The Exact Spots That Are Loaded Right Now. If you chase bass on the Alabama River, you already know two truths:
- There are absolute giants of both largemouth and spotted bass in this system.
- They rarely live in the same places at the same time.
Spotted bass (Kentucky bass) dominate the rocky, current-swept upper and middle river. Largemouth rule the sloughs, oxbows, and flooded timber in the lower river and backwaters. Catch both on the same day? Absolutely — if you know where to switch species. Here are the proven, GPS-ready areas that are producing the best numbers and biggest fish right now (late 2025).Upper River – Spotted Bass Heaven (Montgomery to Millers Ferry)This is the domain of football-shaped 2–4 lb spots, with a legitimate shot at 6–7 pounders.
- Robert F. Henry Lock & Dam tailrace
- Spots stack below the dam like cordwood when generators are pulling.
- Best technique: Shad colored crankbait or a 4″ swimbait on a ½ oz jighead, reeled fast just under the surface in the boil line.
- Bonus: 20+ lb striped bass often school with them.
- Holy Ground (Swift Creek & Pine Bar
- Main-river rock bluffs and submerged roadbeds.
- Throw squarebill crankbaits (red craw or sexy shad) parallel to rip-rap.
- Fish the points at the mouth of Swift Creek — many 4–5 lb spots caught here in 2025 already.
- Cahaba River confluence (just below Selma)
- Classic spotted bass factory. Clear Cahaba water meets stained Alabama River water = visible current seams loaded with bait.
- Underrated pattern: Carolina-rig a green-pumpkin lizard on the drops from 8 ft to 18 ft.
(Millers Ferry / William “Bill” Dannelly Reservoir) This is the transition zone. You’ll catch both species on the same cast some days.
- Millers Ferry Dam tailrace & spillway
- Spotted bass dominate the rocks and current.
- Largemouth move in on the calmer eddies with laydowns.
- Fish a jig or Texas-rigged creature bait around the wood on the slack side — 6–8 lb largemouth are common here in spring and fall.
- Chilatchee Creek (upper end of Millers Ferry)
- When the river is high (15–25 ft on the Camden gauge), this creek turns into the best flipping water in central Alabama.
- Black/blue jigs or big worms around cypress knees = 5–9 lb largemouth.
- As water drops in summer, spots take over the main-creek points with gravel.
- Gee’s Bend & Ellis Ferry landings area
- Deep ledges drop from 6 ft to 25 ft along the main river.
- Summer pattern: 10–15 ft diving crankbaits or football jigs for spots holding tight to the bottom.
Lower River – Largemouth Paradise (Claiborne Lake & below)Below Claiborne Dam the river widens, current slows, and grass/wood take over.
- Isaac Creek & Bridgeport Beach (Claiborne Lake)
- Classic Coosa-style spotted bass water on the upper end, but once you get below the dam toward Silver Creek and Limestone Creek, it’s all big green largemouth.
- Punch mats with 1–1.5 oz tungsten and a craw or creature bait — many 7–9 lb fish caught here in 2024–2025.
- Big Flat Creek & Randons Creek (lower Claiborne)
- These backwaters are full of lily pads and hyacinth in summer.
- Frogs, swim jigs, and Flukes over the grass = explosive largemouth bites.
- The “Cut” at Claiborne (where the river narrows again)
- Current picks back up — spotted bass reappear in big numbers on the rock jetties and wing dams.
- One of the few places you can catch a 5-lb spot and a 7-lb largemouth within 100 yards of each other.
Quick Cheat Sheet: Spots vs. Largemouth
| Water Type | Dominant Species | Go-To Bait 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky bluffs & current | Spotted bass | Crankbaits, swimbaits, jigs |
| Cypress trees & sloughs | Largemouth | Jigs, Texas rigs, frogs |
| Main-river ledges | Both (summer) | Football jigs, deep crankbaits |
| Grass lines & pads | Largemouth | Hollow-body frog, punch rig |
Final Tips for 2026
- River stage is everything. Check the Camden or Selma gauge daily. Rising water = largemouth move shallow; falling water = spots pull to the edges.
- Bring two setups: one medium-heavy for spots (fluoro 12–15 lb) and one heavy flipping stick (65–80 lb braid) for big largemouth in timber.
- The bite is best the first 3–4 hours of daylight and again at dusk.
The Alabama River is quietly putting out some of the biggest stringers in the state right now — and most of it is public water. I hope this helps you find Where the Largemouth and Spotted Bass are on the Alabama River. Get out there and prove it. Tight lines,
P.S. Want the exact locations for the top bass holes on the Alabama River (including a few nobody talks about)? Sign up for our newsletter here https://comefishalabama.com/newsletter/ What’s your personal best largemouth or spotted bass from the Alabama River? Drop it in the comments.