A
Since being impounded in 1914 by the Alabama Power Company, Lay Lake is best known for its spotted and largemouth bass fishing. A high quality largemouth and spotted bass fishery exists at Lay Reservoir. Largemouth bass up to 18-inches are abundant and with moderate numbers of larger bass. Spotted bass up to 18-inches are very abundant with moderate numbers of larger fish. Crappie 9- to 12-inches are moderately abundant and are found throughout the lake associated with woody cover and weed beds. In 1993, a 9-inch minimum length limit was implemented on crappie to help protect younger fish. Anglers have supported this length limit overwhelmingly. Bream fishing is also very popular in Lay Lake. Bream offer a good summer fishery in creeks with woody cover and around weed beds. The best fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, and bream occurs in creeks and shallow water sloughs. Anglers targeting spotted bass should fish riverine portions of the lake.
In the upstream end of Lay Lake, the tailwater fishery below Logan Martin Dam is excellent for hybrid striped bass and catfish. Striped bass are also present. The tailwater area is also popular with anglers who enjoy fishing for largemouth and spotted bass when shad are running along the banks. The 2002 Bass Masters Classic was won in this area. The Logan Martin tailwater is an extremely high use fishery, very popular with local anglers. Currently, anglers are practicing a great deal of catch and release. A fish consumption advisories exists for portions of Lay Lake. Consult the Alabama Department of Public Health for updates or news releases before consuming fish from Lay Lake. State regulation prohibits commercial fishing on Lay Lake.
October
Although there are some big bass caught on Alabama's Lay Lake year
round, Fall is my favorite time to fish this lake for some big
largemouth bass and trophy sized spotted bass. The cooler it gets the
more foolish these big bass get. Without their temperamental attitude
(like when spawning) these bass have one thing on their mind before it
gets cold. Eating. Fattening up and grabbing every little morsel in
sight, these bass will hit a variety of lures this Fall period. Although
cool nights and days drop the water temps bass will continue to feed on
hapless meals just like the past Summer.
Frogs and small mice hopping and running along Lay Lakes weedy mats have
contributed to the days meal for the last 4 months. So the bass down
below are used to seeing them and used to eating them. Lures that
simulate these frogs and rats are deadly in the weeds in the Fall.
By October the largemouth bass of Lay Lake have dined on a variety of
meals. So keep this in mind when deciding on what lures it takes to fool
them. Snakes, small worms, lizards, freshwater eels, slugs and leeches
have been consumed all summer long. So fishing a variety of lures in
various shapes, sizes, colors and lengths, should be experimented with
until you get a big bass bite or two. These slithering meals have grown
to sizable proportions by the end of Summer so fishing with worms,
creature type plastics or lizards, all in lengths of 8-12 inches, may
really bring out the big bass from hiding.
When probing weedy holes, edges, lanes and points found within these
thick and matted weeds of Lay Lake, you have got to get the lure down in
the weeds. Heavy weights or sinkers (1/2 ounce up to 2 ounce size) are a
must, including strong hooks, stought equipment such as rods and reels
and strong line are all needed for fishing Lay Lakes weeds. Anglers get
broke off trying anything less than 20 pound test in the weeds. Finesse
fishing may be good along weed edges, but always use the heavy equipment
for fishing dead up in the weds, to avoid frustration and lost bass. Jig
combos and crayfish imitations are big bass lures in and around these
thick and matted weeds.
Besides the weeds there are other places to find bass on Lay Lake. When
you get away from the weeds, fishing wood cover, points, rocks and
bottom irregularities always mean you will encounter some of Lay Lake's
notorious Coosa River spotted bass. These spotted bass known as "spots"
are a bass full of fighting fury and they will give any angler a run for
his money. This is evident by observing the ones that don't get away.
Many trophy sized spotted bass you are fortunate enough to land on Lay
Lake either have one eye missing or a ripped or torn mouth that has
healed from the last anglers lure it ripped free.
In October fishing the lakes headwaters, just below Logan Martin Lake
dam is a good place to encounter feeding spots. Some are small in the
1-2 pound range, but trophy spotted bass exceeding 5 pounds do exist
here. Some anglers use small finesse worms on jig heads, or grubs and
shad imitations on light tackle outfits. Other anglers target the bigger
spotted bass that will often hit oversized topwaters like the Zara Super
Spook topwater lure, Norman's DD-22 deep diving crankbaits, oversized
jerkbaits or spinnerbaits with gaudy oversized trailers. Spotted bass
(to many anglers surprise) will be found in feeder creeks on Lay Lake in
the Fall as well as main lake spots. They also prefer to hang around
creek mouths, the mouths of small cuts and pockets, the upper and lower
ends of islands and around rip-rap rocks found along bridges, causeways
and creek culverts. Even piers hold decent sized spotted bass on Lay
Lake. They especially like the deep, rocky bluff type banks and deep
main river timbered points during the Fall period.
