Akron, AL Fishing: A Quiet and Reinvigorating Experience

Akron is a small inland community with 179 hectares in Hale County, in the west-central part of Alabama. It derives its name from the Greek word ἄκρον, pronounced as ákron, which translates to “summit” or “high point.” Riggs Stephenson, a professional athlete who famously retired with a batting average of .336. He played major league baseball for the Cleveland Indians from 1921 to 1925 and the Chicago Cubs from 1926 to 1934.

The Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad, now known as the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, founded Akron in 1870 when it built rail lines between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Meridian, Mississippi. The community prospered due to its location and the presence of railroads, and two stores were built by 1882. Two decades later, a plantation owner sold vast portions of his land to a development company, followed by a surge in construction. It saw the establishment of additional shops, hotels, and a pharmacy. Soon after, it became a livable neighborhood with blacksmith shops and a sawmill to account for the growing demand for cotton and timber.

Akron was officially incorporated in 1918. Today, it is the home of a predominantly African American community whose economy depends on farming, with soybeans being the main product. While it may be an inland community, its proximity to waterways in neighboring cities allows anglers decent opportunities for fishing.

Akron Fishing

What Akron lacks in size and bodies of water within its territorial boundaries, it makes up with its proximity to major waterways in neighboring communities that serve as great fishing destinations. So if you ever find yourself in this quiet community, you will still have a good number of fishing spots to choose from. Four nearby fishing spots are the Black Warrior River, Martin Slough, Roland Cooper State Park, and Paul M. Grist State Park.

First is the Black Warrior River, located past Oliver Dam, immediately west of downtown Tuscaloosa. It was named after the Mississippian paramount chief Tuskaloosa whose name was coined from two Choctaw words, “tashka” and “lusa,” which meant “black” and “warrior,” respectively. With almost 290 kilometers, it flows down south to join the Tombigbee River near Demopolis, Alabama. A series of dams were built along the entire course. This river provides a path for inland waterways in other parts of Alabama and produces hydroelectric power and drinking water for the people. Anglers can catch largemouth bass, spotted bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, crappie, white bass, and smallmouth bass in this river.

February, March, and April see a great yield of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and white bass, commonly caught through trolling, casting, or jigging with artificial baits or floating or bottom fishing with natural lures.

The best months for anglers who want to catch blue and channel catfish are late March, April, and early May. These months provide excellent opportunities for trophy class blue catfish and some great channel catfish action. A slip-sinker rig is a popular setup among anglers because catfish are commonly found at the bottom of waterways. Other popular techniques are using a jig head tipped with bait and a float rig wherein a float is added above the weight of a slip-sinker rig. The latter method is often used in fishing spots with plenty of wood or leaves floating around.

Next is Martin Slough, a lake with an elevation of 95 feet. It is located near Jones Field and southeast of Wildman's Island. Here, fish species that can be found include, among others, blue catfish, crappie, grass carp, and Bonnethead shark. The ideal time to fish for crappie is March, April, and May. They are mostly available in these months and bite easily. Common techniques used to catch them are spider rigging and long-line trolling.

As for grass carp, their numbers peak during July and August. Since they drop any bait that shows resistance, they are often caught through static baits such as cherry tomatoes, fresh-cut grass, acorns, dog food, catfish food, catalpa worms, tomato worms, grasshoppers, new oak leaves, and green, kidney, or lima beans. On the other hand, the best bait for the Bonnethead shark is a fresh piece of chunked blue crab.

The Roland Cooper State Park is about an hour and a half drive away from Akron. It is situated by the Alabama River and within the Dannelly Reservoir, a beautiful and peaceful 236-acre campground filled with lush greens. The park also has a vast array of facilities, such as cabins, campsites with picnic tables and grills, and a trail, making it a perfect place for families, groups of friends, and solo travelers alike. For anglers, Roland Cooper State Park is a haven of game fish. It also features docks for boat launching and hosts various fishing tournaments. Here, the months of March, April, and May experience great yields of crappie,  bluegill, and striped bass. 

Meanwhile, bluefish are in abundance from January through February. Bluegill and striped bass are best caught using common live baits such as worms and nightcrawlers. As for bluefish, the most effective techniques are trolling or casting artificial lures.

Another state park about the same distance away from Akron as Roland Cooper is Paul M. Grist State Park. It is a huge family-friendly park that features a 100-acre lake. Anglers will enjoy catching a diverse spread of fish species here, such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and redear sunfish. Common baits used on redear sunfish include earthworms, crickets, grass shrimp, snails, and mollusks.

Top 10 Fish Species in Akron, AL

The top ten fish species caught in Akron, AL, are largemouth bass, spotted bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, white crappie, redeye bass, white bass, smallmouth bass, grass carp, and bluegill.

Seasonal Fishing

The best months to fish near Akron, Alabama, are March, April, and May. These months provide anglers with plenty of excellent opportunities to reel in a lot of crappie, catfish, bass, and bluegill. Those planning to come here during cooler months - December through February - will enjoy catching bluefish.

Bask in the Stillness of Akron

1. Book a Fishing Charter

The various waterways and the land surrounding Akron can be quite challenging to navigate, but worry not because that is what fishing charters are for! Hiring a professional will make your fishing experience around this area much easier so that all you have to do is enjoy your well-deserved fishing trip.

2. Revisit the Past at Tanglewood

Built in 1859, Tanglewood is a historical plantation house made by Page Harris. This house was donated to the University of Alabama almost a century later, and it is now used as a nature reserve. The said house was added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its historical and architectural significance. Visitors will be able to glimpse the history of when this house was built.

3. Visit the Moundville Archaeological Park

Dubbed as “The Big Apple of the 14th Century” by National Geographic, Moundville Archaeological Park was once the site of a large pre-colonial settlement of Mississippian culture on the Black Warrior River in central Alabama. Located 20 minutes away from Akron, this park provides visitors with stunning views of the panoramic landscape where relics of the past are being preserved. It also features a museum that displays multiple treasures that have been unearthed in the area over the years, such as the famous stone Rattlesnake Disk.