Impounded 1914
Lake Level Full Pool
Water Temperature - Mid-to-upper 40′s
Water Clarity - Light stain
WINTER ON LAY LAKE / PREPARATION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN YOUR SURVIVAL
Anyone that has ever been a Boy Scout, Girl Scout or Cub Scout knows the phrase, “Be
Prepared”. Preparation, prior to a well-planned wintertime fishing trip, is
important to and it might just help save your life! During no other time of the
entire year is “being prepared” more important than during the colder months of the
winter season, like Alabama anglers will experience during the months of January
and February.
No, I’m not going to drag this out, for most anglers know that having your boat,
your tow vehicle and all your fishing equipment and fishing tackle all in good
working order, is mandatory to having a good day on the water, especially during the
winter season. Whether you catch any fish or not is secondary…you just want to
return home, safe and sound.
But being prepared for yourself! Keeping warm, having a change of warm, dry clothes
and being ready for any emergency that may suddenly arise is important too!
So here’s a short list of things to “keep in mind” this winter season.
1. The Weather - First and foremost during the winter months is keeping a good watch
on the weather, like watching Birmingham’s WBRC Fox 6 Television weathermen, Micky
and Fred! Knowing when a good warming trend (or cold front) is coming in prepares
you for planning a trip when the weather is warmer, the water is warming more each
day and the bass bite better!
* NOTE - The last day of a warming trend is always the best day to go fishing, this
is when another cold front comes in and these bass instinctively know its time to
feed and fatten up prior to the approaching cold front!
2. Dress Warm - During winter in Alabama it can get very cold, yet some anglers will
still be on the water without enough clothing to help keep them warm. Keeping warm
involves a number of factors, all that you are in control of. Always over
dress…you can always take it off!
* NOTE - For each occupant in the boat always have life jackets, hats, toboggans and
caps, heavy coats, jump suits and gloves. Also have a spare change of clothes in
case one of you fall in the water! This means having at least one (2 is better),
full change of clothes in the boat and things like a spare pair (or two) of warm
socks, dry shoes, blue jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, long sleeve shirts, jump suits and
coats! Including towels for drying off fast and a lighter and dry, fire starting
materials like paper.
So as you see, “Being Prepared” is going to involve a long, check off list prior to
your fishing trip! These are going to be items you will need, that might just save
your life in an emergency, don’t be caught dead without them! When you fall in the
water or suddenly get wet you need to warm back up fast. Hypothermia can set in fast
if you don’t. On the other hand, the life you save could that of a friends or
someone you love dearly. So be prepared and don’t let these mishaps, happen to you
this winter season!
3. Eat Warm Food and Drink Warm Drinks - On a very cold morning a good warm
breakfast can start your day off right. But it does not stay with you very long.
Bringing along warm food and warm drinks is possible. Hot coffee and hot chocolate,
enough for everybody, may call for bringing two full thermos.
The same goes for bringing hot soup or hot chili in a thermos bottle, but bring
enough for everybody, including eating utinsels and cups or bowls! * Wrap your
thermos in a big coat or towel and keep it stored. It will stay warmer a lot longer,
than when being exposed to the cold air out in the open boat.
* NOTE - The sun can warm food slightly when placed on the boat deck for a short
period of time around midday. Hamburgers, sandwiches and even a slice of pizza can
be warmed when wrapped in aluminum foil and then laid out for about 30 minutes on
sunny days. But do not leave it exposed or out in the sun very long.
4. Hand warmers are great on cold days!
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* FISHING NEWS *
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FISHING LAY LAKE THIS WINTER IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Look for bait fish and warm water. Like the bass — when this becomes a way of
survival — you must look for these two things all winter. Bait fish can be on the
main lake, up in Lay lake’s many feeder creeks or they can be found at “dead ends”
like around both dams, the backs of creeks, rock bluffs, pockets or far away from
the cold, main lake current in places that warm up fast, like back water ponds or
small lakes found behind culverts and behind secondary bridges.
Even slack water found around metal-sided boat houses can suddenly warm up. The
surrounding waters heat up fast with the sun beaming down on them during warming
trends, they are especially good from mid-morning to late evenings. Man made rip-rap
rocks found around dams, bridges, causeways and culverts, create, “heat holding bass
cover” in the surrounding waters, and these rocks heat up real fast during warm,
sunny days.
