest outline?
Lay Lake, 12,000 acres by ADCNR.
Which fish live in water near Chilton County?
Channel catfish lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then largemouth bass, black crappie and striped bass.
Which Chilton County stores sell tackle?
4 listed, starting with T & N Bait.
Which guide listings name Chilton County?
The guide listings point to other counties.
Where are the Chilton County commission offices?
Clanton is the seat.
Do I need a license for Chilton County lakes?
The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
Which counties surround Chilton County?
The nearest county pages are Autauga County, Bibb County and Coosa County.
Do any Chilton County waters have special limits?
The 2026-27 digest prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Lake Mitchell (Coosa River between Mitchell Dam and Lay Dam) and its tributary streams; the table above shows each.
Pick a reservoir or creek in Chilton County
Open a lake for its ramps and exceptions.