Frequently Asked Questions

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 If you are legally disabled, you can obtain a disabled fishing license from the probate office in your county.  This license will serve as your BCDA permit. 

 TVA will start to slowly lower Little Bear, Big Bear, and Cedar on Nov. 1st and then will begin to slowly raise the same lakes on Feb. 15th.  This is done for flood control purposes and is managed by TVA’s River Operations group.  Upper Bear is kept at approximately the same level year round. 

 TVA’s office in Muscle Shoals, which is where TVA’s Bear Creek Watershed team is located.  Their number is 256-386-2228.

Currently BCDA does not rent canoes/boats.   

The following rent canoes/kayaks for the floatway;

Bear Creek Canoe Run  205-993-4459
Oliver’s Canoe Rental   256-356-2000
Dismal’s Canyon           800-808-7998 

*BCDA is not affiliated with any of these and makes no claim as to the quality of their services. 

 Brad Whitehead Fishing 256-483-0834

*BCDA is not affiliated with any of these and makes no claim as to the quality of their services.   

1. You must possess a valid BCDA permit and follow all rules required by the State of Alabama and any Federal guidelines which may apply.
   
2. ​BCDA/TVA land falls under the ‘Open Permit Public Land’ section in State Rulebook as far as seasons, bag limits etc.  Be aware which County you are in as that may change which rules apply to you.
   
3. ​You cannot cross private property to access BCDA/TVA property unless you have landowner’s written permission.
   
4. ​You may use a boat as a transport to your hunting area, as long as your firearm is unloaded and in a case during transport.
   
5. ​You cannot hunt on any of the four TVA Dam Reservations (Below Dams or on tracts on either side).  You cannot hunt on or around any of the Public Use Areas (Campgrounds or Boat ramps)
   
6. ​You cannot build any structures of a permanent nature, drive spikes into or damage to trees.