Live wading and fishing conditions for 45 Alabama rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Sipsey Fork
Alabama's one true trout stream — the cold tailrace below Smith Lake Dam in the Bankhead National Forest, stocked year-round with rainbows and a few browns. Flow is entirely dam-controlled: it fishes best on low, non-generation water and turns dangerous fast when Alabama Power spins turbines, so the generation schedule matters more than any single CFS number.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Sipsey Fork Near Grayson Al, Sipsey Fork At Sipsey, Ala
Live Sipsey Fork conditions →
Cahaba River
The longest free-flowing river in Alabama and a national treasure of biodiversity — famous for the Cahaba lilies that bloom over its shoals near West Blocton. Above and below Birmingham it's a clear, wadeable smallmouth, spotted-bass, and redeye river over rock and gravel, protected in part by the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al, Cahaba River At Centreville Al, Cahaba River Near Marion Junction Al
Live Cahaba River conditions →
Locust Fork
A classic free-flowing smallmouth and spotted-bass float in the Warrior forks north of Birmingham, running clear over bedrock shoals and ledges. Popular with paddlers and wade anglers alike, it drops into skinny, technical water in summer and pushes hard and pushy after rain.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Locust Fork Near Cleveland, Al., Locust Fork At Sayre, Al.
Live Locust Fork conditions →
Coosa River
A chain of big tailwaters and reservoirs draining northeast Alabama — spotted bass, striped bass, and catfish country below Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, and Jordan dams. The tailrace below Jordan Dam at Wetumpka is the standout wadeable/boatable current fishery; the rest is big regulated water.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Coosa River At State Line, Al/Ga, Coosa River At Childersburg Al
Live Coosa River conditions →
Little River
The river that runs almost entirely atop Lookout Mountain, carving Little River Canyon — a spectacular, clear, boulder-strewn smallmouth, spotted-bass, and redeye fishery protected as a National Preserve. Skinny and technical in summer; the canyon flashes hard and dangerous after rain.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Little River Near Blue Pond Al
Live Little River conditions →
Tallapoosa River
A superb upland smallmouth, spotted-bass, and redeye river above Lake Martin, running clear over rock through Horseshoe Bend country. Below Thurlow Dam at Tallassee it becomes a striper and bass tailwater; the upper reaches are the wadeable shoal jewel.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Tallapoosa River Near Heflin, Al, Tallapoosa River At Wadley Al, Tallapoosa River Nr New Site, Al.(Horseshoe Bend), Tallapoosa River Near Mont.-Mont. Water Works
Live Tallapoosa River conditions →
Hatchet Creek
One of Alabama's finest wild smallmouth and redeye creeks — a clear, rocky Coosa-basin stream tumbling through shoals below Rockford, prized by float and wade anglers for its native shoal-bass fishing. Skinny and technical in summer, it holds smallmouth, redeye, and spotted bass on the current seams and ledges.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Hatchet Creek Below Rockford Al
Live Hatchet Creek conditions →
Mulberry Fork
The Warrior's other main fork — a wadeable and floatable smallmouth, spotted-bass, and catfish river dropping out of the Cumberland Plateau. Long shoal stretches and deep pools make it a favorite spring and fall float once flows settle.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Mulberry Fork Near Garden City, Al., Mulberry Fork Near Arkadelphia, Al., Mulberry Fork At Cordova Al
Live Mulberry Fork conditions →
Terrapin Creek
A clear, spring-fed float-and-wade favorite in northeast Alabama near Piedmont, draining toward Weiss Lake — long gravel shoals and cool water make it one of the state's most popular canoe-and-fish creeks. Smallmouth, spotted bass, and redbreast hold on the shoals through the warm months.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al
Live Terrapin Creek conditions →
Flint River
A clear, wadeable Tennessee Valley smallmouth and spotted-bass river northeast of Huntsville, gaining popularity as a float and wade destination. Spring-fed reaches keep it fishable and cool through the warm months.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Flint River At Brownsboro, Al.
