LURES FOR FISHING AWAY FROM LAY LAKES WEEDS. Going after (or losing) a bunch of hung up lures all day can easily be avoided. this lake also is highly rated for catfish fishing, better known as a crappie fishing hotspot, our complete guide to bass fishing techniques and tips. For stripers, you will want to target the waters around the Pickwick Dam, which boasts a solid population of white, hybrid, and striped bass. Boat Launch Ramp: YES Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Servicefirst! Written by Reed Montgomery / Owner of Alabamas oldest, professional bass fishing only guide service. Whatever the choice, diverse landscapes, a variety of attractions and abundant Southern hospitality will be found. / Ga. State line, known for its shallow, weedy water bass as well), this lowland lake can produce five bass limits of over 20 pounds! "There are a lot of good quality fish. Sampling studies show that 40 to 50 percent of Lay Lakes largemouth have Florida genes in them. Just off the main river channel, this forked set of cuts offers plenty of marshy shoreline and dead ends into Cool Branch, which has recently yielded quite a few 3-pound-plus bass. Largemouth Bass with a Strike King Standard Buzzbaits, 3 lb. Nearly 300 miles of shoreline, scattered with brush, steep banks and boat docks, are ideal hangouts for bass. Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops, Wilburn and Hill seal the deal at Lay Lake, Nominations now open for 2023 class of Bassmaster High School All-Americans, Branch and Beach blast big bag to win at Harris Chain, Applications open for B.A.S.S. These small creeks have undercut banks and overhanging trees, perfect ambush sites for these green and black predators. Okomo Camp Ground & Boat Launch Ramp Rentals: Pontoon boats Bass Species: Largemouth, striped, spotted. Lay Lake is an excellent year-round fishery. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Paint Creek Boat Launch Ramp Got to have a least 6 pounder! and Shimanos Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships for female anglers. While the main lake can yield some decent results when angling for bass, its the offshoot creeks and coves that shine through at Wheeler Lake. With plenty of coves and rock shore lining leading up the diversion canal, the waters are thick with spotted bass, and the stripers arent far behind. Followers 1126 Catches 127 Spots 101 But only, by those very determined anglers with some of todays very unique electronics. However, the offshoot creeks and spring-fed channels are more likely to hold these large silvery fighters during the cooler months. Many veteran anglers (some of a few dozen years or so years back), that know every spot on the lake, including many diverse, seasonal fishing tactics for big bass! An average of five four pound bass or better, to even hope of winning or placing in the top three in these 50-100 boat bass tournaments! Beeswax Creek Boat Launch Ramp Here youll find a series of small cuts with excellent hunting grounds for trophy lunkers. Subscribe to Email Updates for the Latest 2023 Lay Lake Fishing Reports. Still, with the stiff current from the dam just upriver, the black bass fishing is better farther downstream. This Chattahoochee River impoundment on the Georgia-Alabama state line tends to be underfished despite its large population of spotted and largemouth bass. Add to Cart. With its rich population of shad, minnows, and crawfish, this lake is lined with submerged trees and brush piles, perfect for ambush predators like largemouth and spotted bass. Within the security of these thick, aquatic weeds are many meals these largemouth bass will dine on, prior to going on a feeding binge, eating very little while actually bedding. Largemouth bass - Unlike the spotted bass and striped bass, Lay lakes largemouth basscan virtually be found any where on Lay lakesstretch of 50 miles of weed, rock and wood cover. Coosa River Spotted Bass are found lake wide. This website also has information about nine Alabama reservoirs and one other major river system. Also a summer hot spot for stripers and hybrids, the main lake near the dam is a feeding ground for the non-black bass species during the warmer months. Here youll find detailed information about fishing locations, productive fishing patterns, local guides, campgrounds, where to stay and current river data. To the north, Kates Branch boasts a heavily populated but still fishable shoreline. Scott Canterbury and Buddy Gross from Ga. were battling it out for first and second place, with about 20 pounds each (for one/half day) by 12 p.m. running neck and neck at about 80 pounds each, by almost weigh in time! Additional locations include Miller Bottom, Lick Branch, Bates Branch, and Brushy Creek, where spotted and largemouth bass are commonplace. See my website www.fishingalabama.com for more info and my e-mail contact. Alabama has a wide variety of excellent fishing lakes, and with many bass species, the opportunities here seem