Fishing in Jefferson County, Alabama
County seat: Birmingham. Population 674,721.
- 2lake pages
- 0listed ramps
- 8river and creek pages
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What Jefferson County offers between ramp and bank
Jefferson County runs its county business from Birmingham and had 674,721 residents at the 2020 count. ADCNR places this county's mapped bank sites in ADCNR Fisheries District III.
2 lakes with full guides sit at least partly in the county, Bankhead Lake the widest of them. The ADCNR bank map adds 9 bank or pier sites, 1 of them 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.
Finding a way onto the water in Jefferson County
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Still water with a full guide in Jefferson County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bankhead Lake | 4,114 (NHD outline) | Alabama Power reservoir | 0 | striped bass |
| East Lake | 23 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 |
These lake guides outside Jefferson County are the shortest drives from Birmingham.
| Lake | From Birmingham | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Purdy | 9 miles southeast | Birmingham Water Works reservoir | 0 | ||
| Lunker Lake | 12 miles southeast | 91 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Oak Mountain Lake | 12 miles southeast | 76 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Double Oak Lake | 14 miles south | 61 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Inland Lake | 27 miles northeast | 1,557 (ADCNR) | Birmingham Water Works reservoir | 0 | channel catfish |
| Lay Lake | 30 miles southeast | 12,000 (ADCNR) | Alabama Power reservoir | 7 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
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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Lake and bay pages within 50 miles of Birmingham were tallied by fish; striped bass comes out on top.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Lakes in Jefferson County listed here only
The NHD outlines hold 2 further named lakes in Jefferson County, listed by acreage.
| Water | Acres (NHD outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Bayview Lake | 412 | Mulga |
| Zamora Lake | 170 | Clay |
USGS NHD lake outlines, read November 1, 2026.
Creek and river guides in Jefferson County
- Cahaba RiverADCNR river page, 1 ADCNR-listed ramp, 11 bank or pier sites, 194 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Mulberry ForkADCNR river page, 2 ADCNR-listed ramps, 1 bank or pier site, 116 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Black Warrior RiverADCNR river page, 168 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Locust ForkADCNR river page, 159 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Big Canoe Creek57 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Shades CreekADCNR river page, 48 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Fivemile Creek (Jefferson County)ADCNR river page, 45 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Little Cahaba River (Jefferson County)ADCNR river page, 23 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Lesser creeks crossing Jefferson County (8)
- Black Creek (Jefferson County)6 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Black Creek (Jefferson County)6 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Black Creek (Jefferson County)5 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Black Creek (Jefferson County)4 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Fivemile Creek (Jefferson County)ADCNR river page, 6 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Shoal Creek (Jefferson County)8 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Valley Creek55 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Village Creek40 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Live streamflow from Jefferson County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Creek Near Oak Grove Al | 127 cfs, 3.14 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:45 pm |
| Cahaba River Near Trussville, Ala | 96 cfs, 0.54 ft gage height | Jun 8 2:30 am Not updated since Jun 8, 2026. |
| Locust Fork At Sayre, Al. | 99 cfs, 2.50 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| Village Creek Near Adamsville, Al. | 63 cfs, 4.49 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:30 pm |
| Village Creek Near Docena, Alabama | 63 cfs, 1.23 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:30 pm |
| Valley Creek Near Bessemer, Al | 37 cfs, 5.50 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:15 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.
Launching a boat in Jefferson County
Walk-up fishing in Jefferson County
- Avondalebank access, City of Birmingham
- Cahaba River Trail and Canoe Dropbank access, City of Birmingham
- Cahaba River on Hwy 280bank access, Not maintained
- Chace Lake Parkbank access, City of Hoover
- Claybank access, City of Clay
- Georgetown Parkfishing pier, City of Hoover
- Mountain Brook Cahaba River Walkbank access, Mountain Brook
- East Lake bank accessbank access, City of Birmingham
- Lake Purdy bank accessbank access, Birmingham Water Works
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.
