Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher
Fishing with guide Tony Adams usually ends with a half-day stringer of crappie headed from the live well and into the cooler with ice for the truck ride home.
We all know how we love fishing Chautauqua Lake for bass, walleye, musky and crappie, a top spot in the northeast for so many species. A few weeks back, for a change of pace, I embarked on what turned out to be an adrenaline-pumping adventure down south into the heart of central-eastern Alabama. Stories about the monstrous crappies that roam the Lake Eufaula depths have been on my bucket list for decades.
All year long, crappie there have been alleged to put up a fierce fight on the end of 6-pound test monofilament. I contacted seasoned guides to cut the learning curve down, looking for the tactics that crappie anglers use to hook the reported behemoths there. In short order, they explained how to outsmart these finny creatures of the summertime deep for the ultimate crappie fishing conquest. All it took was 10-foot long B’n’M lightweight fishing poles, light monofilament, a split-shot, and a minnow or tiny jig.
When the water warms up in the summertime, warmwater fish species everywhere seek the comfort of deeper water and shade, crappie included. In the Black Belt Region of Central Alabama at Lake Eufaula, the summertime crappies eat more and get bigger daily. They become tasty rod-benders. Heart-pounding battles with these giant crappies amidst the tranquil beauty of the Alabama wilderness was an expedition into the wild unknown. Eagles were soaring overhead, colorful wildlife on shore (otters, alligators, long-legged birds) and untamed beauty could be found 360 degrees all around. There were very few residences to be seen on the lake.
Also called Lake Walter F. George, Lake Eufaula is an impoundment on the Chattahoochee River, created in 1963 by the Army Corps of Engineers behind the lock and dam at Fort Gaines, Georgia. The reservoir is a primary fishery for anglers from near and far, forming part of the eastern boundary between Georgia and Alabama. While fishermen frequently target bass and blue catfish here — including for major bass tournament action — Eufaula is a visitor-friendly Alabama destination city. Located west of Atlanta and south of Birmingham, anglers meet here to find the biggest crappies in the country all year long. The area offers a range of accommodations, from hotels and motels to campgrounds and fish camps, all at very affordable prices.
In short, if it’s your first time here, it pays to rent a guide service. The lake offers 45,000 acres of open water, teeming with fish, birds and wildlife, with the comfort of affordable accommodations. I stayed at Lakepoint Resort State Park. The guides used the cutting-edge sonar technology we have all heard about, Humminbird Forward-Facing Sonar, to pinpoint crappie lurking beneath the surface. This area in Alabama is a well-kept secret, as the number of boats on the water was minimal.
Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher
Lake Eufaula crappie are wide and hefty, making for a great tussle at the boat and a tasty meal at the table. The daily limit of 30 will fill a freezer for many meals.
Our three days at Lake Eufaula were filled with thrilling fishing excursions led by the legendary guides Tony Adams, Eddie Whitehead and Mayor Jack Tibbs. These experts, with their top-notch fishing gear and expert knowledge, guided us to the best fishing spots. It was enlightening to witness their use of the advanced sonar technology to locate the perfect fishing spots and their simple yet effective fishing techniques. If you’re considering a similar experience, I highly recommend contacting Tony Adams (334-695-3003) of “Gone Fishing with Tony Charters,” Eddie Whitehead (334-530-8878) of “Eufaula Lake Guide Services,” or Mayor Jack Tibbs (334-695-3765) of “Fishing with the Mayor” fishing services. Their expertise and guidance will assure you have a memorable fishing experience.
The guides run the lake with side-scan first, then switch to FFS to pinpoint sunken log jams and structure on the bottom. Then they use live minnows and/or plastic-tailed jigs slipped onto 1/32 to 1/16 ounce painted jig heads with a size 2, 4 or 6 hook. Both are effective. In one area, I cast my jig about 20 feet from the bottom structure and let it slowly fall to the bottom and sit there for 10 or 15 seconds; then I ripped the jig up a foot or so swiftly and let it settle again, briefly, only a second or two. Then followed with a gentle lift of the rod to slide the jig slowly on the bottom, and many times (four times in a row in one case), a fish had sucked up the jig for a meal, and it was fish on. Fun times. Some of the jig-caught fish checked the scale at over 2 pounds.
Each of the charters cost was $350 without tip — like here we usually add a 20% tip if the trip was great, and that’s a fill-your-freezer bargain. The guides were worth every penny. The daily bag limit of crappie is 30 per person, and the guides usually toss back anything under 10 inches, and you often have a limit in less than three hours. These crappies are wide, chunky and beautiful. The best part is that there are so many crappies here, ensuring a successful and rewarding fishing experience. I’m happy we fished with a guide to learn about presentation and the new gear, and we shared some incredible Southern jokes. Sorry I cannot repeat them here.
The warm hospitality and the friendly local people made the whole experience unforgettable. I can’t wait to return; it may be next week, but I’ll probably wait until it’s time to get away from the snow later this year. The lake does not freeze over. I went out of the way to meet Mayor Jack Tibbs. He’s a fisherman and hunter and believes the town should be considered the “Fishing Lure Capital of the World.” Eufala is home to numerous fishing lure companies, including Strike Zone Lures, Manns Bait Company, Big Bite Baits, Southern Plastics and others, and it is the home of Humminbird Electronics. I took a tour of the Humminbird FFS factory there, their gear is all “Made in the USA!” Some 300 employees work there. Impressive. Residents there say it should be called the “Bass Capital of the World” because of the number of world-class bass tournaments there.
We could argue that here at Chautauqua Lake too, there are bass tournaments on the lake every week. The Chautauqua Lake weed treatments and resulting effect on fish habitat (weed growth shortfall) and apparent young-of-the-year losses, especially in the southern lake portion, have rumors floating within fishing clubs for changing competition venue locations regarding future events.
The historic Eufaula area has plantation-style homes along Main Street and adjoining areas, with Civil War history that is intriguing. To learn more, visit https://www.eufaulachamber.com or call 1-800-524-7529 for a guidebook on this region.
Gotta love the fishy outdoors.
CALENDAR
Aug. 24: NYS Hunter Safety Course, Springville Field & Stream, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 8900 Chaise Road, Springville. Register online: https://dec.ny.gov.
Aug. 29: NYS Hunter Safety Course, Ripley Rod & Gun, 6-9:30 p.m., plus one additional half-day, 9820 Rod and Gun Club Road, Ripley. Register online: https://dec.ny.gov. Must attend both days.
Aug. 31: Labor Day Sporting Clay Shoot, NSCA registered event by choice, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Registration starts at 8 a.m., shooting begins at 9 a.m.. Info: https://hanovercalys.com.
Sept. 1: Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club family picnic, members only. 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk.
Sept. 1: NYS Squirrel season opens in Western New York (gray, black, fox).
Sept. 6-7: WNY Walleye Association Lake Erie Walleye Tournament, Contact Ron Kucinski: 716-545-5925, or email: kucinski1293@gmail.com.
Sept. 9-22: NYS Early Antlerless 2024 Deer Season, check specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
Sept. 14: NYS Hunter Safety Course, Harmony Conservation Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Route 474, Harmony. Register online: https://dec.ny.gov.
Sept. 14: NYS Trapper Education Course, Dayton Fire Hall, 9512 US 62, Dayton, N.Y. Register at https://dec.ny.gov.
Sept. 15: Annual mum sale, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, Ladies Auxiliary. 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk.