Fishing in Dale County, Alabama
County seat: Ozark. Population 49,326.
- 2lake pages
- 2listed ramps
- 2river and creek pages
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How Dale County lines up for anglers
Ozark serves as the county seat of Dale County, which counted 49,326 residents in the 2020 Census. On the ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map the county's sites sit in ADCNR Fisheries District IV.
Lake Tholocco leads 2 lake guides that reach into the county. ADCNR runs Dale County Public Fishing Lake as a State Public Fishing Lake in the county. ADCNR records 2 listed ramps in the county. Shore anglers get 1 bank or pier site on the ADCNR map, 0 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 Dale 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 Dale County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tholocco | 640 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army (Fort Novosel) reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish |
| Dale County Public Fishing Lake | 92 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
Measured from Ozark, these lakes outside Dale County come up first.
| Lake | From Ozark | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva County Public Fishing Lake | 27 miles southwest | 33 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Pike County Public Fishing Lake | 29 miles northwest | 45 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Coffee County Public Fishing Lake | 30 miles west | 80 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Barbour County Public Fishing Lake | 38 miles north | 75 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Crenshaw County Public Fishing Lake | 39 miles west | 53 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Eufaula | 42 miles northeast | 34,919 (NHD outline), 40% in Alabama | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 1 |
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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- Dale County Public Fishing Lakeclosed: open; 92 acres (ADCNR)
A day on a State Public Fishing Lake needs the $7.80 daily permit.
ADCNR State Public Fishing Lakes page and the digest Public Fishing Lake rules, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
The fish roster near Dale County
Each bar is a count of nearby water pages, out to 50 miles from Ozark; bluegill 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 Dale County
- Pea RiverADCNR river page, 1 ADCNR-listed ramp, 2 bank or pier sites, 153 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Choctawhatchee RiverADCNR river page, 2 ADCNR-listed ramps, 1 bank or pier site, 51 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
More running water in Dale County (4)
- East Fork Choctawhatchee River54 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Hurricane Creek (Dale County)1 ADCNR-listed ramp, 9 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Little Choctawhatchee River24 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- West Fork Choctawhatchee River40 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Gauge stations inside Dale County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Choctawhatchee River Near Newton, Al. | 202 cfs, 3.78 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:30 pm |
| Pea River Near Ariton Al | 123 cfs, 2.30 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 11:33 pm 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 Dale County
- Clayhatchee boat ramp on Choctawhatchee RiverChoctawhatchee River, 2 lanes, 15 trailer spaces
- Newton boat ramp on Hurricane Creek (Dale County)Hurricane Creek (Dale County), 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces
Operator and municipal ramps are not part of these ADCNR lists.
Fishing from land in Dale County
- Samson Recreational Area on Choctawhatchee Riverbank 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.
Shops over the line from Dale County
- Dick's Sporting Goods Dothansporting goods store, Dothan, 18 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Dothansporting goods store, Dothan, 18 miles
- Boyd's Marinemarina, Enterprise, 18 miles
- Southern Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Dothan, 21 miles
- City Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Dothan, 23 miles
Yellow Pages listings; straight-line miles from Ozark.
Creel and size rows for Dale County water
In Dale 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 |
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama record fish linked to Dale County
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbreast sunfish | 1 lb., 4 oz. | Choctawhatchee River | 6/12/10 |
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.
Minutes from Dale County
Overnight options in Dale County
- Ozarkpop. 14,368
- Dalevillepop. 4,866
- Fort Ruckerpop. 4,464
- Midland Citypop. 2,239
- Level Plainspop. 1,825
- Newtonpop. 1,607
Adjoining Alabama counties for Dale County
- Coffee County22 miles west
- Henry County23 miles east
- Houston County26 miles southeast
- Geneva County27 miles southwest
A Piscifun setup to pack for Dale County
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Pictures of the fishing water around Dale County
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Olin Gilbert, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mark Brennan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: John Coley, CC BY 2.0
Replies on where to fish in Dale County
How many listed ramps serve Dale County?
2 listed ramps, 2 of them on the ADCNR WFF list.
Which Dale County lake has the largest outline?
Lake Tholocco, 640 acres by ADCNR.
Which fish live in water near Dale County?
Bluegill lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then largemouth bass, channel catfish and redear sunfish.
Which Dale County stores sell tackle?
The listings show no shop in the county itself.
Which guide listings name Dale County?
The guide listings point to other counties.
Where are the Dale County commission offices?
Ozark is the seat.
Do I need a license for Dale County lakes?
The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
Which counties surround Dale County?
The nearest county pages are Coffee County, Henry County and Houston County.
Which public fishing lake serves Dale County?
Yes: Dale County Public Fishing Lake (closed: open; 92 acres (ADCNR)).
Has an Alabama record fish come from Dale County?
Redbreast sunfish, 1 lb., 4 oz., from Choctawhatchee River (6/12/10).
Pick a reservoir or creek in Dale County
Open a lake for its ramps and exceptions.