Live Flint River conditions →
Black Warrior River
The main-stem Black Warrior below Tuscaloosa is big, locked-and-dammed water — a bank and boat fishery for catfish, largemouth, spotted bass, and drum rather than a wade stream. Frame conditions as bank-fishing safety: high, muddy flows mean strong current and unstable banks.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Black Warrior River At Northport Al, Black Warrior River At Selden L & D Near Eutaw, Al
Live Black Warrior River conditions →
Alabama River
The great main-stem formed where the Coosa and Tallapoosa join — a huge, locked river running to Mobile Bay, and one of the South's premier trophy catfish fisheries. This is a boat and bank fishery for blue and flathead cats, largemouth, and striped bass; treat conditions as big-river stage and bank safety, never a wade number.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Alabama River Near Montgomery, Al., Alabama River At Claiborne L&D Near Monroeville
Live Alabama River conditions →
Paint Rock River
One of the most biologically rich streams in the Tennessee Valley — a clear, gravelly smallmouth and native-fish river winding out of the Cumberland Plateau near Woodville. Low, wadeable summer flows make it a quiet gem, and its darter and mussel diversity is nationally significant.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Estill Fork At Estillfork Al, Paint Rock River Near Woodville Al
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Tombigbee River
The great west-Alabama main-stem draining to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta — a big, locked-and-dammed river and one of the state's premier trophy catfish and largemouth fisheries. This is a boat and bank fishery below each lock and dam, not a wade stream; frame conditions as bank and boat safety, and expect blue and flathead cats on the channel edges.
Region: Tombigbee & West · Fish for: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Tombigbee River At Bevill L&D Nr Pickensville, Al, Tombigbee R At Demopolis L&D Near Coatopa, Al., Tombigbee River Near Nanafalia, Al., Tombigbee R At Coffeeville L&D Nr Coffeeville, Al.
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Buttahatchee River
A clear, gravelly free-flowing smallmouth and spotted-bass river dropping off the plateau through northwest Alabama toward the Tombigbee. A quiet float-and-wade gem below Hamilton, with long shoal runs and rock that hold river smallmouth and redeye through the warm months.
Region: Tombigbee & West · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al
Live Buttahatchee River conditions →
Chattahoochee River
The Alabama–Georgia border river below Walter F. George (Lake Eufaula) and George W. Andrews dams — a big tailwater fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, stripers, and catfish. Conditions are generation-driven; frame them as boat/bank current safety.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Chattahoochee R .36 Mi Ds Wfg Dam Nr Ft Gaines, Ga
Live Chattahoochee River conditions →
Bear Creek
A clear northwest-Alabama smallmouth stream feeding the Bear Creek reservoir chain toward Pickwick — cool, rocky, and popular for floating and wading below Red Bay and Hackleburg. Long shoal runs hold river smallmouth, spotted bass, and redbreast through the warm months.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Bear Creek Near Hackleburg Al, Bear Creek At Redbay, Al
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Choctawhatchee River
A winding coastal-plain river in southeast Alabama running to the Florida Panhandle — tannic, sandy, and full of largemouth, spotted bass, bream, catfish, and hard-fighting bowfin. A float-and-bank river more than a wade stream; the sandbars make good access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Choctawhatchee River Near Newton, Al., Choctawhatchee River Near Bellwood Al
Live Choctawhatchee River conditions →
Conecuh River
A sandy south-Alabama coastal-plain river (the Escambia in Florida) with a surprising cool-water reach below Point A and Gantt dams near Andalusia. Largemouth, spotted bass, catfish, and bream in tannic, cypress-lined water — a float-and-bank fishery with good dam-tailrace access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Conecuh River At Brantley Al, Conecuh River Bel Pt A Dam Nr River Falls, Al., Conecuh River At State Hwy 41 Near Brewton, Al.
Live Conecuh River conditions →
Fish River
A tannic Baldwin County coastal river running to Weeks Bay and Mobile Bay near Silver Hill — a popular float-and-bank fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish, with hard-fighting bowfin in the lower reaches. Sandbars and cypress edges give good access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Fish River Near Silver Hill Al, Fish River Near Marlow, Al
Live Fish River conditions →
Sipsey River
Not to be confused with the Sipsey Fork trout tailwater — this is a wild, tannic, cypress-and-tupelo swamp river in west Alabama, one of the most biologically intact bottomland rivers left in the Southeast. A slow float-and-bank fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish through a maze of sloughs near Elrod.
