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Upper Bear Creek Lake

Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, also known as Upper Bear Creek Lake, is one of four lakes that provide recreation opportunities in northwest Alabama. Located near Bear Creek and Haleyville, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impounded this lake in 1978, and the Bear Creek Development Authority (BCDA) manages the lakes. The other reservoirs include Upper Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, and Cedar Creek Lakes.

Fishing

This reservoir is known to anglers for its largemouth and spotted bass populations. According to Alabama Outdoors, "Upper Bear has been ranked first-5 times and second-3 times, for the least number of angling hours exerted to catch a bass in excess of 5 pounds. In 2005, it took an average of 114 tournament-angler hours to catch a bass over 5 pounds, ranking it number 1 in Alabama."

The Florida strain of largemouth bass was stocked in 1978, and over 18,000 channel catfish were stocked in 2005 with an additional 18,647 stocked in 2008 and over 27,000 in 2010. Anglers also can find crappie at Upper Bear. Note that this lake has a high fish consumption advisory. Anglers need a Bear Creek Development Authority permit in addition to an Alabama fishing license to fish this lake.

       

  Search Upper Bear Creek Lake Resources
    Upper Bear Creek Lake Alabama Coordinates:
34.2784N -87.6847W
Map It:
Lake Type:
Reservoir
Surface Area:
1,850 acres
Maximum Depth:
25+ ft
Elevation:
797 ft
Normal Water Clarity:
3 ft
Major City:
Birmingham
Airport:
Birmingham
Boating

The lake contains four public access areas at Twin Forks, Mon Dye, Quarter Creek, and Batestown.

       
Lodging

Although there are no local state parks, Bear Creek Lakes maintains over 150 camp sites in five campgrounds in the region. Also, Twin Forks maintains a campground at the lake. For hotels, visitors can travel eighteen miles north to Russellville.

Review the Lake Resource Guide for additional lodging.



Communities

Upper Bear Creek Reservoir extends across the corners of Franklin, Winston, and Marion Counties. The shoreline contains very little residential development, and few towns are nearby other than Russellville to the north and Haleyville to the south. The closest large city is Birmingham at just about two hours' drive from the lake.

Fun times at Upper Bear Creek Lake  Upper Bear Creek Lake

Upper Bear Creek Lake  Upper Bear Creek Lake



 
Average Temperatures Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Avg. Low  33 Avg. Low  37 Avg. Low  44 Avg. Low  52 Avg. Low  61 Avg. Low  68 Avg. Low  72 Avg. Low  71 Avg. Low  65 Avg. Low  54 Avg. Low  44 Avg. Low  36