Fishing in Jackson County, Alabama
County seat: Scottsboro. Population 52,579.
- 1lake pages
- 12listed ramps
- 2river and creek pages
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A Yellowhammer angler's read on Jackson County
The 2020 Census found 52,579 people in Jackson County; its courthouse stands in Scottsboro. Its ADCNR bank sites are filed under ADCNR Fisheries District I. The state line runs through Lake Guntersville.
The county shares in 1 paged lakes; Lake Guntersville tops the list by acreage. 12 listed ramps appear for the county on the ADCNR ramp lists. The fish-from-the-bank map marks 21 bank or pier sites, including 4 piers.
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.
The Jackson County access map
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
The impoundments of Jackson County, largest first
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Guntersville | 65,603 (NHD outline), 98% in Alabama | TVA reservoir | 21 | yellow bass, buffalo, grass carp |
With few lake guides inside Jackson County, the nearest ones across its line are listed by miles from Scottsboro.
| Lake | From Scottsboro | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County Public Fishing Lake | 15 miles east | 120 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Madison County Public Fishing Lake | 23 miles northwest | 105 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Weiss Lake | 38 miles southeast | 30,200 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 5 | largemouth bass, striped bass, white crappie |
| Lake Catoma | 52 miles southwest | 527 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Neely Henry Lake | 52 miles south | 11,235 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 4 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| George Lake | 53 miles southwest | 159 (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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Out to 100 miles from Scottsboro, largemouth bass heads the count of pages naming a species.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 100 miles; not a fish survey.
Running water through Jackson County
- Tennessee RiverADCNR river page, 205 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Paint Rock RiverADCNR river page, 2 bank or pier sites, 59 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Unpaged streams of Jackson County (2)
- Hurricane Creek (Jackson County)10 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- South Sauty Creek40 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
How the Jackson County streams are flowing
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Paint Rock River Near Woodville Al | 26 cfs, 1.91 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:00 pm |
| Estill Fork At Estillfork Al | 4 cfs, 4.62 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 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.
Ramps where Jackson County trailers back down
- B.B. Comer Bridge boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 30 trailer spaces
- Bridgeport boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 25 trailer spaces
- Crow Creek boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 20 trailer spaces
- Langston Road (Chisenhall) boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 16 trailer spaces
- Langston boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 3 lanes, 2 docks, 75 trailer spaces
- Long Island boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 28 trailer spaces
- Mink Creek boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 20 trailer spaces
- Mud Creek (G'ville) boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 26 trailer spaces
- North Sauty Creek boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 5 trailer spaces
- Racoon Creek boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 1 lane, 1 dock, 6 trailer spaces
- Scottsboro City Park on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 2 lanes, 1 dock, 49 trailer spaces
- Stevenson (Snodgrass Bridge) boat ramp on Lake GuntersvilleLake Guntersville, 2 lanes, 1 dock, 40 trailer spaces
TVA, Corps, Alabama Power and city ramps that ADCNR does not list are not shown.
Piers and banks in Jackson County
- Bellefonte Road Causeway on Lake Guntersvillebank access, Jackson County
- Bridgeport Ferry on Lake Guntersvillefishing pier, ADCNR/Bridgeport
- Goose Pond on Lake Guntersvillefishing pier, Scottsboro
- Jackson County Park on Lake Guntersvillefishing pier, Scottsboro
- Mink Creek (Hwy 79 causeway) on Lake Guntersvillebank access, AL DOT/Jackson County Commission
- North Sauty (Hwy 79 causeway) on Lake Guntersvillebank access, AL DOT/Jackson County Commission
- Scottsboro City Park on Lake Guntersvillefishing pier, ADCNR/Scottsboro
- South Sauty Causeway on Lake Guntersvillebank access, AL DOT/Jackson County Commission
- Stevenson City Park on Lake Guntersvillebank access, Stevenson
- BB Comer Bridge Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- Crow Creek Public Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Stevenson
- Langston Road on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- Mink Creek on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Scottsboro
- Mud Creek Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- Mud Creek Causeway on Lake Guntersvillebank access, AL DOT/Jackson County Commission
- North Sauty (Hwy 72 causeway) on Lake Guntersvillebank access, AL DOT/Jackson County Commission
- North Sauty Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- Paint Rock River and Hwy 72bank access, AL DOT/Marshall County Commission
- Raccoon Creek on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- South Sauty Creek (Langston City Park) on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Jackson County Commission
- Stevenson (Snodgrass Bridge) on Lake Guntersvillebank access, ADCNR/Stevenson
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.