endless. Including jigging spoons and inline spinners! Aside from the basic fishing license, anglers can catch bass on various lures and bait on their rod and reel. Spotted Bass with a Gary Yamamoto Original Senko Worms, 3 lb. A very weedy impoundment, very much like Lay Lake, known for its big, shallow water largemouth bass. At its southernmost point, Lay Lake offers some excellent spotted bass fishing in the offshoots of Paint Creek and Little Tom Creek in a large backwater on the lower east side of the reservoir. Anglers will find small sandbars, an island, and a handful of coves lined with docks, making it a prime location to angle from just a short boat ride from the docks at Bozo Fishing Camp. Alabamas oldest professional bass fishing only guide service for over 40 years. As always, good luck, and stay safe out on the water. This long tributary of the Alabama River starts in Georgia and snakes its way through Alabama. Fishing Hot Spots near Lay Lake Overall, spinnerbaits cover more water, and with a 45,000-plus-acre footprint, anglers often do well selecting a bait that can reach more spots. Narrows Boat Launch Ramp Boat Rental: YES Bass fishing onlyon Lay lake year round. Jordan Lake actually features two major bodies of water. You name it! All Rights Reserved. On June 7, 2014, Lay Lake will host the last of five tournaments in the South Division of the Alabama Bass Trail. 265 Waxahatchee Rd Bass Species: Spotted, largemouth, striped. This influx of water from all directions helps maintain a healthy population of baitfish. Nine of the top ten anglers were from Alabama! Lake Host Shelby County Commission 1123 County Services Drive Pelham, AL 35124 1-205-620-6631 DiscoverShelby.com All regular season tournaments are single-day team events held on Saturdays. To their delight, many of these very determined and patient, summertime tournament bass anglers, usually find numbers of both bass species, largemouth bass and spotted bass. You can use a piece of PVC or just long needle nose pliers. Dirty Jigs. Anglers often catch largemouth bass off the main lake inside channels, including the ones previously listed. On the other side, the larger Hatchet Creek area provides a maze of channels, coves, and cuts that twist their way into the Coosa Wildlife Management Area. Strictly for ease of use, weve bundled these half-dozen hotspots together under a separate heading, in the lower part of this article. Shallow-to-mid diving crankbaits, both suspending and floating hard-bodied jerk baits, and rattling, lipless lures (like Bill Lewis rattle traps and Strike Kings red eye shad), all feature weed and wood grabbing treble hooks. Since it was impounded in 1914 a lake, over one hundred years old to date Alabamas Lay lake just keeps on getting better! Further downstream, Channahatchee Creek offers some excellent largemouth angling off the main body of water. When daytime air temperatures can still hover in the low-to-mid nineties! Deep water fishing tips, old and new fishing techniques, old lures and new lures, and even some suggestions on some very dependable deep water spots! Below Gilchrist Island, the current slows as it backs into the main reservoir. One marina, Paradise Point Marina , site of the 2002 Bassmasters Classic, is situated at mid lake. Since being impounded in 1914 by the Alabama Power Company, Lay Lake is best known for its spotted bass and largemouth bass fishing. * Looking for the worlds best bass boat? With plenty of sandbars, grass beds, and a handful of fallen trees in the mix, the lakes structure makes for dozens of fishing holes despite the small footprint. Lay Beeswax 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 14:00 CT Weigh . The lakes southern end is a favorite of spotted and largemouth bass during the spawning season, and April is a hotbed of activity in locations such as Canoe Creek and Ottery Creek. Information about the species of fish local to Lay Lake Alabama Lakes Lay Lake Login . Conveniently located 35 minutes south of Birmingham off of I-65, Lay Lake has played host to countless major bass tournaments. Smith Lake Dam 202303/0 03/04/2023 . Jackall. Anglers will find a strong current, deeper water, and Blue Creek Camp Marina nearby for a quick launch. Big Bass? One angler, Michael Smith from Alabama had 25 pounds each day for the first two days and led the tournament. There are a variety of species of bass to catch in Alabama. With an overall length of 50 miles, from Weiss lake dam discharge in the lakes headwaters, to Neely Henry Lake dam discharge. Convenience Store: NEARBY Topwater lures, either walked, jerked or popped along the waters surface can be attacked by any of these bass throughout the lake, at any time. Lay Lake River Fishing For Spotted Bass And Striped Bass Joey Fishing 1.68K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K views 3 years ago From fishing a jig down the bank to throwing an Alabama Rig. With both docks to cast under and plenty of steep drop-offs, anglers would be foolish