By Reed Montgomery
In the upstream end of Lay Lake, the tailwater fishery below Logan Martin Dam is excellent for hybrid striped bass and catfish. Striped bass are also present. The tailwater area is also popular with anglers who enjoy fishing for largemouth and spotted bass when shad are running along the banks. The 2002 Bass Masters Classic was won in this area. The Logan Martin tailwater is an extremely high use fishery, very popular with local anglers. Currently, anglers are practicing a great deal of catch and release. A fish consumption advisories exists for portions of Lay Lake. Consult the Alabama Department of Public Health for updates or news releases before consuming fish from Lay Lake. State regulation prohibits commercial fishing on Lay Lake.
October
Although there are some big bass caught on Alabama's Lay Lake year
round, Fall is my favorite time to fish this lake for some big
largemouth bass and trophy sized spotted bass. The cooler it gets the
more foolish these big bass get. Without their temperamental attitude
(like when spawning) these bass have one thing on their mind before it
gets cold. Eating. Fattening up and grabbing every little morsel in
sight, these bass will hit a variety of lures this Fall period. Although
cool nights and days drop the water temps bass will continue to feed on
hapless meals just like the past Summer.
Frogs and small mice hopping and running along Lay Lakes weedy mats have
contributed to the days meal for the last 4 months. So the bass down
below are used to seeing them and used to eating them. Lures that
simulate these frogs and rats are deadly in the weeds in the Fall.
By October the largemouth bass of Lay Lake have dined on a variety of
meals. So keep this in mind when deciding on what lures it takes to fool
them. Snakes, small worms, lizards, freshwater eels, slugs and leeches
have been consumed all summer long. So fishing a variety of lures in
various shapes, sizes, colors and lengths, should be experimented with
until you get a big bass bite or two. These slithering meals have grown
to sizable proportions by the end of Summer so fishing with worms,
creature type plastics or lizards, all in lengths of 8-12 inches, may
really bring out the big bass from hiding.
When probing weedy holes, edges, lanes and points found within these
thick and matted weeds of Lay Lake, you have got to get the lure down in
the weeds. Heavy weights or sinkers (1/2 ounce up to 2 ounce size) are a
must, including strong hooks, stought equipment such as rods and reels
and strong line are all needed for fishing Lay Lakes weeds. Anglers get
broke off trying anything less than 20 pound test in the weeds. Finesse
fishing may be good along weed edges, but always use the heavy equipment
for fishing dead up in the weds, to avoid frustration and lost bass. Jig
combos and crayfish imitations are big bass lures in and around these
thick and matted weeds.
Besides the weeds there are other places to find bass on Lay Lake. When
you get away from the weeds, fishing wood cover, points, rocks and
bottom irregularities always mean you will encounter some of Lay Lake's
notorious Coosa River spotted bass. These spotted bass known as "spots"
are a bass full of fighting fury and they will give any angler a run for
his money. This is evident by observing the ones that don't get away.
Many trophy sized spotted bass you are fortunate enough to land on Lay
Lake either have one eye missing or a ripped or torn mouth that has
healed from the last anglers lure it ripped free.
In October fishing the lakes headwaters, just below Logan Martin Lake
dam is a good place to encounter feeding spots. Some are small in the
1-2 pound range, but trophy spotted bass exceeding 5 pounds do exist
here. Some anglers use small finesse worms on jig heads, or grubs and
shad imitations on light tackle outfits. Other anglers target the bigger
spotted bass that will often hit oversized topwaters like the Zara Super
Spook topwater lure, Norman's DD-22 deep diving crankbaits, oversized
jerkbaits or spinnerbaits with gaudy oversized trailers. Spotted bass
(to many anglers surprise) will be found in feeder creeks on Lay Lake in
the Fall as well as main lake spots. They also prefer to hang around
creek mouths, the mouths of small cuts and pockets, the upper and lower
ends of islands and around rip-rap rocks found along bridges, causeways
and creek culverts. Even piers hold decent sized spotted bass on Lay
Lake. They especially like the deep, rocky bluff type banks and deep
main river timbered points during the Fall period.
By Reed Montgomery
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