Region: Tombigbee & West · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Sipsey River Nr Elrod, Al
Live Sipsey River conditions →
Little Cahaba River
A clear, spring-fed Cahaba tributary in Bibb County near Brierfield — cool, rocky water famous for the Blue Hole and for feeding the biodiverse lower Cahaba. A small wade-and-float fishery for smallmouth, spotted bass, redeye, and redbreast in a beautiful shoal setting.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Little Cahaba River Near Brierfield Al
Live Little Cahaba River conditions →
Cypress Creek
A clear spring-fed Tennessee Valley creek north of Florence, running over gravel and bedrock to the Tennessee River. A quiet wade-and-float fishery for smallmouth, spotted bass, and redbreast, kept cool and fishable through summer by its spring flow.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Cypress Creek Near Florence Al
Live Cypress Creek conditions →
Pea River
A major southeast-Alabama coastal-plain river draining the Wiregrass toward the Choctawhatchee near Elba and Samson — sandy, tannic water with largemouth, spotted bass, bream, catfish, and bowfin. A float-and-bank river with sandbars and cypress edges that fishes well spring through fall.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Pea River Near Ariton Al, Pea River Near Samson Al
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South Sauty Creek
A Sand Mountain creek dropping to the Guntersville arm of the Tennessee River near Rainsville — famous where it meets the lake as one of the region's best crappie and bass creek mouths. Slower reservoir water down low, cooler wadeable shoals up top.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Crappie, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: South Sauty Creek Near Rainsville, Ala
Live South Sauty Creek conditions →
Choccolocco Creek
A long Coosa-basin creek draining the Anniston area toward Logan Martin Lake — cleaner and rockier up in the Talladega National Forest headwaters, slower and reservoir-influenced down low. Holds spotted bass, smallmouth, largemouth, and redbreast, with wadeable shoals near Lincoln.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Choccolocco Creek Near Boiling Spring, Alabama, Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al
Live Choccolocco Creek conditions →
Big Canoe Creek
A clear, biologically rich Coosa-basin creek winding through St. Clair County near Ashville and Springville — home to endemic darters and a quiet wade-and-float fishery for spotted bass, smallmouth, and redbreast. A protected preserve reach anchors its public access.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al
Live Big Canoe Creek conditions →
Yellowleaf Creek
A small Coosa-basin creek near Westover that Alabama stocks with trout in the cool months — a modest but welcome put-and-take coldwater option outside the Sipsey Fork. Otherwise a warmwater creek for bass and bream on light tackle.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Yellowleaf Creek Near Westover, Al
Live Yellowleaf Creek conditions →
Turkey Creek
A clear, spring-fed creek in a protected nature preserve north of Birmingham near Pinson — cool, rocky, and popular for wading, holding smallmouth, spotted bass, and redbreast, plus the rare native vermilion darter. A small, intimate wade fishery with good public access through the preserve.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Turkey Creek At Morris Al
Live Turkey Creek conditions →
Magnolia River
A short, spring-clear Baldwin County coastal river near Foley running to Weeks Bay — unusually clear for the coastal plain, with largemouth, bream, spotted bass, and catfish in cypress-lined water. A quiet paddle-and-bank fishery popular with kayakers.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Redbreast Sunfish · USGS gauges: Magnolia River At Us 98 Near Foley, Alabama
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Flint Creek
A Tennessee Valley creek draining to Wheeler Lake near Decatur — slower and more reservoir-influenced than the north-Alabama smallmouth streams, with largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish in its lower brushy reaches. A bank-and-boat fishery on the lower end, wadeable up near Falkville.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Crappie · USGS gauges: Flint Creek Near Falkville Al, Flint Creek At Red Bank Rd Se Nr Decatur, Al
Live Flint Creek conditions →
Chattooga River
Not the famous Georgia whitewater river — this is the northeast-Alabama Chattooga draining Cherokee County into Weiss Lake above Gaylesville. A slower, stained upland river with largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish, best fished as a bank-and-float creek toward the lake.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al
Live Chattooga River conditions →
Little Tallapoosa River
The Tallapoosa's headwater sister draining west Georgia into Lake Wedowee near Newell — a clearing upland river with wadeable shoals up top and reservoir-influenced water near the lake. Spotted bass, smallmouth, largemouth, and redbreast hold on the rock and current breaks.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al
Live Little Tallapoosa River conditions →
Styx River
A tannic, sandy Baldwin County coastal river near Elsanor draining toward the Perdido system — cypress-lined blackwater holding largemouth, spotted bass, bream, catfish, and bowfin. A float-and-bank fishery with sandbar access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Styx River Near Elsanor, Al.