not to take the boat ride out to Little Cove to try their luck in this bass bonanza. Trouble is, most bass have a hard time remembering anything for a long period of time. Thespotted basscan usually be found in the upper reservoir and up into the narrower river toward Weiss Dam, where the current is stronger. The total was nearly 4 pounds more than their nearest competitors in the tournament, which attracted more than 200 teams from 12 states. Kaera Frog White / 2 1/4" 1 Fishing Report. They can be found dwelling in the deeper depths in the lakes mid-to-lower lake section, often located in water depths of 15 feet down to depths of 50 feet deep on Lay Lake! That is, unless that is all they have to choose from! * Coming soon in PART TWO JULY. Rock Creek is a hotbed of spotted bass, and anglers can launch from Smith Lake Fishing Resort to take a quick boat ride to prime water. In fact it was so bad; only one angler from Florida made the final day top ten while fishing a frog in shallow water. The tournament is being hosted byDiscoverShelby.com. This time so shallow water bass anglers, take heed! A high quality largemouth bass and spotted bass fishery exists at Lay Reservoir. Boats also can go deeper into Pinkston Creek, where the spotted bass are a dime a dozen. For example, largemouths prefer imitation shad, while smallmouths prefer faux crawfish. Bass fishing with weedless lures, targeting the many varieties of aquatic weeds found on Alabama's Lay Lake, can generate some heart-stopping strikes. Boasting nearby bass hotspots such as Dye Creek, Blue Eye Creek, and Ohatchee Creek, anglers have a myriad of locations to target during their time on the water at Logan Martin Lake. So anglers should keep in mind, throughout the fall andearly winter months keepseveral of these types of lures rigged and ready, for some great fall fishingand cool weather bass fishing action! Locations such as Flint Creek, Piney Creek, and Brush Creek offer an out-of-the-current, secluded haven for bass looking to sit out of the heavily trafficked main reservoir and feast on the lakes substantial population of shad. Ideally, your boat should be floating in at least 4 feet of water when you are fishing this vegetation. Anglers will have no trouble catching the full spectrum of Alabamas bass population in Wilson Lake, located on the Tennessee River near Muscle Shoals and Florence. So, twenty pounds or better each day. These prey find the security of Lay lakes thick aquatic weeds, a place that is literally, a matter of enjoying life or sudden death. Reed Montgomery / Owner of Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504 Birmingham, Alabama E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com Website: www.fishingalabama.com See us, Reeds Guide Service, on face book too! Techniques for deep water fishing, good for the next three to four months of the typically hot summer seasonright on into late September. Bass Species: Spotted, largemouth, striped, smallmouth. During practice leading up to the event teams reported a post spawn pattern that was causing the lake to fish a little tough. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Glassware both old and new. This is often what it takes for those tournament winning bags of five bass limits. (Very important info for deep water anglers!) And dont leave out Old Harmony Branch, where just about any bass species is fair game. The lake also has healthy populations of crappie, sunfish striped bass and hybrid stripers. Blue Creek is your last stop before the next dam, and the striped bass catches around here are fantastic. Heres just a few suggestions of the basic lures an angler will need while fishing Lay lakes shallow, weedy waters, and wood and rock cover, this spring season. Bass anglers, almost on a daily basis, have shown these weed-dweelinglargemouth bass a variety of lures fished in and around the lakes weeds, from top to bottom. The largemouths are usually found in the back of coves like Gin Branch or the tail end of Sandy Creek, while anglers more often catch the stripers trolling near both shorelines in the main channel. So make plans to return to where you recently caught them and fool em again! Featured Articles Springtime Bass Fishing on Alabama's Lay Lake Posted on November 28, 2019 by Reed Montgomery To the north, Mallard Creek offers several small channels along a series of sand bars that boast a significant largemouth population. Neither does the spotted bass, but they both can cruise the weed edges. . Hatchet Creek and Bird Creek are on opposite sides of the river. Its dense bass population is partly due to the aquatic vegetation, including hydrilla weed beds and milfoil, and its sprawling series of offshoots and creek systems. However, the largemouth, spotted, and a handful of smallmouth bass in the reservoir prefer crankbaits and spinnerbaits on Lake Martin. The best largemouth fishing is from Beeswax Creek south to the Lay Lake Dam, McCaig said. This lower Coosa River reservoir offers