Madison County Public Fishing Lake Fishing
A 105-acre State Public Fishing Lake in Madison County.
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Madison County Public Fishing Lake at first glance for Alabama anglers
Spread over 105 acres in Madison County, Madison County Public Fishing Lake is a State Public Fishing Lake ADCNR manages for anglers. ADCNR built and manages it for public fishing. Groceries and fuel are nearest in New Market, about 6 miles off.
Shore fishing comes from 1 bank site ADCNR maps. It falls in ADCNR Fisheries District I.
ADCNR acreage (ADCNR page); operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
From the ADCNR page for Madison County Public Fishing Lake
ADCNR biologists wrote:
The lake is located 11 miles east of Huntsville in Gurley, Alabama. From Huntsville, take U.S. Highway 72 east for 5 miles. Take a left on Ryland Pike Road for 6.5 miles through Maysville to County Lake Road. Take a right on County Lake Road and drive 1 mile to Madison County Lake.
August 1 – November 22: Open everyday except Tuesday and Wednesday
November 22 – January 3: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Trout season (closed Christmas day)
ADCNR page for Madison County Public Fishing Lake, quoted, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
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- HoursOpen sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 – August 31: Open everyday except Wednesday; August 1 – November 22: Open everyday except Tuesday and Wednesday; November 22 – …
- Permits$5 Fishing Permit required for anglers ages 12 and up (Includes launch of personal boat); $10 Boat Rental Permit (daily fishing permit also required)
- Facilities105-acre lake; Boat ramp; Fishing pier (ADA Compliant); Restrooms; Concessions, including bait, tackle, and snacks
- ManagerChris and Cole Coultas, (256) 776-4905
- Address2501 County Lake Road, Gurley, AL 35748
- Fish ADCNR listsLargemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, crappie, and rainbow trout (winter only).
Permits and state lake rules apply at Madison County Public Fishing Lake; the full list of 20 lakes sits on one page.
ADCNR State Public Fishing Lake page and the digest State Public Fishing Lakes table (ADCNR), read November 1, 2026.
Gamefish listed for Madison County Public Fishing Lake
The species for Madison County Public Fishing Lake come from ADCNR and the state record book.
ADCNR reservoir and state lake pages, Alabama state record lists; read November 1, 2026.
Ramps for boaters headed to Madison County Public Fishing Lake
Its ADCNR facilities include a boat ramp, though the WFF ramp list does not carry it.
No boat needed at Madison County Public Fishing Lake
- Madison County Public Fishing Lake fishing pierfishing pier, ADCNR, Fee required
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
Statewide rows and exceptions at Madison County Public Fishing 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 |
The statewide freshwater rows apply on Madison County Public Fishing Lake except where an exception below says otherwise.
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.
Madison County Public Fishing Lake and its nearest neighbours, side by side
Size leader in the table: Lake Guntersville, around 65,603 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County Public Fishing Lake | 105 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 | |
| Lake Guntersville | 25 miles southeast | 65,603 | reservoir | 21 | 55 |
| Wheeler Lake | 36 miles west | 57,278 | reservoir | 16 | 39 |
| DeKalb County Public Fishing Lake | 37 miles southeast | 120 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
| Morgan Lake | 38 miles southwest | 25 | lake | 0 | 2 |
| Lake Catoma | 47 miles southwest | 527 | lake | 0 | 2 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Shops, rooms and water close to Madison County Public Fishing Lake
More Alabama lakes near Madison County Public Fishing Lake
- Lake Guntersville25 miles southeast
- Wheeler Lake36 miles west
- DeKalb County Public Fishing Lake37 miles southeast
- Morgan Lake38 miles southwest
- Lake Catoma47 miles southwest
Buying bait for Madison County Public Fishing Lake
- Dick's Sporting Goods Huntsville, 2718 Carl T. Jones Drivesporting goods store, Huntsville, 13 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Huntsvillesporting goods store, Huntsville, 13 miles
- Buster's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Huntsville, 14 miles
- J C's Gun & Tackle Shop Incbait and tackle shop, Huntsville, 14 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Huntsville, 6890-a Governor's Drive Westsporting goods store, Huntsville, 18 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Huntsvillesporting goods store, Huntsville, 18 miles
Alabama towns with rooms near Madison County Public Fishing Lake
- Moores Mill8 miles
- Meridianville12 miles
- Hazel Green13 miles
Alabama county pages covering Madison County Public Fishing Lake
- Madison Countyseat: Huntsville
Piscifun reels a Yellowhammer State angler might load for Madison County Public Fishing Lake
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A picture guide to fish at Madison County Public Fishing Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Madison County Public Fishing Lake, the common questions settled
What part of Alabama holds Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
Its home is Madison County, about 6 miles from New Market.
Does Madison County Public Fishing Lake count as big water in Alabama?
The ADCNR count is 105 acres.
Can I trailer a bass boat to Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
Its ADCNR facilities include a boat ramp, though the WFF ramp list does not carry it.
Which gamefish have a source at Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
ADCNR and the records list largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, rainbow trout and permit.
How many black bass may an Alabama angler take home from Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day.
Which ADCNR license covers Madison County Public Fishing 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. The lake permit is separate.
Where can an angler on foot reach Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
The one listing is Madison County Public Fishing Lake fishing pier.
Is there a bait shop on the way to Madison County Public Fishing Lake?
Our list starts with Dick's Sporting Goods Huntsville, about 13 miles away,.
Take the county roads to Madison County Public Fishing Lake
Fees, exceptions and border rules are on the license page.