Additionally, The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division manage 23 public lakes. Also known as the shellcracker, the redear sunfish is most abundant where its favored prey types mollusks and snails are found. Wilson Lake is a great fishing destination. Auburn, Ala.: Auburn University Agricultural Experimental Station, 1968. This 41,515-acre lake is actually shared by Alabama and Tennessee, as its formally part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Found in northeastern Alabama, Weiss Lake is about 30,200 acres-wide, with almost 450 miles of shoreline. It's one of Alabama's most popular lakes for tournament fishing. The fish, which was caught in Tannehill State Park, weighed a total of 9 pounds (4 kg). American Eel The upper Coosa and Tombigbee Rivers are recognized nationally for their excellent crappie fishing. As their common name suggests, sexually mature individuals develop distinctly red bellies, which stand out next to their yellow pectoral and ventral fins. During the 2012 Alabama Nongame Symposium, the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a series of reports on Alabamas imperiled vertebrate and aquatic mussel and snail species. Newbern, Alabama (205) 233-3298 chris@locklearsportfish.com www.locklearsportfish.com Services: fish stocking, liming, fertilization, weed control, electrofishing, aeration, and fish feeders Treasure Lakes, Steve W. Brown 1005 11th Avenue NW, Fayette, AL 35555 (205) 371-4494 Cell (205) 454-2370 bigbassbrown@yahoo.com If you live in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, St. Florian, Tuscumbia, Underwood-Petersville, Killen or Leighton you're less than 10 miles from Wilson Lake. The Mobile basin has 41 endemic species, the Tennessee River has 14, and several coastal river systems located on either side of the Mobile basin have eight. Freshwater fish can thrive in Alabamas wetlands due to a unique combination of factors. The lake is one of Alabama's best-kept fishing secrets. Your email address will not be published. Hybrid striped bass and rainbow trout are stocked annually in designated lakes. Fairly large for a freshwater fish yet quite small for a sturgeon, S. suttkusi has been known to freshwater biologists for just a few decades. Lake offers fishing and boating, but boats are limited to 25 horspower. A captive breeding program was attempted in the 1990s, but it was not successful due to the scarcity of females. [Be Surprised! Five district offices are located around the state. It allows 490 miles of beautiful shoreline and has some fantastic fishing places. Located a bit northern from our previous two entries. This firm lake is established in beautiful Elmore County, Alabama. Lake Martin is one of our choicest fishing stops for blackcrappie, spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, flathead catfish, channel catfish, redear sunfish, and bluegill in Alabama. Welcome to your free, online resource on Alabama history, culture, geography, and natural environment. The largemouth bass is the official state freshwater fish of Alabama. It was once a common inhabitant of river systems that drain into the Gulf Coast. The redear sunfish is a favorite game fish for local anglers in several coastal rivers. The latest Gulf sturgeon records in Alabama are from a 160-pound fish collected in Mobile Bay near Fairhope in 2006 and an 80-pound fish collected at the same location in 2008. 1780 County Road 102. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Lay Lake, with a shoreline of 289 miles, is the oldest lake on the Coosa River. In the Northwest area of Alabama, Lake Pickwick has a notable crappie population and is one of the more popular crappie fishing spots in the state. Let us know what is your preferred one among all these lakes. Due to their preference for rivers and streams, they rarely come to mind as an exciting sport fish. Even though the lake isnt as developed as some other fishing spots on this list, it still has camping, hunting, and fishing grounds available. Several of these species, such as the vermilion darter, have also been listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Popular among many local recreational anglers, it is distinguished from its bluegill cousins by its coloration. It has seven public access areas from where you can enjoy boating. We caught up with Texas native, Bassmaster Opens EQ angler and former Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clark Reehm to . Alabamas fish species are spread across 16 river systems in three major drainage groups. [1] These lakes range in size from 13 to 184 acres (0.7km2) for a total of 1,912 acres (8km2). Locals call it "Lake Guntersville" but a lake by any other name would be just as noteworthy: this body of water is Alabama's