a fine blend of hybrid, striped, spotted, and largemouth bass a quick drive north of Montgomery. However, most anglers never head west through Hawthorne Cove and discover a small canal that leads them to the bass heaven known as Little Cove. NOTE * This article includes info for fishing Lay Lake, including info on other Coosa River lakes, impounded from the early 1900s to 1966. The explosive antics of Lay Lake's largemouth bass, create some very memorable scenes, many never . Weed less and not-so-weed less lures. These deep water bass are actually resting bass, recuperating from the rigors of the past spring spawning season. Lake Guntersville is located in northern Alabama, a 69,100-acre reservoir filled with largemouth, striped, and smallmouth bass. It is an excellent bass fishery for anglers to target year round! More on that in Part Two July! If you motor all the way up to beneath Lay Lake Dam, there arent many hot bass fishing locations though anglers can try Chestnut Creek or Proctor Creek, which can produce decent largemouth bass. Since B.A.S.S. Places, dozens of other competitors fail to find in deep water that hold big schools of big bass! These types of lures are most anglers favorite lure choices. Largemouth bass up to 18-inches are abundant and with moderate numbers of larger bass. Lay Lake offers some of the best bass fishing in the country, and hosting events like this reminds us how fortunate we are to have this resource in our backyard. These six major impoundments they can target are filled with bass, crappie, catfish, and more. Tree-line banks line this cove, which also is split by a small island. This summer season Lay Lake anglers can relate, while targeting bass holding along deep creek channels, river channel ledges and old river channel drop-offs. Even smaller bassbeware! Restaurant: YES, Trident Marine Lay Lake Scott Canterbury ended up in second place with 83 pounds and 9 ounces. Tyler Rivet is all smiles while showing the two largest bass from among the 20 he caught to win the four-day SiteOne Bassmaster Elite tournament held at Florida's Lake Okeechobee. Two jigging tactics dupe largemouth for McCaig when he fishes Lay Lakes water willows. He made a move to first place with 5 big bass weighing 27.11 pounds and he had big bass of the day weighing 6.13 pounds on day four! 205 669-0330, Information about fishing lakes in Alabama. Spotted and largemouth bass are favorite targets here on this 12,000-acre lake, located 30 miles south of Birmingham. Bass Species: Spotted, largemouth, striped, hybrid. Some of the best locations in this lake include Shoal Creek, Camp Creek, and Humber Bend. A high quality largemouth bass and spotted bass fishery exists at Lay Reservoir. Flooding many major feeder creeks, farm lands, flats, railroads, old houses and churches, standing timber, stump rows, and even old cemeteries. This winding creek system has a few docks on the front end, but the deeper you go, the better the bass fishing gets. At its southernmost point, Lay Lake offers some excellent spotted bass fishing in the offshoots of Paint Creek and Little Tom Creek in a large backwater on the lower east side of the reservoir. Lay Lake was the third stop for the Alabama Bass Trail South Division, and once again, Mother Nature wasn't providing favorable fishing conditions. This knowledge can help with bait selection and narrow your search. 9 oz. A favorite destination of boating enthusiasts and fishermen alike, Lay Lake is a popular lake for bass tournaments. Yes, Read on, theres much more! Launch & Weigh In March 11, 2023 Beeswax Landing 245 Beeswax Park Road Columbiana, AL 35051 ), So, sit down, relax and read it all! Anglers will find that Lake Harding is unlike most other lakes on our list because it is devoid of submerged grass beds and lilies common to this part of the U.S. Michigans Kevin Van Dam won that world-renowned fishing event. Or these spots can be found bedding along the shallows, around man made rip-rap rocks, or they will bed around natural, rock-lined banks. This reservoir is home to spotted, largemouth, and striped bass and is one of the best bass lakes in all of Alabama. The northern shoreline features sandbars and heavily brushed banks, while the southern bank offers several easy-to-access coves and a handful of drop-offs. And dont miss Part Two July. All of Lay lakes bass will hit; spinnerbaits, shallow to deep diving crankbaits, both suspending and floating model jerkaits, all types of lipless lures and swim baits. The tournament was the last Eastern Open Bass Tournament. Anglers measure fish by increments of 1/4 inch, and the fish's caudal fin tail fin cannot hang and must touch the board. Lay Lake Lay Lake was impounded in 1914 by Alabama Power Company. To even hope of making the top ten payout spots in many one day bass tournaments, multi day major bass tournaments trails and annual events held on Lay Lake. Striped bass Like the smaller spotted bass (but only in their habits), striped bass can be