What may go in the cooler in Jackson County
Where the digest names no exception, Jackson County water follows the statewide rows below. An annual Alabama freshwater license runs $17.45 for state residents and $68.20 for out-of-state anglers in 2026-27.
| 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 |
Exception rows that reach Jackson County (1)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Guntersville Reservoir and its Tributary of Town Creek | Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass | It is illegal to possess any largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. |
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-list catches from Jackson County water
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock bass | 1 lb., 6 oz. | Paint Rock River | 5/6/95 |
| Yellow bass | 2 lbs., 8 oz. | Lake Guntersville | 4/12/00 |
| Buffalo | 57 lbs., 0 oz. | Lake Guntersville | 4/13/90 |
| Grass (White Amur) carp | 73 lbs., 0 oz. | Lake Guntersville | 4/10/12 |
| White crappie | 4 lbs., 8 oz. | Lake Guntersville | 4/4/74 |
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.
Events fished out of Jackson County
Organizer pages connect 5 events with Jackson County; 4 have not been fished yet.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 2026 | 2026 Berkley Team Series Wildcard Qualifier | Lake Guntersville | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| Jan. 30, 2027 | Lake Guntersville | Lake Guntersville | Major League Fishing |
| Feb. 25, 2027 | Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala. | Lake Guntersville | Major League Fishing |
| April 1, 2027 | Lake Guntersville | Lake Guntersville | B.A.S.S. |
| Feb. 5, 2026 | 2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville | Lake Guntersville | B.A.S.S. |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ADCNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Shops and charter captains of Jackson County
Jackson County bait and tackle
- Scottsboro Tackle Companybait and tackle shop, Scottsboro
- Zillas Outdoors and Cafebait and tackle shop, Hollywood
- Jackson County Park & Marinamarina, Scottsboro
Jackson County guides and charters
- Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Servicefishing guide, Scottsboro
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
Down the road from Jackson County
Motel towns for a Jackson County fishing run
- Scottsboropop. 15,578
- Bridgeportpop. 2,264
- Stevensonpop. 1,955
Counties ringing Jackson County
- DeKalb County23 miles southeast
- Madison County32 miles west
- Marshall County37 miles southwest
- Cherokee County40 miles southeast
Piscifun tackle picked out for a day at Jackson County
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Jackson County

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Photo: User:Deskana, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing Jackson County: things people want settled
Which ramps in Jackson County take a trailer?
ADCNR shows 12 listed ramps; 12 come from the WFF list.
Which impoundment reaching into Jackson County is the biggest?
Lake Guntersville, 65,603 acres by its NHD outline.
What species can anglers target around Jackson County?
Largemouth bass lead the count of water pages within 100 miles, then black crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Does Jackson County have a listed bait and tackle counter?
Scottsboro Tackle Company heads a list of 3.
Do any fishing guides work out of Jackson County?
1 guide or charter give this county.
Where does Jackson County hold court?
The courthouse is in Scottsboro.
Which fishing license fits Jackson County?
An annual Alabama freshwater license runs $17.45 for state residents and $68.20 for out-of-state anglers in 2026-27.
Which counties border Jackson County?
DeKalb County, Madison County and Marshall County lie closest.
What is the next trail date on Jackson County water?
5 events on file; the next is 2026 Berkley Team Series Wildcard Qualifier on Lake Guntersville, Nov. 6, 2026.
Does the digest set exceptions in Jackson County?
The 2026-27 digest prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Guntersville Reservoir and its Tributary of Town Creek; the table above shows each.
Which state records trace to Jackson County?
Rock bass, 1 lb., 6 oz., from Paint Rock River (5/6/95).
Line up a Saturday on Jackson County water
Ramp pages give lanes, docks and directions.

