Fishing in Madison County, Alabama
County seat: Huntsville. Population 388,153.
- 2lake pages
- 1listed ramps
- 4river and creek pages
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Madison County by lake, ramp and creek
County offices for Madison County are in Huntsville, and the 2020 Census tallied 388,153 residents. Mapped ADCNR bank sites in the county fall in ADCNR Fisheries District I.
2 lake guides touch the county, and Wheeler Lake is the biggest by its mapped outline. Madison County Public Fishing Lake belongs to the ADCNR State Public Fishing Lake system. Counting the ADCNR WFF and coastal lists, the county has 1 listed ramp. No boat is needed at 14 bank or pier sites on the ADCNR bank map; 3 have 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.
A pin map of Madison County fishing access
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Lake guides that touch Madison County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Lake | 57,278 (NHD outline) | TVA reservoir | 16 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass |
| Madison County Public Fishing Lake | 105 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
Few Madison County lakes have a page, so here are the nearest beyond it, measured from Huntsville.
| Lake | From Huntsville | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Lake | 20 miles southwest | 25 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| George Lake | 33 miles south | 159 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Lake Catoma | 33 miles south | 527 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Moulton City Lake | 35 miles west | 73 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Sportsman Lake | 37 miles south | 30 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Lake Guntersville | 38 miles east | 65,603 (NHD outline), 98% in Alabama | TVA reservoir | 21 | yellow bass, buffalo, grass carp |
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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- Madison County Public Fishing Lake105 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 – August 31: Open everyday except Wednesday; August 1 – N
The daily Public Fishing Lakes permit is $7.80.
ADCNR State Public Fishing Lakes page and the digest Public Fishing Lake rules, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
Fish tied to water around Madison County
Across water pages within 50 miles of Huntsville, black crappie is named most often.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
River pages crossing Madison 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
- Flint RiverADCNR river page, 4 bank or pier sites, 55 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Limestone Creek45 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Branches and creeks of Madison County left unpaged (2)
- Brier Fork Flint River20 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Hurricane Creek (Madison County)24 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
USGS river numbers from Madison County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville Sp Br At Johnson Road, Huntsville Al | 586 cfs, 6.24 ft gage height | Oct 10 11:50 am Not updated since Oct 10, 2026. |
| Indian Creek Near Madison Al | 298 cfs, 2.65 ft gage height | Aug 21 8:00 am Not updated since Aug 21, 2026. |
| Mcdonald Creek At Patton Road Nr Huntsville Al | 204 cfs, 0.95 ft gage height | Oct 10 11:30 am Not updated since Oct 10, 2026. |
| Fagan Creek At Adams Street At Huntsville, Al. | 150 cfs, 2.25 ft gage height | Sep 6 3:45 am Not updated since Sep 6, 2026. |
| Flint River At Brownsboro, Al. | 126 cfs, 7.27 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:30 pm |
| Aldridge Creek Near Farley Al | 92 cfs, 2.33 ft gage height | Oct 10 12:00 pm Not updated since Oct 10, 2026. |
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.
ADCNR launch sites in Madison County
- Triana boat ramp on Wheeler LakeWheeler Lake, 2 lanes, 1 dock, 46 trailer spaces
Ramps run by TVA, the Corps, Alabama Power or towns are outside these lists.
Bank fishing sites in Madison County
- Blue Water Springs Parkbank access, Madison County Commission
- Brahan Springs Parkfishing pier, City of Huntsville Parks and Rec.
- Ditto Landing on Wheeler Lakefishing pier, Ditto Landing
- Flint River and Hobbs Island Roadbank access, AL DOT/Madison County Commission
- Hays Nature Preservebank access, City of Huntsville Parks and Rec.
- Hays Nature Preserve on Flint Riverbank access, Huntsville Parks and Recreation
- Pit Stop Boat Ramp on Wheeler Lakebank access, Hobbs Island Pit Stop
- Sharon Johnston Parkbank access, Madison County Commission
- Whitesburg Boat and Yacht Club on Wheeler Lakebank access, Whitesburg Boat and Yacht Club
- Flint River and Hwy 431bank access, AL DOT/Madison County Commission
- Flint River and Hwy 72bank access, AL DOT/Madison County Commission
- Madison County Public Fishing Lake fishing pierfishing pier, ADCNR
- Paint Rock River and Hwy 431bank access, AL DOT/Marshall County Commission
- Triana Boat Ramp on Wheeler Lakebank access, ADCNR/Triana
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.
Statewide limits as they apply in Madison County
Statewide limits hold for Madison County lakes and creeks the exception list leaves out. For 2026-27 the freshwater annual is priced at $17.45 in state and $68.20 for nonresidents.
| 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 |
Where Madison County departs from statewide limits (1)
| Water | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Reservoir | Smallmouth bass | It is illegal to possess any 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.
ADCNR record entries close to Madison County
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock bass | 1 lb., 6 oz. | Paint Rock River | 5/6/95 |
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.
Gear stops and guides around Madison County
Listed shops of Madison County
- Buster's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Huntsville
- J C's Gun & Tackle Shop Incbait and tackle shop, Huntsville
- Tc's Custom Rods & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Harvest
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Huntsvillesporting goods store, Huntsville
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Madisonsporting goods store, Madison
- Bass Pro Shops Huntsvillesporting goods store, Huntsville
- Dick's Sporting Goods Huntsville, 6890-a Governor's Drive Westsporting goods store, Huntsville
- Dick's Sporting Goods Huntsville, 2718 Carl T. Jones Drivesporting goods store, Huntsville
- Ditto Landingmarina, Huntsville
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
A short drive from Madison County
Communities of Madison County by size
- Huntsvillepop. 215,006
- Madisonpop. 56,933
- Meridianvillepop. 8,209
- Moores Millpop. 6,729
- Harvestpop. 5,893
- Hazel Greenpop. 4,105
- Trianapop. 2,890
- New Hopepop. 2,889
- Owens Cross Roadspop. 2,594
Counties beside Madison County
- Limestone County25 miles west
- Morgan County27 miles southwest
- Jackson County32 miles east
- Marshall County34 miles southeast
Piscifun reels a Yellowhammer State angler might load for Madison County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A picture guide to fish at Madison County
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Cymothoa exigua, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Fishing around Madison County, settled question by question
Which Madison County ramps appear on ADCNR lists?
1 listed ramp; the WFF list supplies 1.
What is the widest reservoir touching Madison County?
Wheeler Lake, 57,278 acres by its NHD outline.
Which species lead around Madison County?
Black crappie lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, largemouth bass and spotted bass.
Where in Madison County can I restock tackle?
Buster's Bait & Tackle is one of 9 shops here.
Can a visitor book a bass or crappie guide in Madison County?
No guide gives a county address here.
Where is the Madison County courthouse?
Huntsville holds the county offices.
Which license does a Madison County trip need?
For 2026-27 the freshwater annual is priced at $17.45 in state and $68.20 for nonresidents.
Which counties touch Madison County?
Start with Limestone County, Morgan County and Jackson County.
Which Madison County lakes or creeks get a row of their own in the digest?
The 2026-27 digest prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Wheeler Reservoir; the table above shows each.
Where is the public fishing lake in Madison County?
Yes: Madison County Public Fishing Lake (105 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 – August 31: Open everyday except Wednesday; August 1 – N).
Has Madison County water put a fish on the record list?
Rock bass, 1 lb., 6 oz., from Paint Rock River (5/6/95).
Fish the lakes and creeks of Madison County
Every ramp page opens with directions.