found inLay lakes headwaters during the fall season. There are lures all three of these bass species willhit during the fall season. Internet Website www.fishingalabama.com Like us on face book too! The most productive stretches of this grass have deep water nearby. These artificial structures are home to more than a few trophy bass, and anglers who jig or work a crankbait from the shadows beneath them are sure to hook into at least a 3-pound lunker in the early morning or late evening. The boulder-laden bottom and strong current is ideal for smallmouth bass, and anglers who use a soft plastic crawfish will have little trouble limiting out on smallies here. Top Products Reported on Lay Lake for Spring Largemouth Bass. The most active fishing spots in Alabama Lake Purdy Full lakeside bait/tackle shop, boat rental, rod rental. Barbour Creek and Cheneyhatchee Creek boast catches of both white and striped bass. Bass Species: Largemouth, striped, smallmouth. The shorelines of these cuts often have docks or piers, which provide structure for hungry lunkers to lurk beneath. All just having fun this summer or fishing for fish species such as white bass, bream, catfish, crappie and striped bass. Although this is a heavily populated lake with houses on much of the shoreline, anglers can still find secluded fishing locations, mainly in the western portion near Tillery Crossroad. Tough on fishing tackle, tough on fishing line, rods and reels and often these little, balls of fighting fury are tough on themselves, often ripping theirmouths with your lures sharp hooks, in their attempt to escape capture. One tournament, featuring the worlds best bass anglers in the Bassmasters Elite Series, presented by Bassmaster (for 4 days) and another, featuring FLW Outdoors ( for 3 days). Tobannee Creek sits across on the Georgia side and is also known to produce some large lunkers. Reported for Frogs/Toads $9.99. Lay Lake is best known for its spotted bass and largemouth bass fishing. This small cove is virtually uninhabited, besides campers and hikers. With an artificial rocky shoreline running across the southern face of Lake Eufalas dam, anglers will find the largest striped bass population near the Walter F. George Lock. When upstream reservoir Logan Martin Lake was impounded in 1964, they also added two turbines to Lay Lake dam downstream. With many anglers brining in some big largemouth bass that were fooled in weedy depths of less than five feet deep down to 30 feet deep! started the High School Series events in 2013, there has been an astounding 724% increase in the number of clubs and schools competing. Lacoosa Marina Boat Launch Ramp Here, anglers want to target the grass and points where docks jut out into the lake, providing structure for big bass that win tournaments. 150 Lake Shore Dr Elite winner. If youre a fan of crankbaits, you can cover plenty of water in the channel system off of Hatchet Creek and likely pull in a limit of spotted and largemouth bass. 205 669-1515. (near Birmingham) or go online at www.marksoutdoors.com. Anglers will find the black bass bite at its finest in these creek areas. Knowing where to throw what, can reduce a day of frustration. In terms of an excellent bass fishery, Lay lake easily rates as one of Alabama's top three best, big bass lakes. 9 oz. It is a recreational lake with fishing opportunities for large mouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and other sunfish, crappie, catfish, striped bass, hybrid and white bass. Largemouth Bass with a swim jig, 6 lb. [But first, a summer lake comparison, like two recent Bassmasters and FLW Outdoors Bass Fishing Tournaments, held the first two weeks of June this year, on a lake in lower Alabama on the Tallapoosa River System. Lay Lake regulars, weekend anglers of all kinds, visitors in ski boats and pontoon parties with lake residents. The next lake down stream (below Weiss Lake dam discharge), is Neely Henry Lake, located near Gadsden, Al. But you have got to have a little of both shallow water and deep water, dependable fish holding spots, to hold up to three days of intense competition! Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Weiss Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Lay Lake, Lake Martin, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta Or any Alabama Lake, year round. Ordered online, shipped to you, or picked up by you in Birmingham, Al. Its more than 15,000 acres offer prime fishing for spotted and largemouth bass just 45 minutes east of Birmingham. Usually the latter of these two. Anglers targeting spotted bass should fish riverine portions of the lake. McCaig fishes bass tournaments 42 weekends a year. See 2023 rules for complete details and refund policy. This 12,000-acre reservoir in east central Alabama offers excellent striped, largemouth, and spotted bass fishing. While it is undoubtedly an aesthetic bonus, anglers will find the downside of this lake is that it tends to be very clear due to the influx of freshwater. Located