Dale County Public Fishing Lake

ED LISENBY LAKE a.k.a. DALE COUNTY STATE PUBLIC FISHING LAKE, near Ozark, Alabama Bill Brooks, Manager 861 Myrtle Drive Ozark, AL 36362 (334) 774-0588

Dale County (Ed Lisenby Lake) is a 92 acre lake located 1 mile north of Roy Parker Road (County Road 36) in Ozark, Alabama.

Directions: From intersection with U.S. Highway 27, take U.S. Highway 231 north for 1 mile, then right on County Road 36 (Roy Parker Road) for 2-1/2 miles, then left on Myrtle Drive for 1/2 mile to Ed Lisenby Lake.

Lake is open Sunrise to Sunset as follows:
Open 7 days a week. Will be closed December 22, and re-open January 2, 2008.
But call the manager at (334) 774-0588 to verify the schedule before making the trip.

Fishing:
Bass fishing good year-round, with the biggest usually caught from February through April when they are near the bank. While the bass population is lower than in the past, many bass in the 3 to 6 pound range were noted. 
Bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) are caught by bank and boat anglers from spring through summer. Management efforts to improve numbers of crappie and bream and the size of bass at Dale County Lake are starting to show results. Fall sampling on the lake indicated good spawning success for bream and crappie during the summer of 2007. 
Catfish are caught year-round, but the summer months are best. As in 2006, a block-off net will be set up so a larger number of channel catfish can be stocked into the lake this fall. The catfish are scheduled to be delivered in early December. Anglers are encouraged to harvest up to 6 catfish per angler.
Crappie fishing is best in February and April. Management efforts to improve numbers of crappie and bream and the size of bass at Dale County Lake are starting to show results. Fall sampling on the lake indicated good spawning success for bream and crappie during the summer of 2007. 
For more information on the fish population at Dale County Lake, please contact the District VI Fisheries office at (334) 347-9467.  
For operation hours and general information, contact the lake office at (334) 774-0588.  Dale County Lake will be closed from December 22, 2007 through January 1, 2008. 

Facilities: Clean public restrooms and concessions are available, including a wide variety of fishing tackle, live and artificial baits, and other fishing supplies, as well as drinks and refreshments. An accessible fishing pier makes it easy to reach deeper water without using a boat. Fish attractors have been added around the lake. Boats are also available for rent; a launching ramp is available for anglers with their own boats. Boats may have an outboard motor attached, but anglers may not use the outboard motor, only the trolling motor.

Regulations (partial list; complete regulations are available in the current regulation book and the "Alabama Game, Fish, and Wildlife Law Book"):

(1) Any person 12 years old or older must have a valid daily fishing permit in possession to fish. No child younger than 12 years old can legally be left unaccompanied by an adult.

(2) The daily creel, possession and size limits for each species are posted at the lake.

(3) Fishing is limited to daylight hours, or as specified by the lake manager.

(4) Swimming and wading are not allowed.

(5) Fish taken from the lake must be carried to the lake manager, who will count and weigh them.

(6) No method other than hook and line with natural or artificial bait may be used to take fish from a State Lake. Taking, or attempting to take, fish by any other means is not allowed, including but not limited to: snagging, snatching, trot lines, set hooks, limb lines, jug fishing, spear, or bow and arrow.

(7) Anyone launching a boat at a State Lake must have a valid launch permit and fishing permit.

(8) State fishing license requirements are in effect and fishing licenses may be purchased at State Public Fishing Lakes.

(9) A person fishing shall upon demand exhibit his catch, fishing permit, and fishing license to any Conservation Officer, concessionaire, or other agent or employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for inspection.

(10) No species of fish shall be stocked in the state-owned public fishing lakes. Live minnows used for bait shall be limited to goldfish minnows (Indiana minnows); golden shiners (shiners) and fathead minnows (toughies or tuffies) and no minnow, either dead or alive, shall be released from a minnow bucket or other method.

This information is subject to change without notice. Additional information and rules about the lakes are available from the lake manager, the Alabama Fisheries Section at (334) 242-3471, or Jack Turner. The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries intensively manages the 23 state lakes totaling 1,912 acres.