Since being impounded in 1958 by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Warrior Reservoir is best known for its largemouth bass and crappie fishing. Abundant weed beds provide good cover for bass, crappie, and bream in Warrior Reservoir. Largemouth bass up to 12-13 inches are abundant. Larger fish are available in lower numbers. Bass recruitment is good, but growth is somewhat slower in Warrior Reservoir than in other Alabama reservoirs.

Small crappie are abundant. Crappie larger than 9 inches are not plentiful; but an occasional slab may be caught in weed beds during the spring. In 1993, a 9-inch minimum length limit was implemented on crappie to protect young fish in the population. This length limit has been well received by anglers according to creel surveys conducted by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

Bream fishing provides a modest summer and fall fishery mainly in backwater and cove areas in the lower section of the reservoir. The best fishing for major sport species (except hybrid striped bass) is in backwater areas and sloughs.

Hybrid striped bass provides a good, year round fishery, but is best in the spring and fall. There are a good number of 3-8 pound fish with some individuals up to about 12-pounds in size. Hybrids are caught primarily in the headwaters of Warrior Reservoir below Oliver Dam or in the tailrace below Warrior Dam (Demopolis Lake).

The upstream tailrace at Oliver Dam is a high use area with good fishing for hybrid striped bass, catfish, drum and crappie. Angler catch rates are relatively high and these areas are very popular with anglers. A new fishing pier and two new access areas have increased angler access to upper section of Warrior Reservoir.