Bear Creek Reservoir

Fish and Fishing on Bear Creek Reservoir (Big Bear)

Background: Bear Creek Reservoir, also known as Big Bear, was first impounded in 1969 mostly as a flood control reservoir and holds 670 acres of water at full pool. The lake was drained in 2005.  Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Russellville in Franklin County, it is one of four Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reservoirs operated by the Bear Creek Development Authority. The primary uses of this reservoir are flood control and recreation.

Bear Creek Reservoir is wild and scenic as no residential development mars the lakes shoreline. Camping and fishing provide the main recreational opportunities. Two public areas (Piney Point and Horseshoe Bend) provide boat ramps and campgrounds. A BCDA fishing permit ($3/day or $20/year) is required in addition to an Alabama state fishing license. Pre-impoundment topographic maps are available for Bear Creek Reservoir through the TVA.

 During June 2009, TVA completed repairs to Bear Creek Dam. After being drawn down to winter pool levels since the fall of 2004, the reservoir is once again at full pool (576 msl) and will follow the normal operating guidelines as set forth by the TVA. Since the fall of 2004, Bear Creek Reservoir has seen a significant increase in terrestrial vegetation because of the exposed shoreline between 566 msl and full pool (576 msl) elevations. This vegetation will provide much needed nursery habitat for young-of-year fishes as the reservoir’s fish populations expand because of the increased volume of water.

To help jumpstart the catfish fishery, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) stocked 13,230 channel catfish.

To incorporate the Florida gene into Bear Creek's largemouth bass population, 70,000 fingerlings were stocked. Additional stockings of Florida strain largemouth bass are planned for 2010 and 2011. If these Florida bass stockings work as desired, Bear Creek’s anglers should experience excellent bass fishing in 3-5 years. Chances of catching a trophy bass should be increased too, and most likely will happen in 2014-2019.

Crappie fishing should remain excellent. Spring 2009 electrofishing revealed a healthy and dense population of crappie. Crappie anglers should locate crappie amongst shoreline brush or suspended above or near the old creek channel.

Bear Creek Reservoir has fish consumption advisories due to mercury.  Information on the consumption advisories may be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health Web site, www.adph.org.

The Fisheries Section's District I Supervisor can answer specific questions about Bear Creek Reservoir at keith.floyd@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Prepared by: Fisheries Section, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This site is presented for information only; the Fisheries Section cannot be responsible for the quality of information or services offered through linked sites, disclaimer. To have your site included, send your URL, email address, or telephone number to the Fisheries Web Master, doug.darr@dcnr.alabama.gov. The Fisheries Section reserves the right to select sites based on relevant and appropriate content, of interest to our viewers. If you discover errors in the content or links of this page, please contact Doug Darr. Thank you.