Auburn, AL Fishing: The Loveliest Village On The Plains

Auburn is part of Lee County in east Alabama, United States, and is the largest city in the eastern part of the state. It is also the principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area and is known as a historic college town because it is the home of Auburn University. The city is also Alabama's fastest-growing metropolitan area and is rated the nineteenth fastest-growing metro area in the United States. Auburn's unofficial nickname is "The Loveliest Village On The Plains." It is a line taken in the poem The Deserted Village written by Oliver Goldsmith, which reads, "Sweet Auburn, the loveliest village of the plain." 

Auburn has diverse geology because it sits on the Fall Line, where the piedmont plateau and the coastal plain meet. Some parts of the Auburn area also retain the southernmost exposure of rocks marking the Appalachian orogeny, like the last foothill of the Appalachian Mountains, which lies in Chewacla State Park. The location of present-day Auburn was a portion of Creek territory until 1832, when tribal chiefs surrendered it to the United States under the Treaty of Cusseta. After the Second Creek War, the remaining Creeks were removed from eastern Alabama and in the Auburn area as an order from then-President Andrew Jackson.

Auburn offers many opportunities for outdoor recreational activities. Auburn runs a swimming pool, walking trails, and plenty of state parks, like Kiesel Park. Two public golf courses and two private golf clubs are also open for tourists and visitors. 

Auburn sits around the divide between the Chattahoochee and Tallapoosa River watersheds. The line separating the Chewacla and Saugahatchee watersheds also follows the railroad line east-west through the epicenter of Auburn. Auburn's proximity to these watersheds makes it a sweet fishing spot for anglers.

Auburn Fishing

Spring is the finest season for fishing in Auburn and the rest of Alabama. It is a great place to visit, especially for anglers looking for the best fishing attraction. Anglers have excellent chances to capture crappie, bass, and sunfish as the water temperatures start to warm. The best possibilities for fishing success come to anglers who know when, where, and how to target these fish species.

The best way to start fishing in Auburn is by visiting Prather Lake. Anglers will find a variety of fish in the lake, including largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, smallmouth bass, redfish, warmouth, common carp, and blue catfish. The chances of fly fishing and bank fishing are high for anglers in the area. There are hiking trails and picnic areas for anyone visiting the lake. It is family-friend and has an access area for wheelchairs. Lake Wilmore is another exciting spot to visit. Activities like swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are allowed at the lake. Most of the trails in the lake are a variety of mountain bike and hiking trails. Anglers can hook largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, redfish, grass carp, black crappie, bowfin, and redbreast sunfish.

Fishing in Auburn will not be complete without visiting Auburn City Lake. The lake offers the best varieties of bass and sunfish, like bluegill. Meanwhile, bass, bluegill, black bullhead, channel catfish, and pumpkinseed are top fish species anglers can target at Plainsman Lake and Richards Pond. Allens Pond is a sweet spot for anglers aiming to hook northern pike, redear sunfish, bass, and catfish. 

Another exciting part of fishing in Auburn is braving the waters of Chewacla State Park. Start fishing at the Chewacla State Park Lake, where anglers can target bass, flathead catfish, channel catfish, longear sunfish, bluegill, black crappie, and Alabama spotted bass. Alabama spotted bass are nearly similar in appearance to spotted bass and were previously known as the Alabama subspecies of the spotted bass. These fish are native to Georgia and Alabama, primarily in large river systems and impoundments.

Yeagers Pond and Pam Lake are also open to anglers visiting Auburn. Fish species like bass, crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish are typically found here. The most popular fish species that anglers can catch in Moores Mill Creek are bass, pumpkinseed, reader sunfish, grass carp, catfish, and longear sunfish. Anglers can also visit the Ogletree Outing Club Lake, near the dam and Auburn University. Fishing in the area allows anglers to catch largemouth bass, longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, golden redhorse, blue catfish, white catfish, and rainbow trout.

For a more jampacked fishing adventure, anglers can go fishing at the Chattahoochee and Tallapoosa River watersheds in Auburn. The line separating the two river systems flows near Auburn. The watersheds of Chewacla and Saugahatchee Lakes are also open to the public as the line that divides the two lakes flows through the epicenter of Auburn.

Auburn residents are fortunate to be in Auburn and be surrounded by dozens of fantastic fishing locations.

Top 10 Fish Species in Auburn, AL

The top 10 fish species found in Auburn, AL, are largemouth bass, bluegill, smallmouth bass, flathead catfish, spotted bass, longear sunfish, Alabama spotted bass, black crappie, and redfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Fishing in Auburn is open year-round, but for most anglers, summer and spring are the best time to try their luck. 

Bass fishing is best done in the spring and fall. During these seasons, anglers can easily catch largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass as the water temperature rises. Bass anglers can target bass species in February, but they can still find bass that weigh over five pounds in March and April. The same season is also perfect for spotted bass fishing. Bluegill season start from April to September, when they begin to spawn. The best months to target catfish in Auburn are March, April, and May, when spring arrives and water temperatures start to warm up. Fishing for flathead catfish is open year-round, but fishing for them from late summer into mid-fall is the most fitting.

There are no close seasons in Alabama for redfish fishing. Anglers can hook redfish any time of the year. Crappie is available all year round, but the best months to fish and target them are from November to February during their pre-spawn mode. Crappie are also available from February to April during the spawning period. Sunfish species such as longear sunfish are often captured during spring. It is the best time to target them as they reach spawning season.

Best Things To Do in Auburn

The Auburn area is a beautiful and excellent chance to explore Alabama's scenic nature and great green space. There are also areas where families can camp and space for outdoor activities. Auburn has many amenities, from a nature center called Donald E Davis Arboretum to different campgrounds. Auburn’s small-town charm captures the attention of tourists.

1. Book A Fishing Charter

Going on a fishing trip alone can be stressful, especially when facing a challenging situation such as capturing a fighting fish. For anglers to enjoy their fishing trip and get the most out of the trip, it is a must to book a fishing charter. Fishing charters will provide the necessary equipment to make the fishing expedition successful. Charters will supply the fishing bait and appropriate fishing gear, depending on which waters their clients want to fish in. Captains who are professional anglers lead chartered fishing trips. These captains have years of fishing experience under their belt.

2. Awesome Nature Experience at Chewacla State Park

Visiting Chewacla State Park is one good activity. Chewacla State Park's 696 scenic acres offer a ton of rest, leisure, and entertainment in Auburn. The hiking trails are famous attractions, including ones located at the state park, and the Falls Creeks Loop and Lake Wilmore Trail are some of the best courses in Chewacla State Park. The loops and the surrounding area proved a good spot for mountain biking. There are about 15 trails throughout the park. Waterfalls are also the best spots to visit, as there are numerous breathtaking waterfalls in Chewacla State Park and a 26-acre lake. The Hidden Falls is a great waterfall in Chewacla State Park. Visitors can reach the location of the falls on one of the biking trails. The water and area are maintained well, making it a nice spot for a picnic.

3. Appreciate Art at Jule Smith Collins Museum

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is an art museum found on the campus of Auburn University. It is also the only accredited university art museum in Alabama. The museum includes six exhibition galleries, giving tourists and the Auburn region impactful possibilities to engage with a wide-ranging visual and decorative art exhibition spanning centuries, genres, and materials.