Live Styx River conditions →
North River
The main feeder of Lake Tuscaloosa in the Warrior system — a slower, reservoir-influenced river above the lake north of Tuscaloosa holding largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish. A bank-and-boat fishery near the lake, with small wadeable water up near Samantha.
Region: Bankhead & Warrior · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: North River Near Samantha Al
Live North River conditions →
Big Wills Creek
A long Lookout Mountain valley creek running past Fort Payne toward Weiss Lake — cleaner and rockier up in the DeKalb County valley, slower down low. Holds spotted bass, smallmouth, largemouth, and redbreast, with wadeable shoals up top and float water toward the lake.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne, Al, Big Wills Creek Near Reece City
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Escatawpa River
A tannic, sandy blackwater river along the Alabama–Mississippi line near Wilmer, draining toward the Pascagoula system — cypress-and-sandbar water with largemouth, spotted bass, bream, catfish, and bowfin. A quiet float-and-bank fishery.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Escatawpa River Near Wilmer, Al
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Noxubee River
A slow, tannic Black Prairie river along the Alabama–Mississippi line near Geiger — bottomland bass, bream, and catfish water winding through hardwood swamp toward the Tombigbee. A float-and-bank fishery, quiet and lightly pressured.
Region: Tombigbee & West · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Noxubee River Nr Geiger, Al
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Hillabee Creek
A clear Tallapoosa-basin creek near Hackneyville draining toward Lake Martin — a lightly pressured wade-and-float stream over gravel and rock, holding spotted bass, smallmouth, redeye, and redbreast through the warm months.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Hillabee Creek Near Hackneyville Al
Live Hillabee Creek conditions →
Sepulga River
A sandy south-Alabama coastal-plain river near McKenzie draining to the Conecuh system — tannic, cypress-lined water with largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish. A lightly pressured float-and-bank river with good sandbar access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Sepulga River Near Mckenzie Al
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Town Creek
A Sand Mountain creek near Geraldine that flows to the Guntersville arm of the Tennessee — a slower, brushy creek best known where it meets the lake for crappie, largemouth, and catfish. A bank-and-boat fishery down low, small wadeable water up top.
Region: North / Tennessee Valley · Fish for: Crappie, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Town Creek Near Geraldine Al
Live Town Creek conditions →
Talladega Creek
A clear Coosa-basin creek off the Talladega National Forest near Alpine, draining toward the Coosa chain — a small wade-and-float stream with spotted bass, smallmouth, redeye, and redbreast on its gravel shoals.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Redeye (Coosa) Bass · USGS gauges: Talladega Creek At Alpine Al
Live Talladega Creek conditions →
Murder Creek
A tannic south-Alabama creek near Evergreen draining to the Conecuh — despite the name, a quiet coastal-plain fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish in cypress-lined blackwater. A float-and-bank creek with sandbar access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Murder Creek Near Evergreen Al
Live Murder Creek conditions →
Kelly Creek
A clear Coosa-basin creek near Vincent draining toward Logan Martin Lake — a quiet wade-and-float stream over gravel and rock holding spotted bass, smallmouth, and redbreast, with largemouth down toward the lake.
Region: Coosa-Tallapoosa-Alabama · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass), Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Kelly Creek Near Vincent Al
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Blackwater River
A tannic south-Alabama coastal river near Bradley in the Conecuh/Escambia system — sandy, cypress-lined blackwater holding largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish. A quiet float-and-bank fishery with good sandbar access.
Region: Coastal Plain / Southeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Alabama Bass) · USGS gauges: Blackwater River Near Bradley Al
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