Bankhead Lake Fishing
A 4,114-acre reservoir in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.
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Starting points for fishing Bankhead Lake
On the USGS outline, Bankhead Lake fills about 4,114 acres in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties. The impoundment is an Alabama Power project. Some anglers know it as Bankhead. Rock Creek lies about 12 miles from the lake point.
ADCNR lists it under ADCNR Fisheries District III.
USGS NHD High Resolution (Alabama) outlines and flowlines, read November 1, 2026; operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
Which fish a source ties to Bankhead Lake
ADCNR text and the record lists name these fish for Bankhead Lake; others live there too.
ADCNR reservoir and state lake pages, Alabama state record lists; read November 1, 2026.
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ADCNR lists no ramp here, so check the operator or use a nearby ADCNR ramp.
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
Size and creel on Bankhead Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | 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 |
Statewide digest limits cover Bankhead Lake; exceptions take priority.
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
Record book entries for Bankhead Lake
| Species | Weight | Water as printed | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Striped (a) | 69 lbs., 9 oz. | Bankhead Reservoir | James Bramlett | February 28, 2013 |
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.
Where Bankhead Lake ranks among its neighbours
For more water, Lake Tuscaloosa offers about 5,076 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bankhead Lake | 4,114 | reservoir | 0 | 0 | |
| Holt Lake | 13 miles southwest | 3,296 | reservoir | 0 | 8 |
| Lake Nicol | 18 miles southwest | 311 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Lake Harris | 19 miles southwest | 139 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Lake Tuscaloosa | 20 miles southwest | 5,076 | reservoir | 1 | 2 |
| Walker County Public Fishing Lake | 21 miles north | 163 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
The neighbourhood of Bankhead Lake for anglers
Alabama still water near Bankhead Lake
- Holt Lake13 miles southwest
- Lake Nicol18 miles southwest
- Lake Harris19 miles southwest
- Lake Tuscaloosa20 miles southwest
- Walker County Public Fishing Lake21 miles north
Gear stores a short hop from Bankhead Lake
- Joe Branch Marinamarina, Adger, 2 miles
- Franklin Ferry Marina & Cafemarina, Adger, 3 miles
- Sims Bait Mfg Co Incbait and tackle shop, Bessemer, 18 miles
- Jbs Fishing Linebait and tackle shop, Dora, 19 miles
- Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Bessemer, 20 miles
- Hide-A-Way Harbor Marinamarina, Cottondale, 20 miles
Guide services that list Bankhead Lake
- Alabama Guide Servicesfishing guide, (205) 454-7313
Overnight towns for Bankhead Lake anglers
- Sylvan Springs15 miles
- Hueytown17 miles
- Lake View17 miles
County-by-county pages for Bankhead Lake
- Jefferson Countyseat: Birmingham
- Tuscaloosa Countyseat: Tuscaloosa
- Walker Countyseat: Jasper
Piscifun spinning and casting gear rigged for Bankhead Lake
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The country around Bankhead Lake through a lens
Photo: Quinn Rossi, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: T.K. Mc, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Birmingham Photographer J.g, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions Alabama anglers ask about Bankhead Lake
Where in Alabama is Bankhead Lake?
Point the truck toward Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties, about 12 miles from Rock Creek.
How large is Bankhead Lake on paper?
Some 4,114 acres of outline.
Which ADCNR ramp makes a good start at Bankhead Lake?
Nothing on the ADCNR list nearby.
What usually bites at Bankhead Lake, per ADCNR?
Sources name striped bass.
Which Alabama creel rows apply at Bankhead Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day.
Which Alabama license goes in the wallet for Bankhead Lake?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Are there piers on Bankhead Lake?
None appears on the ADCNR bank map.
Who sells crickets near Bankhead Lake?
Head to Joe Branch Marina, about 2 miles away,.
Has Bankhead Lake produced an Alabama record?
Bass, Striped (a) at 69 lbs., 9 oz., caught by James Bramlett on February 28, 2013.
Does Bankhead Lake have another name?
Yes, Bankhead names the same lake.
Make Bankhead Lake the whole Alabama weekend
Know the creel limit before a fish goes in the livewell.