Neely Henry Lake Fishing
A 11,235-acre reservoir in Etowah, St. Clair and Calhoun counties.
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jeff Hudgins / Alabama, CC BY 2.0
The short version on Neely Henry Lake
ADCNR lists 11,235 acres for Neely Henry Lake, which sits in Etowah, St. Clair and Calhoun counties. Alabama Power runs the dam that holds it. Another name for it is Neely Henry. It is about 3 miles to Southside.
It has 4 public ramps in the ADCNR ramp list. The ADCNR bank map adds 9 bank sites. Questions go to ADCNR Fisheries District II.
ADCNR acreage (ADCNR page); operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
ADCNR text on Neely Henry Lake
ADCNR describes the water this way:
Neely Henry Reservoir is located in northeast Alabama on the Coosa River, near the towns of Gadsden and Ohatchee. Just off I-59, the reservoir envelops 11,235 acres and extends 77.6 miles from the dam upstream to Weiss dam. Generally a river-run lake, Neely Henry fans out toward the dam to offer more open water. Sandwiched between Weiss Lake (a.k.a. "The Crappie Capital of the World") and Logan Martin, Neely Henry is one of the best-kept fishing secrets in Alabama.
Largemouth bass and spotted bass are the most targeted fish by anglers on Neely Henry. Although growth is average for both species, plumpness for both is close to the top in the state. The majority of largemouth bass are 12-15 inches although there are good numbers of 15- to 18-inch fish present. The spotted bass population is exceptional for large spots and the numbers of spots in the 14 to 20-inch size range continues to be one of the best in the state. Neely Henry ranked third statewide in the percent of successful anglers per trip.
White crappie fishing can be good in Neely Henry although fall trap netting indicated that most of the crappie of harvestable size would be in the 9- to 11-inch size range. Early spring and fall are the best times to fish.
ADCNR page for Neely Henry Lake, quoted, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
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These are the fish an ADCNR source ties to Neely Henry Lake.
ADCNR reservoir and state lake pages, Alabama state record lists; read November 1, 2026.
ADCNR ramps that reach Neely Henry Lake
- Canoe Creek boat ramp on Neely Henry Lake4 lanes, 4 docks, 80 trailer spaces, lights, ADA access, paved parking
- Hokes Bluff boat ramp on Neely Henry Lake2 lanes, 2 docks, 19 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- Rainbow Landing (77 Bridge) on Neely Henry Lake1 lane, 2 docks, 20 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, paved parking
- Ten Islands (Neely Henry) boat ramp on Neely Henry Lake2 lanes, 3 docks, 25 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, paved parking
Where bank anglers stand at Neely Henry Lake
- Weiss Tailrace on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Tillisons Bend Boat Ramp on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, ADCNR, also known as Hokes Bluff ramp
- Rainbow Landing boat ramp on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Jack Ray Park on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Gadsden
- Riverwalk Park on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Gadsden
- Coosa Landing Boat Ramp on Neely Henry Lakebank access, City of Gadsden
- Southside Landing on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, City of Southside
- Canoe Creek boat ramp on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Ten Island Park on Neely Henry Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama creel and length rows for Neely Henry 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 |
Start with the statewide table for Neely Henry Lake, then read any water exception.
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.
Events scheduled on Neely Henry Lake
Upcoming weigh-ins and past winners on Neely Henry Lake have their own page.
Nearby Alabama lakes measured against Neely Henry Lake
By acreage, Logan Martin Lake heads these nearby lakes at about 15,263.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neely Henry Lake | 11,235 | reservoir | 4 | 9 | |
| Logan Martin Lake | 21 miles south | 15,263 | reservoir | 0 | 7 |
| Whitesides Mill Lake | 26 miles southeast | 252 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Inland Lake | 26 miles west | 1,557 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Choccolocco Number 11 Lake | 29 miles southeast | 181 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Choccolocco Creek Lake Number 7 | 30 miles east | 55 | lake | 0 | 1 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Next stops after a day on Neely Henry Lake
Alabama reservoirs a short haul from Neely Henry Lake
- Logan Martin Lake21 miles south
- Whitesides Mill Lake26 miles southeast
- Inland Lake26 miles west
- Choccolocco Number 11 Lake29 miles southeast
- Choccolocco Creek Lake Number 730 miles east
Bait and tackle stops on the way to Neely Henry Lake
- Big Head's Bait SHopbait and tackle shop, Ashville, 3 miles
- Canoe Creek Marina & Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Ashville, 3 miles
- Buck's Island Marinamarina, Rainbow City, 6 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gadsdensporting goods store, Gadsden, 9 miles
- Hwy77 Fish Marketbait and tackle shop, Lincoln, 22 miles
- Riverside Marinamarina, Riverside, 22 miles
Who will take you out on Neely Henry Lake
- Hog Wild Crappie Guidefishing guide
Where to stay for a trip to Neely Henry Lake
- Southside3 miles
- Rainbow City3 miles
- Ohatchee7 miles
Counties around Neely Henry Lake with their own pages
- Etowah Countyseat: Gadsden
- St. Clair Countyseat: Ashville
- Calhoun Countyseat: Anniston
Line and reels from Piscifun before a run to Neely Henry Lake
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Reservoirs, rivers and bays close to Neely Henry Lake, pictured
Photo: Benny Mazur, CC BY 2.0
Photo: mliu92, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Leonora (Ellie) Enking, CC BY-SA 2.0
Before you fish Neely Henry Lake, read these answers
Which Alabama town sits closest to Neely Henry Lake?
Drive to Etowah, St. Clair and Calhoun counties, about 3 miles from Southside.
What acreage goes with Neely Henry Lake?
ADCNR lists 11,235 acres.
What is the nearest ramp to Neely Henry Lake?
4 public ramps on the ADCNR list, including Canoe Creek boat ramp on Neely Henry Lake.
Which fish swim in Neely Henry Lake, by the sources?
Expect largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and white crappie, among others.
What creel rules govern reef fish in Neely Henry Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day.
May an out-of-state angler fish Neely Henry 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.
Does ADCNR map bank access at Neely Henry Lake?
Weiss Tailrace on Neely Henry Lake is one of 9 bank sites.
Where do anglers stock up for Neely Henry Lake?
Big Head's Bait SHop, about 3 miles away, is the first shop on our list.
Is Neely Henry another name for Neely Henry Lake?
Yes; Neely Henry is another name for the same water.
Pick a calm morning for Neely Henry Lake
Fees and the digest limits are on one page.