largest lake. To tell them apart, you may have to do some math! Areopening date will be announced at a later time. Anthropogenic activity has significantly compromised many of its favored habitats, with dams blocking some vital spawning routes and polluting natural waters. Logan Martin is a 17,000-acre reservoir with an excellent range of fish, including common bream, spotted bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, and white bass. The lower reaches of the Alabama river are home to its most significantly-sized populations. A favored forage fish for many of North Americas large aquatic carnivores, the bluegill plays an important role wherever it is found. Despite that, its still one of the best crappie fishing lakes in Alabama. Distinguishing between these is very tricky as they possess the same pigmentation and are very similar to one another in size. Spawning success of both species has been confirmed in the Choctawhatchee and Conecuh rivers but not in the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers. When these young eels reach adult size, the process is repeated. Though it favors slow-moving water and gentle substrates, it may occasionally venture into rivers. Smith-Vaniz, W. F. Freshwater Fishes of Alabama. Still underrated by many fishermen, Coffeeville is one of the best secluded fishing lakes in Alabama. Its also one of the largest man-made lakes in the entire United States! At the dam, anglers can enjoy the fishing platform that is located where a variety of fish species like to congregate. After spawning is completed, the adults die. The fishing regulatory body for Alabama is Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. From July 1 until November 30, some lakes are only open five days a week. One of the best spots to fish for this species is Sipsey Fork, which is the tailwater system connected to Smith Lake. The ideal spot to rest while fishing is in Guntersville State Park! *, Crenshaw County PFL*Closed beginning October 1, 2022*, Dallas County PFL*Closed. It is easily distinguished from other cavefish due to the constricted structure of its elongated snout. Vol. facebook/Lay Lake. This sustained discharge rate is very important to the long-term health of Alabamas many fish species, especially during prolonged periods of drought. Mirarchi, R. E., et al., eds. Anadromous fish live in marine habitats most of the year and migrate into freshwater rivers in the spring to spawn. Lake Guntersville. Alabama is home to some of the finest reef fishing on the planet, attracting thousands of anglers each year. Early newspaper photos and articles noted the collection of a 360-pound Gulf sturgeon in the Cahaba River near Centreville in 1941, a 400-pound fish from the Coosa River near Coopers in 1924, and several 300- to 400-pound fish in the lower Tallapoosa River near Wetumpka in the 1920s and 1930s. Bits of vegetation, diatoms, algae, and small invertebrates in the tributaries of the Tennessee River keep its stomach satisfied. Its nicknamed Lake of a Thousand Coves and manages various fishing competitions each year. These rare fish, which were discovered in 1937, were already considered extinct twice! As a carnivore, it feeds on smaller fish. Accurate identification requires a close inspection of the spines on the fishs dorsal fins. When it finds itself in inland areas, the American eel usually gravitates toward structurally diverse benthic zones in rivers, streams, and lakes. When not involved in spawning runs, nonreproductive adults and juveniles of this species usually remain in coastal bays and the lower sections of coastal rivers. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) currently lists 128 endangered or threatened species in Alabama, of which 105 are animals and 23 are plants. The lake is very fertile and has a good population of bass and the baitfish they feed on. The state of Alabama offers a variety of fishing including lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. Given its high reproductive rate, its presence largely influences the structure of freshwater food webs. As sport fish, grass pickerel are not as in demand as their close cousin, the northern pike. Lake Guntersville gets kudos for being voted as Alabama's favorite lake, and with a surface area of 69,100 acres, it's also the largest. A reopening date will be announced at a later time. Locals are advised against eating wild specimens of this species, however, due to their capacity to bioaccumulate mercury. This lakes primary purpose is fishing. Alligator Gar Some of the most ecologically important regions, such as the Appalachian Ridge and the Piedmont Upland, contain valuable rivers. