Abbeville, AL Fishing: Sport Fishing in Subtropical Climate

Abbeville is nestled in Alabama and is the county seat of Henry County. Sitting so close to the border of Alabama-Georgia, it is a destination that provides easy access to both states. The city is quiet and peaceful, surrounded by hilly terrain and vast greens. Abbeville has humid summers and mild winters. During the hot season, its climate can be characterized as subtropical. The small city is a great hidden gem in the state’s southeast end. Walking through its tree-lined pathways is remarkably relaxing. Abbeville is a humble place home to warm locals and full of historical stories and passed-down legends.

In early 1819, European Americans put up an active trading post in Abbeville. According to locals, the name of Abbeville was derived from the name of Abbey Creek, Yatta Abba, by the Native American tribe, Muscogee. It reportedly means "reflections of dogwood trees on the creek” or “grove of dogwood.” The flooding in Lake Eufaula’s land areas covered prehistoric sites and traces related to the Native Americans. The city was delegated as Henry County’s seat in 1833 and was officially incorporated in 1853. 

Many recreational activities around Abbeville are available for everyone who travels the city, such as trails for hiking and water bodies for fishing. To the city’s east lies great freshwater fishing opportunities—Walter F. George Reservoir and Chattahoochee River, both lines the borders of Alabama and Georgia. Anglers will find timid Abbeville a good place to unwind after a good day of fishing.

Abbeville Fishing

Abbeville is strategically located near two of the major freshwater bodies in Alabama; this makes the city an excellent destination for fishing enthusiasts who like to travel for culture, history, and quiet relaxation while on a fishing trip.

In the city’s northeast is Walter F. George Reservoir. The lake is at the Alabama–Georgia state line and is commonly known as Lake Eufaula, especially in Alabama. In 1963, the state legislature of Alabama passed a resolution that allowed the lake to be named after Eufaula, a small city that lies on the lake’s northwest bank. Native American communities in the surrounding area were evacuated in the 1950s to make way for the construction of the 85-mile lake. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has main control over the lake and other protected land areas like Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge and Lakepoint State Park in Alabama. Many recreational activities are available in the thirteen Corps of Engineers day-use parks and campgrounds along the lake. Camping, boating, fishing, and picnicking are most popular here. Lake Eufaula’s 640 miles of shoreline offers a great length for relaxed fly fishing.  The game species that anglers can expect to catch in Lake Eufaula are largemouth bass, bream, black crappie, striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, and channel catfish. Numerous boat ramps along the lake allow anglers to launch boats and access the water further for drift fishing or trolling. Crankbaits, plastic worms, jigs, shrimps, and crayfish are best used for largemouth bass in their spawning period. For black crappie, minnows and jigs work best. To target striped bass, locals use spoons, crankbaits, chicken liver, shrimp, or shiny artificial lures that look like shad. Catfish species are caught best with stink baits, blood baits, worms, and shad. Sizeable blue catfish can be caught by gizzard.

To the east of Abbeville is the Chattahoochee River, flowing in a line that forms the southern border of Alabama–Georgia and a portion of the Florida–Georgia border. The river is a tributary of the short Apalachicola River. Chattahoochee River runs for 430 miles, making it the largest part of the drainage basin of the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin (ACF River Basin). As Native Americans resided along the river for thousands of years, Chattahoochee River’s name was thought to have come from the Creek Indian words for “painted rock.” In addition to this, another etymology of the river’s name leads to the Muscogee tribe’s phrase for “rocks-marked”: “Chato” for rock and “huchi” for marked. The vibrant granite outcroppings along the river were thought to be the reason behind the name. The river has an area of 8770 square miles, which is well regulated and preserved. With strictly controlled human activities, the river remains biologically rich and productive. Fish species found in the river include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, shoal bass, spotted bass, striped bass, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, gizzard shad, and spottail shiner, redear sunfish. Anglers can come to the Chattahoochee River and fly fish on the banks year-round.  Largemouth bass bite on live baits such as shrimps and crayfish but can also be caught using cut bait and artificial lures. For bream, live nightcrawlers and small crayfish are the best baits. However, they also bite on mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, catalpa worms, other insects, and several artificial lures.

Top 10 Fish Species in Abbeville, AL

The top 10 fish species to catch in Abbeville are largemouth bass, striped bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, channel catfish, black crappie, white bass, bluegill, green sunfish, and redear sunfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Abbeville offers year-round fishing opportunities following the state regulations. Anglers must note that it is illegal to possess any largemouth bass less than 14 inches in length in Walter F. George Reservoir or Lake Eufaula and its tributaries. For more updated information, regularly check the state’s regulations on game fish.

In Alabama, May or June are the best months to catch bluegill during their first spawning, with periodical spawning throughout the summer as water temperatures remain above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, anglers can still catch these species any time of the year. 

Redear sunfish are brimming in the waters during April and May, making it an available catch to anglers. The species spawn in warm surface waters about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Their next typical spawning period is September to October, when the water temperature cools down to 75 degrees Fahrenheit again after the summer. Redear sunfish are not as abundant as bluegill.

Once a year, largemouth bass spawn when the water’s surface temperature gets 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. They may nest anywhere between February and May, depending on the water climate. They are elusive while nesting but actively seek food after they spawn. The most productive months for largemouth bass fishing peaks from March through May and remains active in fall and winter.

Be Intense in Abbeville

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Experience a different kind of fishing experience in Abbeville! Find and book a local guide to assist you in finding the right spot for you to fish in Abbeville. Cut the hassles of getting to know a new place and scouting the area for a fishing trip. Get a guide today, and think only about your gear.

2. Mount Creek Adventure Park

Visit Mount Creek Adventure Park in Abbeville for an intense, action-packed off-road adventure! It is a recreation park that offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The park is family-owned, guaranteeing that the place will make sure that every family member will enjoy it. It has trails, swimming areas, and ponds. Ride the ATV or UTV and have all the fun that you need! Come to the park and have a magnificent time.

3. Southeast Alabama Mud Track

Southeast Alabama Mud Track hosts “Mud Slanging,” an experience you do not want to miss. Its racetracks for ATVs and UTVs provide intense action for anyone who comes to join the fun. Bring your food or grab some from available concession stands. Do not worry about the rain, because events continue, rain or shine! Go southwest of Abbeville and have a wonderful time on the Southeast Alabama Mud Track.