Fishing the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior?

[scout-j-m]

Some buddies and I are planning to float the Sispey Fork from the hwy 69 bridge (at the fly shop) down to the Mulberry Fork intersection. Can anyone offer any fishing advice on this stretch of water? I don't care what we catch. We often fish for trout between the dam and hwy 69 but have never ventured any farther or tried targeting any other fish like stripe.

Also, I know AL Power typically releases water for about 4 hours every day starting around 1 or 2. Is it better to go an hour or so before the water is released or wait until they start?

I'm really more interested in exploring this stretch of the river than fishing but I would definitely like to catch something along the way.

[Slabprowler]

Never have fished that river but I do fish several rivers like it in Tennessee if you wait till they turn water loose if you don't use a motor to slow you down your trip will be a fast one we usually use a black and gold or black silver rooster tail or brown or a small gold spoon if you want stripe some kind of rapala blue and white or shad color also the small natural crawfish arkie at Walmart works well next to the wood fish every Eddie you get a chance . Have a good float and send us a report

[scout-j-m]

Never have fished that river but I do fish several rivers like it in Tennessee if you wait till they turn water loose if you don't use a motor to slow you down your trip will be a fast one we usually use a black and gold or black silver rooster tail or brown or a small gold spoon if you want stripe some kind of rapala blue and white or shad color also the small natural crawfish arkie at Walmart works well next to the wood fish every Eddie you get a chance . Have a good float and send us a report

Thanks for the advice. A lot variables to consider for how we tackle it.

And, in case anyone knows, is it legal to use trout as striper bait? I assume as long as you only have your 5 fish trout limit you could do with them as you please. The few stripe I have seen near the dam and pumphouse are monsters...probably 30+ pounds...and I have read live trout is the best bait in the hot summer months.

[wahanlin]

I do not believe it is legal to use trout for bait. My understanding is that bream are the only game fish that can be used for bait. There is also a stipulation that states you are not allowed to cull any rainbow trout that have been kept on a stringer or in a cooler for a bigger trout. Even if you weren't using it for bait, taking one off the stringer to add another is not allowed (I believe). Someone chime in if i am wrong. I know there are some really awesome big rainbow trout swimbaits out there. I don't know if it'd be worth it to you to buy one but if I had one i'd throw it there til my arm got sore.

[Slabprowler]

Your right. Trout for bait is a no no.

[scout-j-m]

Thanks guys. I had just seen them used as live bait in a similar trout fishery near Atlanta. I'll probably break out the swimbaits then.

[superfly]

Also please be aware that the water when being released from Smith dam is very cold. Around 55 to 60 degrees. It is also very fast. If it's running I don't hold much hope for catching fish. I would plan to go when it's not running. I have a pretty good understanding of this river because a friend and I have navigated it at night for decades coon hunting. Please be cautious.

[scout-j-m]

Also please be aware that the water when being released from Smith dam is very cold. Around 55 to 60 degrees. It is also very fast. If it's running I don't hold much hope for catching fish. I would plan to go when it's not running. I have a pretty good understanding of this river because a friend and I have navigated it at night for decades coon hunting. Please be cautious.

Thanks for the advice. Have you fished that stretch any or just hunted?

[superfly]

I have fished there for many years. It is one of those seasonal fishing holes. Up the sipsey river toward the dam it's a good trout and stripe river. The mulberry fork is better for bass cat and stripe. Crappie are seasonal there. They are only there at certain times of year. Either fork has lots of dangerous snags, stumps and shallow spots. Caution is a must.