Babbie, AL Fishing: Freshwater Fishing in a Tiny South Alabama Town

Babbie is a small town in eastern Covington County in south-central Alabama. The city of Opp borders it to its east. The Babbie area saw its first settlements in the 1830s. By 1851, it had its first church. The village was eventually officially incorporated in 1857. Farming was the main driver of Babbie’s local economy in the early days. Early businesses included a grist mill, a cotton gin, a feed mill, and a sawmill in the community. In 1901, the Alabama and Florida Railroad (later included in the Louisville and Nashville Railroad) built a line through Babbie, which served as a flag stop. According to local sources, the area’s name is a variation of ‘baby’ because it was so small in the earlier years. As of 2020, Babbie’s population was 625, making it a small suburb.

Though Babbie remains a small community today, it boasts a charming rural atmosphere that can be a welcome escape from nearby cities such as Andalusia and Opp. It also remains mostly a farming community, making the local natural landscapes and sceneries pretty as a picture. Babbie is a very explorable community because of its size. One can check out everything it has to offer in a day. There is also easy access to other known attractions in the county, such as historical markers, national forests, and parks. Anglers who come upon Babbie can have the opportunity to fish from a selection of nearby lakes. The county is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region, so more fishing opportunities are available.

Babbie Fishing

Babbie is an excellent place for anglers who want access to multiple fishing spots throughout the state’s south area. It is bordered by parts of creeks, lakes, and rivers that provide inshore and offshore fishing.

Prime freshwater fishing can be found at Lake Frank Jackson, located to Babbie’s east. It is specially stocked and managed for angling purposes. It is the largest lake (covering 1000 acres) and is operated by the designated Alabama department. It is known for its greatly different habitats, which include headwaters, a maze of stumps, fallen timber, aquatic vegetation, and the submerged Lightwood Knot Creek channel. Although the lake’s watershed is relatively infertile, its fishery is very productive. Lake Frank Jackson provides above-average fishing for largemouth bass. It also offers great fishing for crappie, bluegill, shellcracker (redear sunfish), and channel catfish. Boat launch ramps and a grassy beach provide access to the water for anglers and boaters. A handicap-accessible fishing platform is situated at the northwest end of the dam, which is accessible from Highway 42. Bass anglers can catch trophy-weighing fish, but the lake is abundant in small fish. Quality fish can be found in heavy cover on the lake’s upper end along the creek channel. Anglers can also find a ton of fish in the flats next to the track that are four to six feet deep. Bass are effectively caught by flipping or pitching a half-ounce jig with a trailer in crawfish colors on a 50-pound-test braided fishing line. Crappie anglers can find schools of fish near the Highway 331 Bridge pylons on either side of the creek channel. Large fish can be spotted near the dam and the 13-acre island. Using dead or live bait is very effective because they frequently ambush baitfish in the bridge area. Along the creek channel, anglers can troll or drift minnows and jigs. Some of the largest catfish in the lake can be targeted in the upper section. Catfish up to 10 pounds hide under the timber on the submerged banks of the channel. Any bait can be used to lure catfish, but shrimp is the best option.

Part of the Yellow River can be found to the south of Babbie. It starts as a small creek in Opp, flows through Lake Frank Jackson, and transitions into a full-sized river. The river is home to largemouth bass, spotted bass, sunshine bass, striped bass, crappie, channel catfish, bream, and sunfish species like bluegill, redear sunfish, and redbreast sunfish. There is also the occasional gulf sturgeon, southern brook lamprey, and blacktip shiner. Spotted bass are commonly found between Watkins Bridge and Givens Bridge. That area is also filled with small bream. That section is ideal for small boats and canoes. Largemouth bass and plenty of bream gather below Given Bridge, where the river becomes wider. That section is trendy among boat anglers because of the deeper water and easy access from public boat ramps. There are also very nice sandbars along that route which makes for easier fishing without obstructions. Small plastic baits, crankbaits, and spinner baits are preferred for bass fishing in the river. Beetle spins, crickets, and worms will do the job for panfish.

Another excellent place to catch bass, bream, and catfish is Gantt Lake. It is located to the northwest of Babbie. It houses largemouth bass, white bass, rock bass, channel catfish, bluegill, white crappie, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, and river chub. The reservoir has 21 miles of shoreline, with some areas used for bank fishing though the lake is primarily used for boating, swimming, and skiing. The grass beds and cypress trees found in the sloughs and coves off the main lake are where anglers can find largemouth bass. Redear sunfish can be caught with live bait and wigglers from the sandy beaches, points, and flats. Crappie are mostly found on steep walls along the old river channel.

Top 10 Fish Species in Babbie, AL

The top 10 fish species found in Babbie, AL, are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, spotted bass, striped bass, redbreast sunfish, white bass, and rock bass.

Seasonal Fishing

Crappie can be caught at the local lakes at the beginning of October and continue until spring. The best time to reel trophy-sized bass is in February. But March and early April yield bass that weigh over five pounds. Overall, bass fishing is good all year, but spring and fall are the prime seasons. Fishing for bream can also be done any time of the year. Bluegill are especially active in the spring. Redear sunfish are best targeted when they spawn from late April to early June. The same goes for redbreast sunfish. Early spring is the optimum period to catch catfish. 

Things To Do in Babbie

Babbie is the perfect access point to experience what south Alabama has to offer because of its proximity to the county’s bustling cities.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Anglers should book a fishing charter to elevate their angling experience in Babbie. The lakes and rivers surrounding the community are filled with plenty of fish just waiting to bite one’s hooks. A fishing charter or guide can help effectively target the local fish. Most local waterways are best navigated by boat. People can avail of boat rental services near ramps, launch areas, and notable fishing spots.

2. Leisure by the Lakefront

Frank Jackson State Park is not only for anglers. People can take their friends and family to the park to relax and enjoy nature. The park features picnic areas, lakefront RV camping, a modern bathhouse, a boardwalk leading to Lake Frank Jackson’s island, and three miles of walking trails. There is also a playground and a campground which serve as wetland wildlife viewing areas.

3. Go Golfing

The Old Pine Golf Course can be found nearby, offering terrific views and challenging play for golfers at any skill level. It is an old-school public golf course that has well-groomed fairways and greens. It features a nine-hole regulation length course on 3,280 yards of grass from the longest tees for a par of 36. People can find it on Harmony Church Road, accessed from Airport Road, northwest of Babbie.