The 2026-27 limits across Jefferson County
The statewide table governs Jefferson County unless a water appears in the exception list. ADCNR sells the yearly freshwater license at $17.45 to residents and $68.20 to visitors this season.
| 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 |
Digest exceptions touching Jefferson County (1)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Fork and Sipsey Fork and their tributaries (Blount, Cullman, Lawrence, Walker and Winston counties) | 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.
State record weights near Jefferson County
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bass | 69 lbs., 9 oz. | Bankhead Lake | 2/28/13 |
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.
Who sells bait and books trips in Jefferson County
Where Jefferson County anglers buy gear
- A & A Tacklebait and tackle shop, Gardendale
- Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Bessemer
- Deep South Outfitters Ownerbait and tackle shop, Birmingham
- Elite Rod Holdersbait and tackle shop, Birmingham
- L & L Tacklebait and tackle shop, Dora
- Mark's Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Vestavia
- Simmons Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Bessemer
- Sims Bait Mfg Co Incbait and tackle shop, Bessemer
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gardendalesporting goods store, Gardendale
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Hooversporting goods store, Hoover
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Trussvillesporting goods store, Trussville
- Bass Pro Shops Leedssporting goods store, Leeds
- Dick's Sporting Goods Hoover, 4401 Creekside Avenuesporting goods store, Hoover
- Dick's Sporting Goods Hoover, 3851 Chapel Lanesporting goods store, Hoover
- Joe Branch Marinamarina, Adger
- Lulus at Homeport Marinamarina, Birmingham
Guide services in Jefferson County
- Antlers & Anglers Worldwide Inccharter, Vestavia, (205) 969-2065
- Stripe Fishing Headquarterscharter, Morris, (205) 647-7683
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
Within reach of Jefferson County
Towns and cities of Jefferson County
- Birminghampop. 200,733
- Hooverpop. 92,606
- Vestavia Hillspop. 39,102
- Homewoodpop. 26,414
- Trussvillepop. 26,123
- Bessemerpop. 26,019
- Mountain Brookpop. 22,461
- Hueytownpop. 16,776
- Center Pointpop. 16,406
- Gardendalepop. 16,044
- Irondalepop. 13,497
- McCallapop. 12,965
- Leedspop. 12,324
- Forestdalepop. 10,409
- Claypop. 10,291
- Fairfieldpop. 10,000
Short hops from Jefferson County by county
- Shelby County24 miles southeast
- Walker County28 miles northwest
- Blount County35 miles northeast
- St. Clair County36 miles east
Piscifun rods and reels lined up for Jefferson County
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The country around Jefferson County through a lens
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: Benny Mazur, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Quinn Rossi, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0
Common questions on lakes and rivers of Jefferson County
How many ramps do ADCNR lists show in Jefferson County?
None appears on the ADCNR lists for it.
Which Jefferson County lake has the most acres on its NHD outline?
Bankhead Lake, 4,114 acres by its NHD outline.
Which fish are named most near Jefferson County?
Striped bass lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then black crappie, largemouth bass and spotted bass.
Where do I find crickets and shiners in Jefferson County?
The county has 16, A & A Tackle among them.
Could I set up a guided morning out of Jefferson County?
2 guides and charters list the county as home.
Which town is home to the Jefferson County courthouse?
It is Birmingham.
Which Alabama license covers Jefferson County water?
ADCNR sells the yearly freshwater license at $17.45 to residents and $68.20 to visitors this season.
Which county pages sit next to Jefferson County?
By distance: Shelby County, Walker County and Blount County.
Which Jefferson County waters carry a digest exception?
The 2026-27 digest prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Mulberry Fork and Sipsey Fork and their tributaries (Blount, Cullman, Lawrence, Walker and; the table above shows each.
Does any Jefferson County water hold an ADCNR state record?
Striped bass, 69 lbs., 9 oz., from Bankhead Reservoir (2/28/13).
Tow the bass boat toward Jefferson County
Check the exception table before keeping fish.