Alabama Administrative Code
Title 220 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 220-2 - GAME AND FISH DIVISION
Section 220-2-.36 - State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes

(1) Definition of State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes -The words "state-owned public fishing lakes" shall include and embrace all land and water under the direct supervision of the Fisheries Section of the Game and Fish Division. The lakes are as follows:

Barbour County Public Lake

Bibb County Public Lake

Chambers County Public Lake

Clay County Public Lake

Coffee County Public Lake

Crenshaw County Public Lake

Dallas County Public Lake

Dale County Public Lake

DeKalb County Public Lake

Fayette County Public Lake

Geneva County Public Lake

Leon Brooks Hines Public Lake (Escambia County)

Lamar County Public Lake

Lee County Public Lake

Madison County Public Lake

Marion County Public Lake

Monroe County Public Lake

Pike County Public Lake

Walker County Public Lake

Washington County Public Lake (J. Emmett Wood)

(2) Permit Required to Fish in State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes - Any person 12 years old or older who fishes, takes, catches, or attempts to fish, take, or catch fish in or from any state-owned or state-operated public fishing lake must have a valid permit in possession.

(3) It shall be a violation of this regulation for any person to leave a child under 12 years of age unaccompanied by an adult at any state-owned public fishing lake, and it shall also be a violation of this regulation for any child under 12 years of age to be at any state owned public fishing lake unaccompanied by an adult.

(4) Daily Creel, Possession Limits and Size Limits for Game Fish in State-Owned Public Lakes - The daily creel, possession and size limits for game fish and catfish in state-owned public fishing lakes shall be as posted at each lake. Creel, possession and size limits for fish not posted shall be the same as provided for all public waters of this State.

(5) Time to Fish - Fishing in state-owned fishing lakes shall be limited to daylight hours, unless additional hours are posted, or as specified by an agent of the Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(6) Fishing in State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes Regulated.

(7) Unlawful to Sell Fish Taken from State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes - It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell, or use for any commercial purpose any fish, regardless of species or kind, taken from any of the state-owned public fishing lakes unless expressly permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(8) Use of Minnows for Bait in State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes Regulated - Live minnows used for bait in any state public fishing lake shall be limited to the following species: Goldfish minnows, commonly called "Indiana" minnows; golden shiners, commonly called "Shiners," and fathead minnows, commonly called "Toughies." No person shall release in any state-owned public fishing lake any minnow whatsoever, either dead or alive, by emptying from a minnow bucket or any other method. All minnow buckets or other receptacles for holding minnows used at state-owned public fishing lakes shall at all times be open to inspection by Conservation Officers, concessionaires, or other agents or employees of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(9) It shall be unlawful to operate any size gasoline powered outboard motor on the state-owned public fishing lakes except where expressly permitted as posted. Where gasoline powered outboard motors are allowed, they shall be operated only at slow trolling speed creating no wake.

(10) No Camping - There shall be no camping on state-owned public fishing lake land unless by special permission of the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(11) No Swimming or Wading - There shall be no swimming or wading in the State-owned public fishing lakes.

(12) Personal Injuries or Accidents - The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall not be responsible for any accident or injury to any person while on public fishing lake property or when utilizing the public lake facilities. Any person coming within the boundaries of the state-owned public lakes shall, by such entrance or use, waive any claim against the State or its agents for any accident or injury occurring while on or within public lake property.

(13) It shall be unlawful to use sailboats in public fishing lakes operated by the Game and Fish Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It shall be unlawful to use any other type of boat on said lakes for any purpose other than fishing.

(14) It shall be a violation of this regulation to launch any boat on said lakes without first obtaining a launching permit and such fishing permits as may be required at each lake.

(15) State Laws Applicable - All state laws now in force and laws, which may hereinafter be enacted by the Legislature, shall be maintained in the public lake areas.

(16) Conduct at State-Owned Public Fishing Lakes - Any person, who conducts himself or herself in an unruly or disorderly manner in any public lake area, and any person, who so conducts himself or herself in a manner which will tend to annoy or disturb any visitor or employee, shall be in violation of this regulation. Any person in violation of this regulation shall not be entitled to a refund of any fee or rental.

(17) Soliciting or Advertising in State Lake Areas -No person shall solicit, sell or advertise in any public area without the written authorization of the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(18) Removal of Shrubs or Wild Flowers - In order to protect all native, wild or domesticated trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers from destruction and to conserve the same, it is hereby made unlawful for any person to cut, destroy, damage or remove any such tree, bush, shrub, plant or flower growing in any public lake area. Any person, who willfully destroys, cuts, or breaks or removes any such tree, shrub, bush, plant or flower growing in any public lake area, shall be in violation of this regulation unless given special permission to do so from the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(19) Defacing or Destroying State Property - Any person, who litters, defaces or destroys any real or personal property in any of the public lake areas of Alabama and any property belonging to the State of Alabama in any of the public lake areas, shall be in violation of this regulation.

(20) State-Owned Public Fishing Lake Land Designated as Wildlife Sanctuaries - It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, trap, pursue, catch or kill, or attempt to hunt, trap, pursue, catch or kill any wild bird or wild animal or possess any firearm, except handguns lawfully possessed for personal protection, or bow and arrow in any of the places herein mentioned without special permission of the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(21) Speed Limits for Vehicles - The maximum speed limit for any power driven vehicles shall be 25 miles per hour unless otherwise specified by signs. All motorists shall come to a complete stop before crossing any intersection in any public lake area. This maximum speed limit shall be reduced as is reasonable when driving through any congested area; and when any person is driving through any congested area in the public lake area, he shall exercise every caution possible.

(22) Only licensed vehicles shall be allowed on public lake roads; no off-road traffic shall be permitted.

(23) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to consume alcoholic beverages at any public fishing lake during the hours of operation.

(24) It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to catch, take or attempt to take or catch fish, by any means whatsoever, in the ponds and lakes located on the fish hatcheries operated by the Game and Fish Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; provided however, this provision shall not apply to that lake known as Perry Lake.