Bear Creek, AL Fishing: Nature-filled Experience

Bear Creek is in Marion County, which is northwest of Alabama. Bear Creek used to be referred to as Allen's Factory before the Civil War, after one of two neighboring textile manufacturers. After the war, after both facilities were burned to the ground, the area took on the name of the local creek. In the early 1880s, J. R. Phillips made Bear Creek his home. He made lots out of the property he purchased there for 12.5 cents per acre, ultimately creating the municipality of Bear Creek. It was in 1970 that it was officially incorporated.

On the eastern side of the municipality, the Upper Bear Creek Reservoir is located. This body of water offers a lot of outdoor activities for your family and friends to enjoy, such as fishing, camping, swimming, and other water sports.

Bear Creek Fishing 

The nearest and known fishing spot in the beautiful municipality of Bear Creek is the Bear Creek Reservoir, also known as the Big Bear. It can hold 670 acres of water when full and is ten feet lower in winter.

There are no residential constructions along the coastline of Bear Creek Reservoir, which is a wild and beautiful area. The woodlands surrounding this reservoir are home to deer, turkeys, and other animals frequently seen by anglers. The major leisure options are camping and fishing. On the lake, there are two campgrounds: Piney Point and Horseshoe Bend. There are public boat launching areas at each of these campgrounds. 

Bear Creek Reservoir is a fruitful reservoir with chlorophyll A levels more than twice as high as the other BCDA reservoirs. In the summer, only the top eight feet of the water contain acceptable oxygen levels; therefore, anglers shouldn't fish below this level. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and plastic worms are effective traditional bass lures. Crappie can be lured to bite jigs or minnows and are often caught in brush tops or suspended above the old stream channel. 

Crappie, catfish, and bream fishing are good in Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, while black bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass are its most well-known catch. Trophy bass fishing is prominent at the lake. Fish over 5 pounds are common, and bass up to 8 pounds are caught yearly.

Frequent crankbait fishing is the most effective method for catching large crappie suspended in open water. Utilize your electronics to locate schools of crappie, then troll through the school of fish using a 2-inch medium diving crankbait. Use 4-6 pounds of fluorocarbon line to make the crankbait plunge 10–12 feet. Crappie fishing is best done in the early morning and late at night. However, during the cold season, it can be in the afternoon, when it's the warmest day. The night is another excellent time to capture them if you have the chance because crappie typically feed most aggressively in low light. For fishing novices, though, there are plenty of crappie fishing trips nearby, one of which is the Sunrise Charters.

A battered worm is an ideal lure, especially in shallow water, because bass enjoy ambushing wounded animals. Anglers prefer to use a crankbait with red hooks and a spinner bait with a red or pink head while fishing in shallow covers like wood, stumps, and patches of grass. Fish will bite at the bait because they believe it to be hurt due to the crimson color.

The 1,850 acres of water that Upper Bear Creek Reservoir can store at the full pool were impounded in 1978 as a flood control reservoir. Upper Bear is one of four Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reservoirs managed by the Bear Creek Development Authority for flood control and recreation. It is situated close to the municipality of Bear Creek and at the intersection of Franklin, Winston, and Marion Counties. The major leisure options are camping and fishing. Trophy bass fishing is well-known at the lake.

Cedar Creek Reservoir can contain 4,200 acres of water at a full pool, and it was built as a flood control reservoir in 1979. It's one of the four Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs managed by the Bear Creek Development Authority, and it's situated in Franklin County, about 10 miles west of Russellville. This reservoir's main purposes are flood control and recreation. Cedar Creek Reservoir is a reservoir with clear, infertile water closer to the dam and relatively abundant water towards the upper end. While spotted bass become more common in the deeper water close to the dam, largemouth bass are more common in the middle to upper reaches.

Fishing in a place like Bear Creek could easily get overwhelming, but don’t worry because there are plenty of fishing tours around the area. Water Walker Fishing is perfect for bass fishing enthusiasts.

Top 10 Fish Species in Bear Creek, AL

The top ten fish species caught in Bear Creek, AL, are walleye, rainbow trout, wahoo, king mackerel, snapper, yellowfin tuna, redfish, Southern flounder, tarpon, and bluegill.

Seasonal Fishing

During the fall season, which begins in September, the known catch is the largemouth bass. When the water temperature drops into the low 50s and upper 40s, largemouth bass put on weight, and you can catch your biggest bass of the year in the late fall. Fish will relate to any residual foliage and hardcover close to their fall foraging sites since it is trophy season. Striped bass fishing charters are plenty around Alabama, like Reel Fishin' Charters.

Crappie is the most known catch during the winter season, which begins in December. All fish eat throughout the year, but some are more difficult to find in the winter. However, because they tend to gather around cover like brush piles or standing wood, crappie is easier to find than other species when the water becomes chilly. 

Give Yourself an Adventure in Bear Creek

Bear Creek is a haven for nature lovers. Below are some best ways to get the most out of your trip to this breathtakingly beautiful place.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Alabama inshore fishing is something no angler should miss, and it is best experienced with Southern Sun Inshore Charters. It doesn't hurt to have a complete crew to aid you along the road, even though you may have been born in the coastal waters. With a fishing charter, you can go on a guided fishing trip to unwind and concentrate solely on getting that big catch. Your guide's team is also available to teach you anything you need to know about fishing. The experts on board can assist you whether you want to test your abilities or learn a new method for casting the line. 

2. Trek at the Dismals Canyon

One of Alabama's few old-growth virgin forests surrounds the 85-acre natural sandstone canyons and geological formations known as Dismals Canyon. Dismals Canyon is a labyrinth of meandering canyons, enormous boulders, caves, and caverns, divided by the Dismals Branch Creek's gushing waters. In 1975, the National Park Service classified the region as a National Natural Landmark. It's unclear how the canyon earned its name. Another version holds that the early Scots-Irish settlers named the canyon because of its dark labyrinths and gloomy passageways, not because they were inspired by a similarly mountainous area in Scotland called "Dismals." 

3. Unwind at the Natural Bridge Park

The longest natural bridge east of the Rockies is in Winston County's Natural Bridge Park, where a 148-foot sandstone bridge stands 60 feet above twisting trails. It is undoubtedly a magnificent sight to behold. The park's picnic area is ideal for packing a meal before or after hiking the roughly 2-mile walk that winds through the park. The park has a stream running through it and a tiny waterfall at the back that is pleasant to listen to. Wildflowers can be found in the spring, while the fall brings out the colorful fall leaves. Natural Bridge Park has a cave-like cliff that you can explore underneath the natural bridge.

The Creek Natives are known to have resided nearby, and this natural bridge creation dates back two million years. They probably took cover from the weather in this cave-like feature. Don't overlook the Indian face that nature carved into the big rock! The park also includes a fantastic gift shop with items from around the US and some local things. All year long, Natural Bridge Park is open daily from 8 am until dusk.