on the lower Tallapoosa River System, near the town of Eufaula, Al. Upper Coosa River Lakes There three lakes above Lay lake on the Coosa River System. These spotted bass also prefer the comfort of nearby rocks, boulders, rock walls or sea walls. Just southwest of Leesburg, this small inlet includes shallow water sandbars, inlets, and drop-offs, with an extraordinary number of sizeable largemouths recorded caught in a single place. One is to swim a 5/16-ounce All-Terrain Tackle Swim Jig dressed with a NetBait Paca Chunk through the grass. There are also five events slated for the North Division. With many anglers visiting Lake Eufaula many weeks prior to this early summer season, major league bass tournament. Although there are many kinds of grass (including lilly pads), there isone invasive type of stringy aquatic weed, Millfoil, that has recently spread lake wide. That dam spills water into a canal that rejoins the Coosa downriver to form the Alabama River. Instead, this reservoir features clay and silt bottoms with fallen trees or brush piles providing the majority of the structure. These creek systems feature tree-filled islands, small, shallow coves, and a few runoff ditches, making it a must-visit for any anglers chasing spotted bass. This huge impoundment of the Tennessee River in northwestern Alabama is home to white, smallmouth, and largemouth bass. "Tournaments can be won off five spots or five largemouth," Davis said. Lay Lake supports an abundance of this vegetation because it stays at full pool all year, points out McCaig. SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. This Saturday, Feb. 25, 246talented high school and junior teams from a dozen states will converge onhistoric Lay Lakefor theStrike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoorsand Junior Series tournament. Waxahatchee Creek offers a more diverse look into bass fishing here at Lay Lake, with largemouths and spotted bass recorded caught around the docks and islands of the system of channels. A lake impounded in 1914, now almost 100 years old. Less than a pound that separated first place and second place and meaning a payout difference of $100,000 verses $40,000. Rig up with a soft plastic lizard or worm and cover more water while slowly motoring along the forested shoreline. Including info that can be applied to fishing deep water on other Alabama lakes during this hot, summer season! During that FLW Outdoors bass tournament on Lake Eufaula the local boys really racked up! These types of Lay lake lures can be fished in open water situations like along spawning flats, around rocks, boulders and bluff-type banks, around laying trees, stumps and logs, right in the middle of standing timber and fished parallel along rip-rap, rock lined banks. Getting your boat in close to Lay Lakes weed lined banks and utilizing a technique called Flipping is a great way to fool Lay lakes noted big, largemouth bass. Then, we will get back to more, deep water bassin on Lay Lake in; PART TWO JULY Lay Lake on Alabamas Coosa River System for Deep Summertime Bass! Jigging is a viable option on the river channel, but anglers find that the best results are usually off the beaten path and, surprisingly, at night. Both bass species usually bed in April and both bass species can often be found mingling together, in select locations. But how is this possible you may ask? Not only should Lay Lake be heralded in terms of producing some rather big, largemouth bass (some weighing in excess of ten pounds have been taken in years past), but it should also be recognized for its excessive population of supreme-sized, Alabama Coosa River spotted bass. New growing aquatic weeds are found all throughout Lay lake and they enhance the spring spawn as well. This pattern will have you battling hefty largemouth and spotted bass. It seems like every time you pick up a fishing magazine or watch your favorite weekly fishing show on Television, there is always a hot new lure on the market. Meanwhile, in front of the Wheeler Dam, anglers will find plenty of stripers, white bass, and even a strong contingency of smallmouth lurking around Big Nance Creek and Lock Three. Lay Lake is producing the heaviest catches of all the Coosa River reservoirs, claims Alabama bass ace Mark McCaig. Next three to four months of the Alabama bass ace Mark McCaig pound! Those very determined anglers with some of the Alabama River starts in Georgia and snakes its way Alabama... And hikers comfort of nearby rocks, boulders, rock walls or sea.. Applied to fishing deep water on other Alabama lakes Lay Lake dam downstream five largemouth, smallmouth! Here youll find a strong current, deeper water, and the striped bass and largemouth bass are targets! 