August on Alabama's Lay lake By Reed Montgomery
Capt. Reed Montgomery
August 8, 2017
Lay Lake - Freshwater Fishing Report
August on Alabama's Lay Lake
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service (205) 663-1504
Alabaster, Alabama / Website www.fishingalabama.com
"Dealing With The Weekend Crowds and Catching Bass During the Month of August"
On Alabama's Lay Lake, escaping the wrath of the summertime crowds during the month of August, can be an endeavor many anglers would rather avoid. Escaping the relentless heat during August is really only possible by relaxing in the comfort provided by your air conditioner.
But there is hope for some.
Many would-be daytime anglers are greatly influenced to make a change. They quickly decide that the lake is to crowded, or for some anglers, its just to hot to go fishing during the day. Most simply employ an annual, summertime fishing strategy. Go night fishing!
But for many anglers this is just not possible. Schedules may dictate that many anglers cannot find the time to go night fishing. Work schedules, family time spent off the water, or even a pre-planned weekend, can leave very little time for night fishing.
So "reluctantly labeled" daytime anglers seemingly have no choice. They must go fishing during the daylight hours or choose to just stay home. So, its a given fact, daytime anglers must deal with the August heat (and the crowds), and something you see very little of during a night fishing trip, is the summertime crowds.
Of course catching bass is important to. That's why we go fishing and put up with having to deal with all of the negative elements. Knowing where to go and what to throw, is just as important as trying to stay cool and avoiding the summertime crowds.
Just to fool a few of those little green fish into biting our tempting offerings is a true feeling of accomplishment. Especially when proven techniques are applied during the hottest months of summer and you consistently catch both big spotted bass and Lay lakes big largemouth bass as well!
and techniques will work right on into the month of September!
Actually, there is still a 60 day period (2 months - August / September) of continuous, very hot summer heat left to go. Before summer ends and the lakes waters start to cool! Not only on Lay lake but all of Alabama's lakes are still very crowded as well!
UPPER LAY LAKE
If getting, "as far away from Lay lake's maddening summertime crowds" is possible, then maybe there is a chance your desires could be fulfilled with a trip taken far upriver.
Sure, some anglers will be there as well pursuing their same desires. Especially on weekends. But when targeting bass in these lake headwaters you will soon see a major difference in your company, than when fishing the mid-to-lower lake region.
Gone are all the sea doos, jet skies, water skiers, big pleasure boats and cruising pontoon parties. You will see a few bass boats, some crappie fisherman or catfish boats in and around the Logan Martin dam area.
But even when combined, these lake head water's anglers will seem like very little company, especially when compared with the mid-to-lower lake crowd most weekends will display, until school is back in session.
Besides the peace and serenity found in this upper Lay lake region during the summer months, these lake headwaters are situated right below Logan Martin lake dam. Meaning a whole lot more for the summertime angler and the bass he pursues.
There are four very good reasons to be fishing here.
Shade, cool water, current, and plenty of oxygen content, all play huge roles in the desires of summertime bass. Such as Lay lake's largemouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass. All of these bass species can be found here seeking out these comforts during the very hot, months of August and early September.
All four of these variables exist in Lay lake's headwaters, to easily be found by any angler fishing all throughout the upper portion of the lake, during the entire summer period and even on into the early fall month of September.
MID LAY LAKE
When targeting Lay Lake's various bass species many anglers would like to fish the lake's headwaters and get far away from the weekend crowds.
But, unless you launch your boat in the upper lake area, it may be a long boat run for some anglers with smaller boats and motors.
Lay Lake is about 50 miles in length. So running your boat far upriver, all the way up to the lake's headwaters situated below Logan Martin Lake dam from say, Beeswax Creek boat launch, could easily be over 25 miles by boat.
Many anglers live on Lay Lake. Some keep their boats in the water or have their boat parked in a boat house. Its convenient with no boat trailer or boat launch needed. Just get in the boat and go fishing!
Most of these lakeside residents just want to fish within a few miles of their house or some just want to travel a short distance from where they launched.
[ Bass tournament anglers are used to making long runs. So are some anglers with big bass boats featuring big motors and plenty of money for gas! Still, launching where you intend to fish or learning some good fishing holes near where you live or launch in the midlake area, is much better than making a long, gas burning boat run.]
And, it saves a lot of money needlessly spent on gas and oil, in the long run.
Escaping the weekend crowds seems impossible, but it is something you can do on every fishing trip, starting with launching your boat early. A lot earlier than when other anglers do. Getting the jump on other anglers, launching early, means getting to the bass first as well!
If its getting light at 5 a.m. (dawn), then you should have your boat already in the water at 4:45 a.m.! Most anglers would be very surprised at how empty the boat launch parking lot is at the sign of first light. Of course some will never know.
Lay Lake's mid lake region features many major feeder creeks. Yellow Leaf Creek near Wilsonville Steam Plant, Beeswax Creek, Cedar Creek across the lake from Paradise Point Marina, Sulfur Creek, Peckerwood Creek, Spring Creek and Blue Springs Creek are all situated well off the main river.
Some of these creeks wind far back in the scenic country side, providing plenty of shade, cooler water, current, and plenty of aquatic weeds, that always means a high oxygen content. Places away from the weekend crowds and a refuge during the midday day heat.
LOWER LAY LAKE
The lower end of Lay Lake can give one the impression of being on a entirely different lake, especially when compared to the mid-to-upper lake more river-like region. Seeking an escape from the waves that are created by every kind of passing vessel that can float, seems impossible.
Getting away from the crowd is just one problem. That midday sun bearing down on your head, neck and shoulders seems relentless as well. But anglers can avoid both the summertime crowds and the elements to get away from it all… if they try.
Rock bluffs can be found at a lower lake area noted as "the narrows" with deep water places that provide shade, even during the midday period. If not, you can always travel up in the many surrounding cuts and unnamed pockets to seek out shade from overhanging trees.
* Often you will find much cooler water in these lower lake pockets and it can be 5 degrees or cooler in the shade.
Waxahatchee Creek is situated about a half mile below the narrows. Paint Creek is near Lay Lake dam. Both of these lower lake creeks feature fish-holding cover such as standing timber, loads of aquatic weeds, lay down trees, brush, stumps, rocky banks and plenty of piers, boat houses and even a few marinas.
Both of these major feeder creeks wind for miles back into the eastern and western sides of lower Lay Lake. They provide shade, current, cooler water and plenty of oxygen content around aquatic growing weeds.
Just like when fishing almost 50 miles north, in Lay Lake's headwaters!
So as you can see there are plenty of places to get away from the summertime weekend crowds and plenty of places to escape the rays of the hot, summertime sun! Lake wide!
* Get a map of Lay Lake or go to www.google.maps.com and type in the words, "Lay Lake" situated near the town of Columbiana, Alabama to access the lake.
Want to learn how to fish Lay Lake? Navigate Lay Lake? Or give a fishing trip as a gift for some loved one that loves to fish? Always Call on Reeds Guide Service…first!
" Guiding on Lay Lake and all other Alabama Lakes for Over 40 Years"
Thanks and Good Fishin'
Reed Montgomery Owner of Reeds Guide Service
Birmingham, Alabama (205) 663-1504
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
E-mail: [email protected]
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