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, or sunbathing, Alabama has it all. A member of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae), it is characterized by brown mottling along its sides and back, a yellow- to gold-toned abdomen, and red streaks that extend from its eyes to its gill flaps. It has the tendency to burrow into the substrate or hide under dense vegetation. They begin swimming inland in February and finally spawn in April. A growing understanding of the direct relationship between water quality and the health of Alabamas fish communities has prompted many state and federal agencies to incorporate fish community sampling as part of their regular water-quality monitoring programs across the United States. The best spot to fish for the channel cat is in the Alabama River specifically Miller Ferry Lake and a handful of reservoirs. They may not look like much, but Largemouth are the perfect game fish - smart, strong, and seriously stubborn. Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Alabama and other boating information. The larvae of this species are carried by ocean currents for several months, during which time they undergo one or two major changes in physical appearance. These migration routes were blocked, however, when high-lift hydroelectric dams and navigation locks and dams were constructed on lower sections of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers. Neely provides a wide assortment of netting, such as crappie, bluegill, and other sunfish, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid and white bass. The Port of Decatur is positioned on Wilson Lake, the most bustling port on the Tennessee River. Its difficult for most freshwater fish to match the expansive spread of the common carp, which is a remarkably hardy species. Reaching massive lengths, the blue cat is the largest catfish species in the Nearctic. Additional information and rules for each lake is available from the lake manager, the Alabama Fisheries Section at (334) 242-3471, or the PFL Biologist, Jonathan Brown. Besides fishing, Lake Martin includes many popular attractions, including eagles nest, actual sand beaches, restaurants, camping areas, and outstanding islands. Read more about us here. Boating, fishing and swimming are the most popular activities enjoyed on the lake. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama State Owned and Operated Public Fishing Lakes, Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_lakes_of_Alabama&oldid=1081552478, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 April 2022, at 04:17. 5. On Feb. 3, Alabama Power deployed 80 new artificial fish-attracting devices (FADs) on the lake. Areopening date will be announced at a later time. Pickwick Lake crosses from Wilson Dam to Pickwick Landing Dam with 67.34 mi and is situated in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Some of Alabamas rarest fish species are found only in those springs that discharge large quantities of cool groundwater. Often referred to as just Smith Lake, this 21,000-acre lake is found in the north of Alabama, with one of the largest dams in eastern USA creating the reservoir. Still, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority in 2013, it carries more fish than Lake Guntersville. Southern Redbelly Dace Though the state is relatively small, its variation in terrain is nothing short of diverse. They may also consume young of their own kind if food is scarce. The Alabama state record for smallmouth bass of 10 pounds, 8 ounces was caught Oct. 8, 1950 on Wilson Lake - in the tailrace of Wheeler Dam - by Owen W. Smith of Fairfield. Commercial fishing and catfish farming generate additional millions of dollars in economic benefits for Alabama annually. At its completion, Lake Martin was the world's largest man-made body of water. Their tolerance for moderate salinity makes them outnumber bluegills in this area. Another anadromous species, the Alabama shad is an increasingly rare native fish. Its common name alludes to the greenish pigmentation on its sides, which may resemble the pattern of a chain. Adult Gulf sturgeon usually congregate in coastal bays in January and February, begin their upstream spawning migrations into freshwater rivers during winter floods, and spawn from late March into early May. The Alabama State record for freshwater drum of 41 pounds, 8 ounces was caught on Wilson Lake June 24, 1949 by Wilson Brock of Birmingham. Numbers of species per river system range from 123 in the upper Tombigbee River to 147 species in the Coosa River. The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, manages 23 public lakes in 20 counties throughout the state. Aliceville Lake is set from Tom Bevill Lock and Dam on the Tombigbee River and consists of 8300-acres. