Updated October 15, 2026

    Locust Fork

    river in Alabama

    Locust Fork offers long shoals, clear water and multiple public access points — a staple for regional fly anglers seeking aggressive bass in current.

    Shoal BassSmallmouth BassSpotted Bass
    This week's reportAccess & shops

    Conditions right now

    No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.

    Weather now
    80°F
    Clear Sky, wind 11 mph W
    Bite report · week of Oct 4

    What's working on Locust Fork

    1. 01Overcast skies and mild 71°F temperatures create favorable fall fishing conditions.
    2. 02Subsurface action is prime for bass targeting hellgrammites, crayfish, and baitfish.
    3. 03Topwater opportunities may arise on warmer, calmer afternoons with Popping Bugs.
    4. 04Focus on rocky runs, current breaks, and structural elements in the upper sections.
    5. 05Slower retrieves with pauses are key for enticing strikes from cooler-water bass.

    Past reports week by week

    7 weeks

    What to tie on

    Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.

    streamer

    Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)

    #4#6#8

    Effectively imitates baitfish, a primary food source for smallmouth and spotted bass, especially as they feed aggressively in fall.

    streamer

    Woolly Bugger (Olive) (Bass)

    #4#6#8

    A classic and versatile streamer imitating leeches and baitfish, consistent food sources for predatory bass in the cooler fall water.

    dry

    Crayfish (Fly) (Olive/Rust)

    #14#16

    Crayfish are a primary food source for bass in rocky river environments, making this a crucial subsurface pattern in fall as bass look for larger meals.

    nymph

    Hellgrammite Fly

    Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly larva)
    #4#6#8

    Hellgrammites are a consistent food source on rocky smallmouth rivers year-round, making this a reliable subsurface pattern for fall bass.

    streamer

    Slumpbuster

    Baitfish/sculpin
    #4#6#8

    A productive baitfish/sculpin imitation that works year-round, especially in off-color water and when bass are looking for larger prey in the fall.

    Buy at Amazon
    dry

    Popping Bug (Bass)

    #14#16

    On warmer fall days, topwater action can still occur, and this popper creates an enticing surface disturbance, drawing aggressive strikes from bass.

    Where to fish and who to ask

    Riverside Fly Shop · BremenOrvis Retail Store Birmingham · Birmingham1County Road 97 Crossing2Mardis Bend / Locust Fork Park3Swann Bridge (County Rd 63)
    AccessFly shopGuide trips
    1

    County Road 97 Crossing

    Multiple riffles and pocket-water stretches within reasonable wading distance from the road.

    33.899°N 86.655°WDirections
    2

    Mardis Bend / Locust Fork Park

    Park access with good runs, eddies and downstream structure where fly anglers pick apart fishable lies.

    33.937°N 86.672°WDirections
    3

    Swann Bridge (County Rd 63)

    A favorite launch and wade spot with nearby shoals and current seams.

    33.917°N 86.648°WDirections

    Fly shops within 40 miles

    19mi

    Riverside Fly Shop

    Bremen, ALGuide trips
    28mi

    Orvis Retail Store Birmingham

    Birmingham, AL

    Get Locust Fork reports by email

    Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.

    Alabama season by season

    What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.

    Mar – MaySpringRead the guideJun – AugSummerRead the guideSep – NovFallRead the guideDec – FebWinterRead the guide

    Read before you go

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    Quick answers

    Common questions about Locust Fork.

    What flies work best on Locust Fork?

    Our top scored fly patterns for Locust Fork right now are Hellgrammite Fly (80% confidence), Woolly Bugger (Black/Olive) (80% confidence), Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.

    What fish species are in Locust Fork?

    Locust Fork holds Shoal Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.

    Is Locust Fork fishing well right now?

    We publish a fresh bite report for Locust Fork each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.