Fishing in Washington County, Alabama
County seat: Chatom. Population 15,388.
- 1lake pages
- 1listed ramps
- 2river and creek pages
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How Washington County lines up for anglers
Chatom serves as the county seat of Washington County, which counted 15,388 residents in the 2020 Census. On the ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map the county's sites sit in ADCNR Fisheries District V.
Emmit Wood Lake leads 1 lake guides that reach into the county. ADCNR records 1 listed ramp in the county. Shore anglers get 3 bank or pier sites on the ADCNR map, 1 of them with 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.
Every mapped put-in across Washington County
ADCNR ramp lists, bank map and public access sites; NHD lake points and river midpoints; GNIS coastal points; read November 1, 2026.
Reservoirs and lakes inside Washington County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmit Wood Lake | 80 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 |
Measured from Chatom, these lakes outside Washington County come up first.
| Lake | From Chatom | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citronelle Lake | 28 miles south | 55 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Claiborne Lake | 42 miles east | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass | |
| Dead Lake | 43 miles south | 113 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Coffeeville Lake | 48 miles north | 8,500 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 2 | largemouth bass, striped bass, white crappie |
| Big Creek Lake | 49 miles south | 3,309 (NHD outline) | Mobile Area Water and Sewer System 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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Each bar is a count of nearby water pages, out to 50 miles from Chatom; black crappie leads.
Species named in ADCNR reservoir and species pages and the ADCNR record lists, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a fish survey.
Named lakes of Washington County without a page
1 more named lakes in Washington County have too few published facts for a page of their own.
| Water | Acres (NHD outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Three Rivers Lake | 332 | McIntosh |
USGS NHD lake outlines, read November 1, 2026.
Rivers and creeks of Washington County
- Tombigbee RiverADCNR river page, 2 ADCNR-listed ramps, 1 bank or pier site, 277 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
- Escatawpa RiverADCNR river page, 1 bank or pier site, 70 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
More running water in Washington County (1)
- Bassetts Creek43 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Gauge stations inside Washington County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Tombigbee River At Steamplant Nr Leroy, Al | 1.46 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 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.
Put-ins on the ADCNR lists for Washington County
- McIntosh Bluff Landing on Tombigbee RiverTombigbee River, 2 lanes, 25 trailer spaces
Operator and municipal ramps are not part of these ADCNR lists.
Fishing from land in Washington County
- Chatom City Lakebank access, City of Chatom
- St Stephens Historic Parkbank access, St Stephens Historical Commission
- Washington County Lake on Emmit Wood 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.
Creel and size rows for Washington County water
In Washington County, statewide rows apply first; named exceptions override them. The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
| 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.
Alabama record fish linked to Washington County
The record lists name no Washington County water; these nearby waters, all inside 70 miles, do.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 80 lbs., 0 oz. | Alabama River | 6/22/86 |
| Alligator gar | 162 lbs., 0 oz. | Spanish River | 11/24/22 |
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.
Crickets, crankbaits and hired captains in Washington County
Shops in Washington County
- River Cat Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Leroy
Yellow Pages listings and guide or charter business pages (county of the business), read November 1, 2026.
Minutes from Washington County
Overnight options in Washington County
- Chatompop. 1,104
Adjoining Alabama counties for Washington County
- Clarke County30 miles northeast
- Choctaw County40 miles north
- Mobile County50 miles south
- Monroe County50 miles east
A Piscifun setup to pack for Washington County
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Telling the Washington County fish apart, by photo
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Cymothoa exigua, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Replies on where to fish in Washington County
How many listed ramps serve Washington County?
1 listed ramp, 1 of them on the ADCNR WFF list.
Which Washington County lake has the largest outline?
Emmit Wood Lake, 80 acres by its NHD outline.
Which fish live in water near Washington County?
Black crappie lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass.
Which Washington County stores sell tackle?
1 listed, starting with River Cat Bait Shop.
Which guide listings name Washington County?
The guide listings point to other counties.
Where are the Washington County commission offices?
Chatom is the seat.
Do I need a license for Washington County lakes?
The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
Which counties surround Washington County?
The nearest county pages are Clarke County, Choctaw County and Mobile County.
Pick a reservoir or creek in Washington County
Open a lake for its ramps and exceptions.