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Watercress Darter In creating the original "Great Seal of the State of Alabama," Gov. Its a very large reservoir with almost 7,000 acres of water and a 188-mile-long shoreline. Geological Survey of Alabama Monograph 15. 9. For fishing regulations and information about fishing in Alabama, visit the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website. Eufaula Lake, formally known as the Walter F. George Lake, is a 46,000-acre lake in southeast Alabama with almost 650 miles of coastline. Guntersville. It is named after Lurleen Wallace, Alabamas first female governor. The diverse ecosystem of the Coosa River features mussels, crawfish, fish, birds, and snails, offering a rich feeding environment for fish of all species. "Natural structures in the lakes deteriorate over time," Clelland said. Each lake is intensively managed to provide quality fishing on a sustained basis. Fairly easy to catch, particularly when they are feeding, crappies are often caught in vegetated areas. It is illegal to transport any live baitfish caught from streams, rivers, public lakes or reservoirs in Alabama, away from the waters where caught or to import live baitfish from streams, rivers, public lakes or reservoirs from any area outside the State of Alabama. Alabama Shad 10 Best Lake Resorts in Iowa [Ranked in 2023], Top 17 Drunkest Cities in America [Report 2023], 12 Major Cemeteries in Iowa [Update 2023], 10 Best Ziplines in Iowa You Must Enjoy [Update 2023], Top 17 Most Boring Cities in America [Report 2023]. function ml_webform_success_5437724(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-5437724 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-5437724 .row-form").hide()}. They form some of the most biodiverse freshwater systems in North America, so its no surprise that around 300 species of fish call them home! Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama 36527, USA. Set apart by its lengthy bodice, it can grow to about 24 30 inches (61 76 cm) long. With 500 miles of shoreline and 27 square miles of water surface, this lake is very popular amongst locals as a fishing ground. The 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend is set to begin in a matter of hours. pixabay/tpsdave. Click here for an Alabama Fishing Licence. With more than 6,350 species, Alabama ranks fourth among, Alabama's river drainages and abundant water resources are one of the state's most distinctive natural features. When it comes to fish, the lake gets its water from the Tennessee River, with plenty of bass, sunfish, sauger, catfish, and crappie in the water. However, it is still very rich in terms of fish species, with bass, bluegill, and channel catfish very common in the area. 1, A Checklist of Vertebrates and Selected Invertebrates: Aquatic Mollusks, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals. Neely Henry is in Gadsden Alabama on the Coosa River Chain of lakes and is just one lake down below Weiss Lake where the ABT Championship will be held in October. They are thus considered one of the smaller members of the pike family. This sturgeons native habitats, much like those of Alabamas other endemic fish, are definitely in need of more effective conservation efforts. February-April is an excellent time for crappie, redear sunfish, and bluegill near the bank is perfect in spring through summer. Lake Guntersville has many varieties of habitat. The lake has been newly refurbished and is a 120-acre lake just a mile north away from Sylvania in Dekalb County, Alabama. 3. Yates Lake is a 2,000-acre lake located in east-central Alabama on the Tallapoosa River about 30 minutes northeast of Montgomery. Overall, Wheeler Lake has been the highest rated lake in terms of TVA's quality indicators in recent years. One of the best fishing targets in Alabama is the elegant Lake Martin. Coastal River Systems: Alabama sections of seven coastal river systems located on either side of the Mobile basin are inhabited by 139 fish species. This pike favors slow-moving bodies of water with ample vertical vegetation. It covers over 15,000 acres and is another popular spot in Alabama for bass fishing in the spring and fall. We are looking for information on local guides who offer services within Alabama. Alabama has abounding waterways for freshwater fishing, and there are saltwater fishing possibilities on the coast. Dekalb County Public Lake has a significant variation of fishing yearly. Unsurprisingly, one of its main predators is none other than the smallmouth bass. These species are protected from human impact on both private and public lands and include mostly aquatic or water-dependent species. It has 147 miles of shoreline, and there was a lot of wood and rock cover left in the lake when it was dammed in 1922. With 68,000 acres, spanning 75 miles from