Clean your boat trailers! Giant Salvinia is a highly invasive floating aquatic plant that is present in this lake. Please remove all vegetation from your boat trailer before leaving the launch areas.
*Columbus Lake is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE). The MDWFP Fisheries Bureau manages the lake's fisheries resources and provides weekly fishing reports.
Covering 8,910 acres, Columbus Lake is the largest reservoir along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It was opened in 1981 and is owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The reservoir extends 22 miles from Aberdeen Lock and Dam (mile 357.5) to Columbus Lock and Dam (Stennis Lock and Dam, mile 334.7). Historically, Columbus Lake has been a popular destination for bass and crappie anglers from around the state and the west central region of Alabama.
Fishing Report - 12/2/2024
| Species | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bass | Cold and muddy water generally makes for tough fishing. Once the water temps drop into the 40’s, the bass bite really slows down, especially during dirty water events. Several days in a row of warm weather will cause the bass to get active around the shallow sloughs and backwaters that are off the channel and somewhat protected. Texas-rigged soft plastics, jig-n-pig combos, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits are all good bait choices during any warming trend. Darker colors are typically the best option for the slower presentations. If not too muddy, the lower end of the Buttahatchie offers some decent cold water fishing for spotted bass. Crankbaits, shakeyheads, small jigs, and spinnerbaits are good options there. |
| Crappie | The crappie bite will be fair until water temps drop below 50 degrees. Best areas to target will be the old river runs where cleaner water is present with the best depths being 5 to 10 ft. Once the water temps drop into the 40’s, the crappie bite will be tough, especially during dirty water events. Look for contrasting colored jigs to work better than minnows in dirty water conditions. |
| Catfish | For catfish, target the mouths of the old river runs with trot lines and tight line rod-n-reel set ups. Fish will also be holding at the edge of any current along the navigation channel. The submerged logs along the deep side of the old river run between the marina and the East Bank boat ramp is a good place for tight lining as well. Cut/whole shad is typically the best bait choice during the cold months. |
Weekly fishing reports will resume on February 15th, 2025.
Giant salvinia is a highly invasive aquatic plant found throughout the Tenn-Tom Waterway. It is critical that anglers visiting the lake clean their boats and boat trailers to reduce the possibility of transferring this plant to other water bodies. Giant salvinia is extremely difficult to eradicate once it becomes established.
Columbus Lake Special Regulations
Columbus Lake Special Regulations
Creel and Size Limits
| Species | Lengths to Release | Daily Creel Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass (combined largemouth, spotted and smallmouth) | 14 inches and under | 10 per angler |
| Crappie (combined white and black) | 9 inches and under | 30 per angler |
Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species
*Columbus Lake Interactive Map
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