Fishing in Etowah County, Alabama
County seat: Gadsden. Population 103,436.
- 1lake pages
- 2listed ramps
- 5river and creek pages
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Sizing up Etowah County for a rod and reel
103,436 Alabamians lived in Etowah County at the 2020 Census, with Gadsden as the seat. ADCNR bank-access sites here carry the ADCNR Fisheries District II label.
Of 1 lake with a page here, Neely Henry Lake covers the most ground. Trailer boats have 2 listed ramps here on ADCNR lists. ADCNR's bank layer shows 7 bank or pier sites here and 5 piers among them.
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.
Plotting Etowah County ramps, banks and lakes
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Etowah County lakes ranked by outline acreage
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neely Henry Lake | 11,235 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 4 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
Lakes over the Etowah County line, closest to Gadsden first.
| Lake | From Gadsden | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weiss Lake | 24 miles northeast | 30,200 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 5 | largemouth bass, striped bass, white crappie |
| Whitesides Mill Lake | 28 miles southeast | 252 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Logan Martin Lake | 30 miles south | 15,263 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Choccolocco Creek Lake Number 7 | 31 miles southeast | 55 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Inland Lake | 31 miles west | 1,557 (ADCNR) | Birmingham Water Works reservoir | 0 | channel catfish |
| Choccolocco Number 11 Lake | 34 miles southeast | 181 (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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Within 50 miles of Gadsden, more pages list largemouth bass than any other fish.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Streams that wind through Etowah County
- Coosa RiverADCNR river page, 2 bank or pier sites, 234 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Locust ForkADCNR river page, 159 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Big Wills Creek87 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Big Canoe Creek57 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Black Creek (Etowah County)1 bank or pier site, 25 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
USGS readings across Etowah County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Coosa River At Gadsden Steam Plant Nr Gadsden, Al | 8,710 cfs, 21.08 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:00 pm |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 60 cfs, 1.72 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:45 pm |
| Coosa River At Gadsden Al | 20.96 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:45 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.
Boat ramps of Etowah County
- Hokes Bluff boat ramp on Neely Henry LakeNeely Henry Lake, 2 lanes, 2 docks, 19 trailer spaces
- Rainbow Landing (77 Bridge) on Neely Henry LakeNeely Henry Lake, 1 lane, 2 docks, 20 trailer spaces
Other public ramps exist beyond the ADCNR lists.
ADCNR shoreline spots across Etowah County
- Coosa Landing Boat Ramp on Neely Henry Lakebank access, City of Gadsden
- Jack Ray Park on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Gadsden
- Noccalula Falls Park on Black Creek (Etowah County)bank access, City of Gadsden
- Rainbow Landing boat ramp on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Riverwalk Park on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Gadsden
- Southside Landing on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Southside
- Tillisons Bend Boat Ramp on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, 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.
Alabama limits that apply in Etowah County
Every Etowah County water without its own digest row uses the statewide limits. Freshwater privileges for a year cost an Alabamian $17.45; anglers from elsewhere pay $68.20.
| 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.
Big-fish marks from around Etowah County
No record on the ADCNR lists traces to Etowah County water, so the closest record waters within 70 miles are shown.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 10 lbs., 14 oz. | Weiss Lake | 6/24/80 |
| Channel catfish | 40 lbs., 0 oz. | Inland Lake | 6/17/67 |
| Redeye bass | 3 lbs., 2 oz. | Choccolocco Creek | 3/8/00 |
| Yellow bass | 2 lbs., 8 oz. | Lake Guntersville | 4/12/00 |
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.
Tournament dates in Etowah County
1 of 4 organizer events linked to Etowah County are still to come.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 15, 2027 | 2027 Alabama Bass Trail Championship | Neely Henry Lake | Alabama Bass Trail |
| April 18, 2026 | Neely Henry Lake | Neely Henry Lake | Alabama Bass Trail |
| April 19, 2025 | Alabama Bass Trail North Division: Neely Henry Lake 2025 | Neely Henry Lake | Alabama Bass Trail |
| date not printed | Phoenix BFL on Neely Henry Lake (July 2026) | Neely Henry Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ADCNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Etowah County shops and fishing guides
Bait counters in Etowah County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gadsdensporting goods store, Gadsden
- Buck's Island Marinamarina, Rainbow City
- Buddy Parker Boat Docksmarina, Gadsden
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
In the Etowah County neighbourhood
Etowah County town guides
- Gadsdenpop. 33,945
- Rainbow Citypop. 10,191
- Southsidepop. 9,426
- Attallapop. 5,827
- Glencoepop. 5,372
- Hokes Bluffpop. 4,446
- Sardis Citypop. 1,814
Neighbouring county guides for Etowah County
- Calhoun County23 miles southeast
- Marshall County24 miles northwest
- St. Clair County28 miles southwest
- Blount County31 miles west
Line and reels from Piscifun before a run to Etowah County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pictures of the fishing water around Etowah County
Photo: mliu92, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: Marshall County CVB, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jeff Hudgins / Alabama, CC BY 2.0
Questions on the water inside Etowah County
Can I trailer a bass boat into water in Etowah County?
Count 2 listed ramps, 2 of them WFF.
Which lake tops the acreage list in Etowah County?
Neely Henry Lake, 11,235 acres by ADCNR.
What fish do Etowah County waters hold?
Largemouth bass lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then black crappie, channel catfish and striped bass.
Where can Etowah County anglers buy bait?
Try Academy Sports + Outdoors Gadsden; there are 3 in all.
Do guide services list a Etowah County business address?
No charter or guide listing names it.
Which Alabama town houses Etowah County government?
County government sits in Gadsden.
What will a visitor pay to fish in Etowah County?
Freshwater privileges for a year cost an Alabamian $17.45; anglers from elsewhere pay $68.20.
What county lies closest to Etowah County?
Closest by centre point: Calhoun County, Marshall County and St. Clair County.
How many organizer events put boats on Etowah County water?
4 events on file; the next is 2027 Alabama Bass Trail Championship on Neely Henry Lake, Oct. 15, 2027.
Spend a weekend fishing Etowah County
Lake pages list ADCNR ramps, species and limits.