Fishing near Auburn, Alabama
Lee County, population 76,143.
- 6 milesto nearest paged water
- 0listed ramps nearby
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What a stay in Auburn reaches
Auburn, a city in Lee County, had 76,143 residents in 2020. The nearest guided water is Saugahatchee Lake, around 6 miles northeast. Lake Harding, around 4,978 acres, is the broadest lake close by.
Bank anglers can head to Chewacla State Park, 4 miles out. About 11 miles away, Lee County Public Fishing Lake is one of the State Public Fishing Lakes.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Auburn; miles are straight lines.
The lake pages around Auburn
| Lake | Distance | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saugahatchee Lake | 6 miles northeast | 346 (NHD outline) | City of Opelika reservoir | 0 | |
| Lee County Public Fishing Lake | 11 miles east | 130 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| City Lake | 17 miles southwest | 82 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Chambers County Public Fishing Lake | 17 miles northeast | 183 (ADCNR) | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Harding | 18 miles east | 4,978 (NHD outline), 52% in Alabama | Georgia Power reservoir | 2 | |
| Lafayette Reservoir | 20 miles north | 96 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 |
USGS NHD lake outlines, ADCNR reservoir pages and the ADCNR WFF ramp list; read November 1, 2026.
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- Chewacla Creek14 miles, 59 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
Gauge stations by Auburn
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Chewacla Creek At Chewacla State Park Nr Auburn | 7 cfs, 1.66 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:30 pm |
| Sougahatchee Creek At Co Rd 188 Nr Loachapoka, Al. | 11 cfs, 1.26 ft gage height | Nov 12 12:00 am |
| Uphapee Creek Near Tuskegee Al | 45 cfs, 0.93 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines, ADCNR river pages, ADCNR ramp lists and USGS gauges; read November 1, 2026.
Pins for access close to Auburn
Ramps farther out from Auburn
- Halawakee Creek boat ramp on Lake HardingLake Harding, 21 miles east
- Smith Mountain Landing on Lake MartinLake Martin, 23 miles northwest
- Po'Boy's (Sandy Point) boat ramp on Lake HardingLake Harding, 23 miles east
- Pace's Point (Pleasure Point) boat ramp on Lake MartinLake Martin, 25 miles northwest
- Young's Landing (D.A.R.E. Park) on Lake MartinLake Martin, 26 miles northwest
Shore spots around Auburn
- Chewacla State Parkbank access, Alabama State Parks, 4 miles
- Sougahatchee Lake on Saugahatchee Lakebank access, City of Opelika, 5 miles
- Tuskeegee National Forestbank access, US Forest Service, 9 miles
- Lee County Public Fishing Lake fishing pierfishing pier, ADCNR, 11 miles
- Notasulga Lakebank access, City of Notasulga, 11 miles
ADCNR WFF boat ramp list, coastal boating access and fish-from-the-bank map; read November 1, 2026.
ADCNR public lakes a drive from Auburn
| Lake | Details | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County Public Fishing Lake | 130 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 to June 30: Open six days each week (closed Mondays); Jul | 11 miles |
| Chambers County Public Fishing Lake | 183 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 to November 30: Open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and S | 17 miles |
State Public Fishing Lakes keep posted hours and sell daily permits.
ADCNR State Public Fishing Lakes page, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
Where Auburn anglers stock up
Shops nearest Auburn
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Auburnsporting goods store, Auburn, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Opelikasporting goods store, Opelika, 5 miles
- Lakefront Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Opelika, 11 miles
- Highway 169 Fishing Pondbait and tackle shop, Salem, 15 miles
Yellow Pages listings (miles only for shops with an exact point) and guide or charter business pages; read November 1, 2026.
Record weights from around Auburn
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | 2 lbs., 2 oz. | Yates Lake | 3/7/15 |
| White crappie | 4 lbs., 9 oz. | Lake Martin | 5/8/00 |
| Longnose gar | 32 lbs., 14 oz. | Lake Jordan | 4/18/85 |
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. Waters within 40 miles.
Limits for a trip from Auburn
ADCNR sells the yearly freshwater license at $17.45 to residents and $68.20 to visitors this season.
| 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. Lake, river and coastal pages print any water exception.
Within reach of Auburn
Town guides around Auburn
- Opelika8 miles
- Camp Hill16 miles
- Tuskegee17 miles
- La Fayette21 miles
- Valley22 miles
County page for Auburn
- Lee Countyseat: Opelika
Piscifun rods and reels lined up for Auburn
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Telling the Auburn fish apart, by photo
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: User:Deskana, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Day trips out of Auburn with a rod: questions
Which lake guide is the short drive from Auburn?
Saugahatchee Lake, 6 miles northeast.
Which ADCNR ramp means the shortest tow out of Auburn?
Nothing on the ADCNR lists inside 12 miles.
What bank site sits closest to Auburn?
Try Chewacla State Park, 4 miles.
Where do Auburn anglers grab bait?
Academy Sports + Outdoors Auburn, 4 miles away.
Which courthouse serves Auburn?
Lee County.
What does an ADCNR license run for fishing around Auburn?
From out of state, the annual freshwater license costs $68.20.
Which lake near Auburn is biggest?
Lake Harding, about 4,978 acres, 18 miles away.
Which other Alabama towns make a base near Auburn?
Try Opelika (8 miles), Camp Hill (16 miles) and Tuskegee (17 miles).
Which county public lake serves Auburn?
Lee County Public Fishing Lake, 11 miles away (130 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; February 1 to June 30: Open six days each week (closed Mondays); Jul).
Does record-list water sit close to Auburn?
Yellow perch, 2 lbs., 2 oz., from Yates Reservoir.
Choose a lake or creek near Auburn
Read a water's digest exceptions before icing any fish.