New family running the Lake Store welcomes big crowd at grand reopening of Dallas County Public Lake

Dallas County Public Lake opened late this year, but a big crowd helped reopen the park July 1 with a beautiful day of fishing.   

The lake usually opens around Feb. 1, but the opening was delayed so the new managers could complete cleaning and renovations of the building and grounds. This year Earle and Shaknyia Williams are running Dallas County Lake, and their son is helping, too.   

The Williams’ apologized for taking so long to open for the season, but they said there was a lot of work to do to get the building back in good condition. “We did a lot of remodeling in the store and especially the floors and the bathrooms,” Shaknyia Williams said. “We wanted it to be nice and clean for everyone.”   

She said they did a lot of work around the lake to ensure a pleasant and safe environment for anyone who wants to come fish and picnic. They also had to repair the pier.  

According to Shaknyia Williams, there was a line of cars waiting for the gates to open when she got there at 5:30 a.m. Both Williams’ reported the fish were biting good. That’s not unusual. Chris McKee, fisheries supervisor for WFF, said Dallas County Lake is exceptionally fertile.   

“We stock it twice a year to make sure the fish population is healthy,” McKee said. “Catfish we stock once a year to keep that population up. The bass and blue gill and crappie reproduce on their own at very high rates.” Dallas County Public Lake is owned by Alabama’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.   

Earle Williams said there was “a lot of bar-b-queuing and eating going on as well as a lot of fishing.” Each day the lake is open, the Williams’ have grilled meats and bar-b-que sandwiches available at the Lake Store. Snacks, drinks and a wide assortment of baits are also available at the store. “Feel free to let us know if there are some snacks we don’t have that you want,” Shaknyia Williams added. “We’ll try and get them in for you.”   

To fish any of the public lakes in Alabama, you need a valid Alabama fishing license, and you need a permit to fish the lakes, both of which are available at the Lake Store. Anglers can fish from the pier, the bank, or from a small boat, canoe or kayak. If you did not bring your own boat, you can rent one at the store.    

The lake is open from sunrise to sunset, roughly 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Facebook go to Dallas County Lake. (www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054381556390) and you can call for information at 334-349-2216.