Although current is usually not associated with winter bass fishing it can hold bass
nearby. Look for bass — like when fishing below Logan Martin lake dam in Lay lake’s
headwaters — in slack water retreats, holding just out of the cold, and often
swift, dam discharge current.
Places just out of the current can be points, the mouths of cuts, pockets and
creeks, or they can be found behind islands, laying trees, stumps, rocks, laying
logs and log jams. Anything that blocks the current could have several bass or a
dozen or more bass all holding in one small spot. Fish each spot thoroughly and from
all angles. Most bass holding in current situations will not move far for your
offering’s.
* GUIDE SERVICE
Or you can call on Reeds Guide Service…first! (205) 663-1504 Lay lake’s and all of
Alabama’s oldest, professional “bass fishing only” guide service for over 40 years.
Now offering, “a One Day Special Discount” on a guided fishing trip Christmas gift
certificate!
* CHRISTMAS TRIP GIFT CERTIFICATE / ONLY ONE DAY LEFT TILL CHRISTMAS!
With Christmas only one day away many of you are still looking for that last minute
Christmas gift for that loved one that loves to fish! Well, look no more!
Today and Christmas day (OK and Sunday for you belated gift givers) I am offering a
$25 discount off regular rates for fishing any lake in Alabama. Just call (205)
663-1504 or e-mail me alabassgyd@aol.com and mention the $25 discount and I’ll
quickly send you an E-mail gift certificate for you to print out and give to the
angler for a Christmas gift. It is redeemable any time in all of 2011 and good for
either one or two anglers! That’s all there is to it!
* 40TH ANNUAL 2011 BIRMINGHAM BOAT SHOW
The 40th Annual Birmingham Boat Show is early this 2011. It is scheduled for January
20 - 23 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex (for booth info call
1-361-749-4436 or see their website www.birminghamboatshow.com for more info) Come
celebrate 40 years of The Birmingham Boat Show serving Birmingham!
* REED MONTGOMERY’S 10TH ANNUAL KIDS FISHING SHOW / DONATIONS NEEDED!
Make plans to attend or bring your children to the “Reed Montgomery 10th Annual Kids
Fishing Show” to be held at the Birmingham Boat Show on Saturday, January 22 2011 at
around 1 p.m.! In 2010 over 500 kids and their parents attended! Donated prizes for
all kids!
* NOTE If you are interested in donating (anything) these kids are not hard to
please! Vendors and donators have donated fishing tackle, rods, reels, tackle boxes,
shirts, hats, decals, stickers and much more in past shows. It is our goal to see
that every kid goes home with some free donated prize! Donators can come on stage
during Saturday’s show and speak on behalf of their company or product! We need all
the donations we can get, please help if you can! E-mail me or call for more info.
* REED MONTGOMERY OF REEDS GUIDE SERVICE ON FOX 6 TV
Watch Reed Montgomery on Fox 6′s WBRC Morning Show, “Good Day Alabama” with his “Ask
the Angler” Question and Answer session on just after 8 a.m. this Tuesday, December
28 and every last Tuesday of each month in 2011. Now celebrating 6 years on
Birmingham’s Fox 6 TV!
* FISHING TACKLE AND HUNTING ITEMS - Go by Marks Outdoors Sports in Vestavia (near
Birmingham) or go online at www.marksoutdoors.com for all your fishing items and
hunting needs.
* NEW AND USED BOATS See Airport Marine’s new and used boats in Clanton, Alabama or
go online at www.airportmarine.com for close outs and end of year boat sales, parts
and expert mechanic work!
* BASS TOURNAMENTS - Check out www.airportmarinetrails.com and see their new
tournaments and trails for 2011!
* NEW ALABAMA WEBSITES Check out www.bassnboat.com and www.bamabass.com
* Also See www.fishingalabama.com for info on all of Alabama’s lakes!
* WORLD’S BEST BASS BOAT - Check out Ranger Boats new website at www.rangerboats.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM REEDS GUIDE
SERVICE!
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!