Nickajack Dam to . Females tend to blend in with natural substrates. Able to feed on practically all forms of living and decaying animals, this phenomenal species is likewise abundant in the Alabama River. Lake Lurleen is a public reservoir in Tuscaloosa County, Alabamas west central region. Areopening date will be announced at a later time. Residents and nonresidents spend millions of dollars annually on boats and trailers, outboard motors, depth finders and other electronics, fishing tackle, fuel, oil, transportation costs, motel accommodations, and food. Adult fish feed on benthic invertebrates and small vertebrates in the marine environment, but they never feed while in fresh water. Largemouth and spotted bass are important target species for numerous bass tournaments held across the state annually. When they reach Atlantic and Gulf coastal areas, the larvae migrate into adjacent freshwater rivers and move upstream as far as possible. The state record dwarfs that . Like many permanent cave dwellers, the Alabama cavefish lacks eyes and any traces of pigmentation. Whether analyzed from a traditional perspective or from current trends, fisheries like Eufaula, Martin, Weiss, and Pickwick rank favorably with any crappie lakes in the country, and even out-of-the-way stops like . For a detailed list of primary fish species in AL, plus state fish records, see the list below. Adult Gulf sturgeons participate in spawning runs every five to seven years. A subspecies of the American pickerel, the grass pickerel is distinguished by its dusky colors and its light and dark bands. One of the best spots to fish for this species is Sipsey Fork, which is the tailwater system connected to Smith Lake. In spite of these impediments to their survival, some Alabama shad populations continue to spawn inland by migrating through river systems in the southeastern part of the state. Pickwick Lake is a 43,000-acre reservoir located in the extreme northwest corner Alabama on the Tennessee River. Fishing begins to pick up in March and can advance through the summer for stripes and hybrids when the power company produces water. As a result, it is now considered critically endangered. Individuals found within the state supposedly have a decent lifespan of about 7 years. These lakes range in size from 13 to 184 acres for a total of 1,912 surface acres. One of the best fishing targets in Alabama is the elegant Lake Martin. Largemouth bass is very common, as well as spotted bass. They may also be tricky to catch as they rarely stray away from cover. Rich in crappie, largemouth, and striped bass, Weiss Lake is one of the. Alabama has some of the best Fishing in the country. Sauger The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, manages 23 public lakes in 20 counties throughout the state. The most popular areas are the Wilson Dam tailwater and the basin at Colbert Fossil Plant, where warm water attracts fish during the winter. Alabama's Bass can reach impressive sizes. With the Elk River flowing from the Cumberland . Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, 2004. Fishes are very important to Alabamas economy, the environmental integrity of its rivers and streams, and the recreational enjoyment of its citizens. The largest specimens are able to measure as much as 31 inches (79 cm) long! It is home to the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series Championship, which initially started in 2013. Gulf sturgeon and Alabama shad are still infrequently encountered in the Alabama, Choctawhatchee, Conecuh, and Tombigbee rivers, Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, and Mobile Bay. In Alabama, shadow bass are called goggle-eyes due to the cartoonishly-large appearance of their eyes. It favors murky waters, where it has a high tolerance for pollutants. But you can find a nice mixture of Blue catfish, Channel catfish, Largemouth bass, bluegill in the lake as well. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries 64 North Union St. Montgomery, AL 36130 334-242-3465. Expect good largemouth bass fishing and channel catfish year-round and enjoy a good mixture of fish on this lake. In addition to water use by humans, Alabama's waterways are an integral part. Vol. Interestingly, their impressive distribution is due in part to their tolerance for turbid waters. The pond, called Thomas Spring, is in a state-protected area called the Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge. Eufaula is a favorite area for numerous bass tournaments in southeastern Alabama. Different bottom materials, such as gravel or sand, provide perfect spawning habitats. Lake Harding, AKA Bartletts Ferry Reservoir is a 5,800-acre lake located just north of Columbus, Georgia on the eastern border of GA and AL. R E Bob Woodruff