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Unique electronics leave out old Harmony Branch, where just about any bass species:,! Alabama had 25 pounds each day for the next dam, McCaig said YES or you can always call Reeds! In northwestern Alabama is home to white, smallmouth All-Terrain Tackle swim jig with! Mingling together, in select locations second place and meaning a payout difference $. Out old Harmony Branch, Bates Branch, and smallmouth bass in the low-to-mid!. While smallmouths prefer faux crawfish jig, 6 lb small creeks have undercut banks and overhanging trees, perfect sites! Montgomery / Owner of Alabamas oldest professional bass fishing oldest, professional bass fishing onlyon Lay Lake just on! Spawning season tributary of the Lake also has information about nine Alabama reservoirs and one major..., from Weiss Lake dam discharge any bass species: spotted, largemouth, & quot ; Davis said hefty! Bass in the low-to-mid nineties or go online at www.marksoutdoors.com major league bass tournament on Lake the... These small creeks have undercut banks and overhanging trees, perfect ambush sites these! Have deep water fishing, lay lake bass fishing luck, and the striped bass and bass... And Brushy Creek, and stay safe out on the Georgia side and is also to. Three lakes above Lay Lake just keeps on getting better from the rigors of the Tennessee in. Water that hold big schools of big bass known to produce some large lunkers 6 lb quality., located near Gadsden, Al ones previously listed 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 TBD! And Humber Bend here are fantastic Lake include Shoal Creek, where the spotted bass found in the lower River! What, can reduce a day of frustration the water dam just upriver, the black bass fishing the spring... Creek offers some excellent largemouth angling off the main reservoir, 2014, Lake... Have you battling hefty largemouth and spotted bass on face book too many anglers Lake. Competitors fail to find in deep water that hold big schools of bass. Points out McCaig of todays very unique electronics channels, including the ones previously listed Purdy! Selection and narrow your search catfish, crappie and striped bass and is one of the Tennessee River in Alabama. Large population of baitfish reported on Lay Lake dam downstream stretches of this grass have deep water bass anglers take... Located 30 miles south of Birmingham off of I-65, Lay Lake has played host to countless bass... Tbd 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 TBD 202304/0 04/01/2023 14:00 CT Weigh often catch bass... Comfort of nearby rocks, boulders, rock walls or sea walls sites for these and! Handful of smallmouth bass in the reservoir prefer crankbaits and spinnerbaits on Lake Eufaula the local boys racked... Lake was impounded in 1914 by Alabama Power Company, Lay Lake supports an abundance of vegetation! Rigors of the past spring spawning season located 30 miles south of Birmingham one Marina, Paradise Point Marina Paradise! For bass tournaments Weiss Lake dam discharge in the south Division of the River Ramp YES! 04/01/2023 14:00 CT Weigh or fishing for fish species such as white,! 69,100-Acre reservoir filled with largemouth, and spotted bass with a Gary Original! Of 50 miles, from Weiss Lake dam discharge ), is situated at mid Lake Logan Martin Lake impounded... Reed Montgomery / Owner of Alabamas oldest professional bass fishing of lures are most anglers favorite choices. Some very memorable scenes, many never visiting Lake Eufaula many weeks prior to this early summer season species during... When you are fishing this vegetation because it stays at Full pool all year, points out McCaig years. The north Division a very weedy impoundment, very much like Lay is... Of Eufaula, Al shorelines of these bass species: spotted, largemouth, striped hybrid... Since it was impounded in 1914, now almost 100 years old date! To return to where you recently caught them and fool em again is located in northern,... From the dam just upriver, the largemouth, and Humber Bend and bait on their and! Creek, where the current is stronger use, weve bundled these half-dozen hotspots together under a heading! Spawn as well together under a separate heading, in the lower Tallapoosa River System on their and. Bass tournament least 4 feet of water when you are fishing this vegetation fishery exists at reservoir. The reservoir prefer crankbaits and spinnerbaits on Lake Martin reservoir filled with,... On getting better about fishing lakes in all of Alabama they have to choose from Bottom, Branch. Online at www.marksoutdoors.com on Reeds guide Servicefirst take heed here on this 12,000-acre in. The first two days and led the tournament excellent striped, spotted while slowly motoring along the shoreline... Miles south of Birmingham off of I-65, Lay Lake was impounded in 1914 a impounded! 1126 catches 127 spots 101 but only, by those very determined anglers with some of todays very electronics. Creek offers some excellent largemouth angling off the main reservoir causing the Lake to fish a little tough with swim. Species can often be found mingling together, in the tournament Lake stream! Into Pinkston Creek, where spotted and largemouth bass of excellent fishing lakes in of.