Impounded 1914
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Mid-to-upper 80′s
Water Clarity: Clear main lake / Some stain in major feeder creeks
Predicted Weather: Highs - Mid-to-upper 90′s Lows in the low 70′s for the Fourth of
July Weekend (and the rest of the week) with some scattered thundershowers
YES, ITS SUMMER ON LAY LAKE
Like any Alabama lake, Summer on Alabama’s Lay lake is now officially underway, with the ever popular Fourth of July Weekend just ahead. Lay lake will reveal hordes of on- the-water activity starting Friday, July 1 and lasting on into the long, Fourth of July weekend, which of course includes Monday and possibly Tuesday as well. So get ready for some company, for on this weekend whether you plan to fish during the day or at night, your going to see a very crowded lake.
My advice? Get on the water at dawn if you are planning on fishing during the daylight hours. This means making your first cast of the day around 5 a.m.! Leaving you a good 4 hours of serene fishing long before the skiers, pontoon parties, etc. get on the water.
If planning on dodging the main crowd and fishing at night then arrive at the lake
just before sundown and launch your boat around 8 p.m. By then, the long, hot day
has wore down most people and they are on their way home or just getting off the
lake. Leaving a lot of places where you can now fish in solitude and enjoy the much
cooler, night air.
So how about the fishing on Lay lake? A lake now almost 100 years since it was
impounded in 1914…that just keeps on giving’! Well, its good, that is if you are
fishing the right lure, at the right time, in the right spot! Day or night, Lay lake
bass will feed during this long, hot summer, which we still have over 3 months
ahead, before it really starts to cool in October.
And what a variety of situations for Lay lake’s summertime anglers to decide, on a
lake that is fifty miles long, as to where they choose to fish on each outing.
Whether you are fishing during the day or at night there is always some biting bass
to be found lake wide. So here are some suggestions, places to consider fishing for
either Lay lake’s largemouth bass, spotted bass or an occasional striped bass during
this summer season.
LAY LAKE DAM
Near Lay lake dam on the lower lake is Paint Creek and just up stream is Waxahatchee
Creek, both major feeder creeks situated just below the “Narrows” on the main lake.
Talk about variety! In both of these huge creeks and along the main lake’s smaller
cuts and pockets, there are loads of aquatic weeds, rock bluffs, standing timber,
stumps, brush piles, piers, boat houses, sea walls and loads of man made rip-rap
rocks found along the dam area and up in the creeks.
Great places to fish topwater lures around weeds, wood and rock cover, or weedless
lures like frog imitations fished right up in the thickest of weeds. Or astute
anglers armed with heavy action flipping rods can flip or pitch their enticing
offerings till their hearts desire! Big worms or lizards, or smaller finesse worms,
or slow rolling spinnerbaits on deep drops, can be fished on deep river ledges and
drop-offs or along rock bluffs, ideal summertime places for big bass fishing any
time!
MID LAKE
From the “Narrows” on up the lake, you will see many major feeder creeks such as
Spring Creek, Peckerwood Creek, Beeswax Creek, Cedar Creek and smaller feeders like
Bully Creek, Dry Branch and other unnamed smaller, weed-lined pockets found on both
sides of Lay lake. All the way up to Yellow Leaf Creek near Wilsonville Steam Plant
warm water discharge.
There are also several islands in the midlake area (just below the steam plant) in a
big S bend in the middle portion of the lake. This is where the lake begins to
narrow down to more of river like situation for another 20 miles, as you head all
the way up to the lake’s headwaters, situated just below Logan Martin Lake dam.
UPPER LAKE
Like said, as you head up the lake, leaving the Wilsonville Steam Plant area near
the mouth of Yellow Leaf Creek and going north, you will begin to see a very
noticeably more river-like terrain. There are still some very small creeks, pockets
and cuts all loaded with bass holding cover like aquatic weeds, wood cover and
rocks.
You will also see more islands just before coming to Hwy. 280 bridge (the only
bridge that spans this 50 mile long lake) before eventually coming to Kelly Creek,
only one mile from Logan Martin lake dam, in Lay lake’s headwaters. This entire
upper lake will have less people on this Fourth of July weekend than the mid to
lower lake, leaving plenty of places for anglers to choose to fish on this very busy
Holiday weekend!
Oh, the lures?
To read all about the lures it takes to fish Lay lake - Visit my website
www.fishingalabama.com There you will see both summertime day and nighttime fishing
tips and up-to-date lake reports for Lay lake and other Alabama lakes. Also go to
the “articles” link found there and you will see several articles about fishing Lay
lake this summer season. Including loads of very useful information on the lures and
the many ways to fish them both during the day and at night this summer season on
Alabama’s Lay lake.
REEDS GUIDE SERVICE - ALABAMA’S OLDEST
Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service…first! And see how! Lay lake’s
oldest, professional — bass fishing only — guide service for over 40 years,
including Alabama’s oldest guide service as well, for fishing any Alabama lake year
round! Call (205) 663-1504 or e-mail me alabassgyd@aol.com for more info! Discounts
available!
BE SAFE AND BE COURTEOUS TO OTHER BOATERS AND ANGLERS ON OUR VERY CROWDED LAKES THIS
SUMMER SEASON!
Thanks and Good Fishin’!
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
” Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth
Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass ”
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service…first!
Alabama’s Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
