Fishing at Joe Wheeler State Park, Rogersville, AL

Joe Wheeler State Park

FOR WHEELER AND WILSON LAKES
Whether you are a Bass Pro or a bank fisherman Wheeler Lake and Joe Wheeler State Park have a lot to offer you. The park has excellent facilities for tournaments and many areas for fisherman to access the water.
The lake around the park is close to the dam with deep water and rock bluffs. Smallmouth inhabit these waters and can be the highlight of your trip. First Creek and Second Creek offer excellent largemouth fishing as well as catfish, crappie, bream and stripe. The Decatur "flats" are known for big largemouth and milfoil is abundant and is similar to the type of fishing found on Guntersville Lake. Adjacent to the state park's cabin is the tail waters of Wheeler Dam. Anglers from all over the country come here to sample the variety of fishing found below the dam. Smallmouth congregate here in the oxygen rich water, this is where a former world record smallmouth was caught. Cabin guest can regularly be seen cleaning coolers full of catfish they caught on their trips below the dam. Three types of striped bass inhabit these waters: white bass, hybrid striped bass and saltwater stripe or "rock fish". Crappie are a big draw in the spring if anglers know the right spots. Bream are popular with the bank fisherman and can be caught in many locations around the park.

CLICK TOPICS BELOW
Accommodations	Boat Ramps	Tournaments	Fish

Accommodations
Resort Lodge
Rooms with a view

Restaurant - Meeting Rooms - Marina - Transient Slips - Golf Course
For More Information or Reservations Click or Call - 1-800-544-5639

	Cabins
	Brick and Frame Cabin available Boat Ramps for Wheeler and Wilson Lakes

For More Information or Reservations Click or Call - 256-685-3306

Campground
116 Campsites, most with full hook-ups
NEARBY: Park Restaurant - Marina - Transient Slips - Golf Course

For More Information or Reservations Click or Call- 256-247-1184

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE


Elk River Group Lodge
Group Lodge for up to 30 people
Large kitchen and living room

For More Information or Reservations Click or Call- 256-247-5466

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
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Boat Ramps

1. 1st Creek Boat Ramp - Large Boat ramp that can accommodate 4 bass boats at once. Large 150 space parking lot. Bathroom and Security lights for nighttime launching.

	2. 2nd Creek Boat Ramp - Access second creek at the medium sized ramp, with security lights for nighttime launching.

3. Cabin Area Boat Ramp - Convenient boat ramp for cabin guests.

	4. TVA, Wheeler Dam Boat Ramp - Large Boat ramp that can accommodate 2 bass boats at once. Large space parking lot. Bathroom and Security lights for nighttime launching.TVA operated boat ramp

Elk River Group Lodge - Convenient boat ramp for guests of Elk River Group Lodge..
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Fish
Although many methods can be used to catch fish around the park the following is a good general description along with the times of year that are generally best.

Smallmouth Bass - the biggest fish are usually caught below the dam on live shad in the fall. Fall fishing on the upper lake is best matching the shad minnow’s hatch as smallmouth are chasing schools of shad. Summer fishing is best at night with a black light using hairs jigs, crawfish imitations, finesse baits or dark spinner baits. Winter can still offer good fishing but fish will suspend and can be caught on jerkbaits and float and fly.

Largemouth Bass - spring is probably the best time of year using jerk baits - jigs early spring and switching to spinnerbaits - topwater - plastics in late spring. Summer fishing is best a night with plastics and spinner baits. Largemouth will be chasing shad in the fall. Decatur flats are a good place to be in late summer and early fall.

Catfish - below the dam in the spring through the fall is probably the best spot using shad guts, shad minnows, worms, livers and all the things catfish like. Drift baits in the tailrace or look for boat congregations about a mile below the dam. Catfish will come to the bluffs on Wheeler Lake in the spring to spawn and are easy to catch.

Crappie - best in the spring in Elk River, Spring Creek, First and Second Creek using minnows or dragging jigs. Late winter can also be good for crappie and sometimes in the fall.

Bream - plan around the moon phases in the spring and summer using crickets, worms, or small buck tail jigs. Elk River and the creeks are probably best, but the back of the sloughs of the main river can be good. Bank fishing is good along the rip rap rock near the lodge and marina.

Sauger - best in the winter using jigs tipped with minnows. Best spot is below the dam or drive and fish below Wilson dam.

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