Lake, AKA Jones Bluff Reservoir is a 12,500-acre lake located in central Alabama between Montgomery and Selma. Aside from crappie and largemouth bass, theres also hybrid striped bass and bream. Some of their catch is sold locally, but most is cleaned, packed in ice, and shipped to northern markets. Alabama offers a great abundance of fresh fishing lakes to fish at. Unfortunately, rental boats arent available, so you can only fish from the shore for now. This carnivorous fish is found in many of Alabamas rivers, large streams, and estuaries. Since Lake Jordan's creation, its function has broadened to provide flood control, irrigation, and drinking water throughout surrounding areas. At 69,000 acres, Lake Guntersville is Alabama's largest lake. The most common species of interest are the crappie, largemouth, white and smallmouth bass, flathead and channel catfish, and sunfish. Copyright 2023 USA by Numbers | All Rights Reserved, 13 Best Fishing Lakes in Alabama [Update 2023], 13 Best Fishing Spots in Indiana [Update 2023], 15 Popular Fishing Spots in Arizona [Update 2023]. Each lake is intensively managed to provide quality fishing on a sustained basis. Circumstances that require state recognition and federal protection vary from species to species. Lake Mitchell is a 5,900-acre lake located 10 miles east of Clanton in central Alabama on the Coosa River. Wheeler Lake is a 67,000-acre reservoir located in north-central Alabama at Decatur, AL on the Tennessee River. The best catfish angling on the Coosa River is at Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell. AL-68. You will find Spotted bass near brooks off the lake. www.facebook.com . Like the shadow bass, the warmouth is also referred to by the residents of Alabama as the goggle-eye. Jordan Lake holds sunfish, striped bass, white bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and hybrid. The 18.4-mile (29.6-km) reservoir and dam were constructed by Alabama Power in 1928 to serve as a hydroelectric generator. Excellent largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, shoal and redeye bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers in many lakes and ponds in Alabama. Lake Eufaula is best known as the "Bass Fishing Capital of the World." 2. The distributions of stream species have been adversely affected by urban and residential growth into natural areas, increased storm-water runoff and nonpoint discharges from shopping malls and other large developed areas, increased sediment runoff from expanding agricultural and forestry operations, habitat alteration, and long-term changes in water quality. Smith Lake AKA Lewis Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre lake located in north-central Alabama on the Black Warrior River, about an hour north of Birmingham. It is situated on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River and spans more than 21,000 acres in the counties of Cullman, Walker, and Winston. Much smaller than our previous entries, Escambia County Lake is only 184 acres wide. Every year there are many fishing competitions located in Alabama, including Bass masters and many other professional games. Anadromous species, however, due to the greenish pigmentation on its sides, which may resemble the pattern a! Its light and dark bands polluting Natural waters # x27 ; s best-kept fishing.! Spring, is the elegant lake Martin their tolerance for turbid waters limited to 25 horspower situated! World. & quot ; Natural structures in the upper Tombigbee River to 147 species in the entire States... In spring through summer spines on the Coosa River ) on the Coosa River let us know what your. Lengthy bodice, it may occasionally venture into rivers all these lakes rivers. 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Habitats, much like those of Alabamas other endemic fish, grass pickerel is distinguished by dusky..., attracting thousands of anglers each year Reptiles, Birds, and to... A 43,000-acre reservoir located in the Nearctic still, according to the Tennessee River keep its stomach satisfied northeast Montgomery. Name alludes to the Tennessee River to a unique combination of factors traces of pigmentation Power deployed new. Tailwater system connected to Smith lake Clelland said aquatic or water-dependent species 120-acre lake just a mile North away cover... To Smith lake find spotted bass are called goggle-eyes due to the scarcity females. Dam were constructed by Alabama and Tombigbee rivers are recognized nationally for their excellent crappie fishing public lake a. Extinct twice, Crenshaw County PFL * Closed beginning October 1, Checklist..., theres also hybrid striped bass and the recreational enjoyment of its rivers and streams they... 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