Fishing in Elmore County, Alabama
County seat: Wetumpka. Population 87,977.
- 3lake pages
- 4listed ramps
- 3river and creek pages
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Elmore County at a glance for fishermen
With 87,977 people as of 2020, Elmore County keeps its seat of government in Wetumpka. The ADCNR bank map tags sites in the county as ADCNR Fisheries District IV.
Lake pages touching the county number 3, with Lake Martin first by size. The ADCNR lists put 4 listed ramps inside the county line. From land, ADCNR maps 11 bank or pier sites, with a pier at 6.
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.
Where the ramps and bank spots of Elmore County sit
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Which Elmore County lakes carry their own page
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Martin | 39,180 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 5 | largemouth bass, alabama bass, striped bass |
| Woodruff Lake | 12,510 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 1 | largemouth bass, alabama bass, striped bass |
| Mitchell Lake | 10,856 (NHD outline) | Alabama Power reservoir | 1 |
From Wetumpka, the next lakes with pages lie past the Elmore County line.
| Lake | From Wetumpka | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurlow Lake | 19 miles east | 585 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Yates Lake | 19 miles east | 1,980 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Lake Jordan | 29 miles north | 6,800 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 2 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| City Lake | 32 miles east | 82 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Tallaseehatchee Watershed Number 1 | 46 miles north | 136 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Saugahatchee Lake | 46 miles east | 346 (NHD outline) | City of Opelika reservoir | 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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Bars count the lake and coastal pages within 50 miles of Wetumpka that name each fish; channel catfish turns up most.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Lesser outlines inside Elmore County
1 smaller Elmore County lakes are listed here until ADCNR publishes more about them.
| Water | Acres (NHD outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Speigner Lake | 312 | Elmore |
USGS NHD lake outlines, read November 1, 2026.
Moving water to fish across Elmore County
- Alabama RiverADCNR river page, 1 ADCNR-listed ramp, 4 bank or pier sites, 313 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Coosa RiverADCNR river page, 2 bank or pier sites, 234 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Tallapoosa RiverADCNR river page, 1 bank or pier site, 216 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Other named creeks of Elmore County (1)
- Shoal Creek (Elmore County)10 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Stage and discharge for Elmore County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Coosa River At Hwy 14 Near Wetumpka, Al | 1,810 cfs, 14.25 ft gage height | Nov 13 1:15 am |
| Coosa River At Wetumpka Al | 11.75 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 1:33 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.
The listed ramps of Elmore County
- Bonner's Point boat ramp on Lake JordanLake Jordan, 5 lanes, 3 docks, 107 trailer spaces
- Camp Rotary (State Ramp) on Lake JordanLake Jordan, 4 lanes, 2 docks, 70 trailer spaces
- Kowaliga boat ramp on Lake MartinLake Martin, 2 lanes, 1 dock, 41 trailer spaces
- Wetumpka City Ramp on Woodruff LakeWoodruff Lake, 1 lane, 1 dock, 60 trailer spaces
The list covers ADCNR ramps; dam operators and towns run others.
Shore access across Elmore County
- Bonners Boat Ramp on Lake Jordanfishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Bouldin Dam Tailrace on Mitchell Lakebank access, Alabama Power Company
- Cooters Pond Park on Woodruff Lakefishing pier, City of Prattville
- Corn Creek Park on Coosa Riverbank access, Coosa River Paddling Club
- Gold Mine Road Ramp on Yates Lakebank access, Alabama Power Company
- Jackson Lake Island Park on Woodruff Lakefishing pier, Private
- Jordan Dam Tailrace on Mitchell Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Rotary Boat Ramp on Lake Jordanfishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Tallassee Boat Ramp on Thurlow Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Yates Boat Rampbank access, Alabama Power Company
- Gold Star Park on Coosa Riverbank access, City of Wetumpka
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.
Keeper rules for Elmore County anglers
Start from these statewide rows in Elmore County, then check any water the digest singles out. Count on $17.45 (resident) or $68.20 (nonresident) for a year of Alabama freshwater fishing.
| 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 |
Waters of Elmore County with rules of their own (2)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Martin | Saltwater striped bass | It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit. It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. Culling is defined as removing and releasing a saltwater |
| 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.
Record fish out of water by Elmore County
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 80 lbs., 0 oz. | Alabama River | 6/22/86 |
| White crappie | 4 lbs., 9 oz. | Lake Martin | 5/8/00 |
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.
Bass trail stops in Elmore County
Of 2 events tied to Elmore County, 1 are on the coming calendar.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Lake Jordan | Lake Jordan | Major League Fishing |
| Feb. 21, 2026 | Lake Jordan | Lake Jordan | Alabama Bass Trail |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ADCNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Tackle counters and guide services in Elmore County
Elmore County tackle stores
- Slapout Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Deatsville
- Stoddard Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Wetumpka
- TTI Blakemore Fishing Groupbait and tackle shop, Wetumpka
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Prattvillesporting goods store, Prattville
- Anchor Bay Marina Incmarina, Eclectic
- Bass Pro Shops Prattvillesporting goods store, Prattville
- Lake Jordan Marinamarina, Titus
- Russell Marine – Kowaliga Marinamarina, Alexander City
- Russell Marine Aqua Charters & Adventuresmarina, Alexander City
Captains of Elmore County
- River Region Guide Service, Inc.fishing guide, Millbrook
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
Close to Elmore County
Places to stay inside Elmore County
- Millbrookpop. 16,564
- Wetumpkapop. 7,220
- Redlandpop. 5,106
- Holtvillepop. 4,940
- Tallasseepop. 4,763
- Emerald Mountainpop. 3,310
- Deatsvillepop. 1,679
- Elmorepop. 1,280
- Coosadapop. 1,217
- Eclecticpop. 1,193
County pages around Elmore County
- Coosa County24 miles north
- Tallapoosa County27 miles northeast
- Montgomery County27 miles south
- Autauga County30 miles west
Piscifun spinning and casting gear rigged for Elmore County
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A picture guide to fish at Elmore County
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
What Alabama anglers ask about fishing Elmore County
Where do ADCNR lists let me back a trailer down in Elmore County?
There are 4 listed ramps, including 4 from the WFF list.
Which water in Elmore County is biggest?
Lake Martin, 39,180 acres by ADCNR.
What should a visitor to Elmore County fish for?
Channel catfish lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then largemouth bass, striped bass and black crappie.
Which Elmore County shops carry fishing gear?
9 listings, such as Slapout Bait Tackle.
How many fishing guide businesses give Elmore County as home base?
The listings show 1 guide or charter here.
Which Alabama town serves as Elmore County county seat?
The seat is Wetumpka.
What does ADCNR charge to fish Elmore County?
Count on $17.45 (resident) or $68.20 (nonresident) for a year of Alabama freshwater fishing.
Which Alabama counties lie a quick drive from Elmore County?
Try Coosa County, Tallapoosa County and Montgomery County.
When does the next published weigh-in hit Elmore County?
2 events on file; the next is Lake Jordan on Lake Jordan, Feb. 6, 2027.
Are there water-specific rules in Elmore County?
The 2026-27 digest prints 2 water exceptions reaching this county, starting with Lake Martin; the table above shows each.
What record weights come from Elmore County?
Flathead catfish, 80 lbs., 0 oz., from Alabama River, Selma (6/22/86).
Give Elmore County a morning on the water
River pages carry live USGS readings.