Fishing Coffeeville Reservoir
Coffeeville Reservoir is an 8,500-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment located on the Tombigbee River. Coffeeville Reservoir extends 97 miles from Demopolis, Alabama, to the dam, which is located approximately 3 miles from the town of Coffeeville. Boating access is available along the reservoir operated by the Corps of Engineers, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division , U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private operators.
Coffeeville Reservoir is located within a 30-minute drive of hotels in Grove Hill and Jackson. The town of Coffeeville has several restaurants, service stations, and a grocery store. Demopolis and Butler provide angler access and similar amenities in the upper and middle portions of Coffeeville Reservoir. Bait and tackle are available at many of these locations. The Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge borders the lower portion of Coffeeville Lake. The Corps of Engineers maintains Service Campground, which contains campsites, showers, laudromat, and boat ramp and sits adjacent to the Refuge and just upstream of the dam.
Fishing for largemouth bass is popular on this reservoir. Anglers typically are most successful in the areas off the main river channel in large, open creeks such as Turkey, Okatuppa, and Copper Salt. These creeks are full of fish holding structure such as stumps, blown down trees, and aquatic plants.
White crappie and black crappie fishing is best in some of the large, off-channel creeks found within the lower reservoir. Good crappie fishing is found in Okatuppa, Turkey, and Tallawampa creeks. Crappie catch rates in our fall 2006 sample were some of the highest in Alabama for that year. Good numbers of young fish are entering the fishery and, by now, should be of legal size. Live minnows and plastic grubs are the favorite baits for most crappie anglers.
Fishing for channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish is good in the tailwaters of the dam during May and June. Many anglers launch their boats at Service Campground Ramp; then pass through the lock at the dam to access the tailwaters below. Favorite baits include cut bait or whole threadfin shad drifted through the shoals.
Other species of fish that are popular include bream and striped bass.
Bass fishing quality at Coffeeville Reservoir is assessed from bass club tournament results.
If you are a member of a bass club, please consider being a part of our Bass Angler Information Team. We use information from clubs to help better manage your lakes for fishing.
Contact the Fisheries Section's District V office for specific questions about Coffeeville Reservoir.
