|
Would you like to know more about fishing the
Zara Spook?
Go to Reed's Tips and Techniques
page for "Everything you
wanted to know about Zara Spook, but were afraid to ask?"
| |
LAY LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Impounded 1914
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Mid-70's
Its "Frog and Rat" time on Alabama's, weed-infested Lay Lake. Last
week's
annual, March of Dimes Tournament was won with 5 bass weighing 25 pounds and,
knowing the angler, I would say some of the bass, (including a 6 & 7 pounder)
were caught on these lures.
When weeds are in full bloom and bass are hungry, they must eat a lot of
frogs and bank-running mice and small rats on this lake. Lures that are
similar in appearance and made to mimic the slow-hopping actions of these
creatures, entice some of Lay's biggest bass to attack.
What makes these little creature imitations so good? The weeds. Frogs and
small rodents live out their lives in and among these aquatic weeds. Some
weeds are very thick and many frogs and small mice scoot or hop along these
weedlines. Some weeds are some impenetrable and scummy looking, any other
lure, will return loaded up with gunk, or hang up in the weeds. The small
creatures scurry and hop all about the weedy shorelines of Lay's 50 plus
miles of endless greenery. The angler that does the same, fishing these weedy
masses, will get amazing results.
So, naturally these bass eat a lot of these small creatures that haplessly
land in the water at sometime. Fishing with lures that look, act, and sound
like the real thing, will fool even age-old bass, Big bass that have seen a
lot of Lay Lakes "other" weedless lures.
There are many varieties of frog and rat imitations on today's market, and
all will at some time, entice these often finicky bass to strike. One very
popular and very weedless model (and one my favorites) is the, "Scum Frog
and
Bassin' Rat." They come in a variety of colors, but either white or
chartreuse seems to work about any time on Lay Lake. Darker models in colors
of black, brown or dark green, may be better at night or during cloudy or
rainy periods.
Fishing with these lures during May and often on into summer, requires nerves
of steel. Short hops, stopping in and among the weeds, and hopping the lures
into holes and weed edges, entices the strikes, from Big, hungry bass
following the lure from down below.
Blowups can be tremendous and not for the faint hearted. Missed strikes are
common and if a bass is hooked and lost, comebacks are rare. Actually giving
a one-two count, after the initial blowup, then setting the hook, is the
secret to hooking and landing these bass. But keeping another weedless lure
ready for back up, is possible, to fool the bass into striking again, at a
totally different looking intruder.
I keep a Zoom trick worm, ready to grab, and cast, for just such an occasion.
When the bass blows up and won't follow or hit again, I reel in real fast and
lay down the frog or rat imitation. I then cast the trick worm, to the spot
of the blow up and twitch it a few times to see if the bass will hit again.
Usually it does. If not, just let it sink and wait, watching your line for
that telltale movement, indicating a strike. Then set the hook hard.
Fishing with frog and rat lures requires line in the 15 to 20 pound test
category, to aid the angler in horsing some big largemouth's out of these
weeds, sometimes even heavier line. This requires a wide-spooled reel to load
up on during the retrieve, when fishing with a lot of thick, heavy
monofilament line. Trilene Big Game line is perfect for some long cast's,
often needed far back in these weeds. Coupled with this outfit, you need a
strong 6 to 7 foot long-handled rod. I prefer using 25 pound test Big Game
monofilament line, with a 7 foot Hookhider (hookhider.com) flipping rod, then
nothing gets away.
The Zoom Trick Worm outfit can be a matter of preference for most anglers.
Some prefer spincast outfits, loaded with light line in the 10 to 12 pound
test category. This is good for ease of casting these very light lures,
skipping the lures under piers and overhanging bushes, and avoiding the
dreaded backlash associated with fishing very light lures with open-faced
reels. Others may get used to open faced reels such as, ABU Garcia's
Ambassador series 5000 and 5500 reels, loaded with line as heavy as 15 pound
test.
Either floating worm outfit requires fishing with worm hooks (preferably
offset shank hooks) in the 2/0 to 4/0 sizes. To get more casting distance,
fish with light line and the wind to your back, increase your hook size, add
rattles for more weight or insert small nails in the worm.
Best colors are the ones you can see from a distance. Water clarity dictates
your choice, but sometimes very bright colors such as pink, white, yellow and
chartreuse will get surprising results from bass in clear water situations.
Walking these worms, just beneath the water's surface and allowing them to
drop in little holes in Lay's weeds, will entice following bass to strike.
Bass that avoid the regular array of lures ...lures they see every week.
This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" Radio Talk Show
WJOX 690 AM
Birmingham, Alabama
Phone (205) 787-5133
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
Website: www.fishingalabama.com |
