Coosa River / Lay Lake

By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

Impounded 1916
Lake level; full pool
Water temperature; 62 degrees.

A Rainy Day on Lay Lake

Your sanity. On some days your friends and relatives wonder if you have lost yours. At the end of some days...you are the only one that knows whether or not you have.

Tuesday, November 13 was one of those days. The day Hurricane Ida made her way through the Alabama coast line. It reminded me very much of a day I had spent fishing all alone many years ago. A cold, rainy day that had took place on Lay lake on November 18 (See article; Five Bass 30 Pounds at the "articles" link on my website; www.fishingalabama.com

Like that cold, November day that took place many years ago, today I again found myself standing all alone at the Beeswax Creek boat ramp. It is situated at mid lake on Alabama's age-old Coosa River impoundment, Lay lake, now almost 100 years since its first impoundment in 1914. Unknown to me at the time, this would not be a day of me catching huge, largemouth bass on my favorite topwater lure, "the Heddon Zara Super Spook," while standing there freezing in a pouring down rain. How could I be deprived of that?

Much to my surprise I did not get a bite from dawn until about 9 a.m. Although the conditions were near perfect for some big largemouth bass activity in the lake's well known weedy shallows, I could not get a rise out of my well placed and well walked, topwater lure. Of course I tried other lures, those favorites that always generate a strike or two in and around the weeds, in the pouring down rain. Frogs, buzz baits, spinnerbaits, floating worms, shad imitations and fishing a jig combo every way you could, produced nothing.

Something was wrong. Could the severe, rainy, windy (20-30 m.p.h. winds) front have actually turned them off? Was I lacking a little in my confidence (and in my sanity) and maybe should I just go home? I was already cold. The rain had poured down my shirt through the opening in my rain suit hood, wet in my shoes and wet around the sleeves in my rain suit. Not much was dry. I began thinking about that spare change of clothes and that warm heater in my truck, all of which by now was far away at the boat dock. Turn back?

Not today! I pushed on and decided to go for the spotted bass bite. I'm glad I did!

I knew if I found a secluded spot out of the wind, a place with some decent calm water where I could probably "call up" some of Lay lake's very aggressive Coosa River spotted bass, they would be some good ones. How did I know? After over 40 years of fishing in every weather imaginable you learn the days that produce "big bass topwater bites" the best. I knew from years of experience that if I kept on looking and kept on fishing that topwater lure, I would eventually find the mother lode...or go home empty handed.

It had been 4 hours with no bites. From dawn until about 10 a.m. But things were looking much better at my next destination, as I arrived and wiped the pouring down rain from my eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing. Bass, just around the corner of a long, deep point along a weedy drop-off, were busting shad, in the pouring down rain, straight ahead of the boat!

I immediately cut the motor off, grabbed my Zara Spook and quietly eased the trolling motor in the water, making a long cast that landed right in the middle of the feeding frenzy.

I did not even get a good walk going with the enticing topwater lure when a huge spotted bass nailed it and actually knocked some slack in the line and then took the lure right up under the boat. I reeled frantically to catch up with the bass. The fight was on! I was amazed at the trailing wake of the boat now causing it to rock up and down in the high winds and pouring rain. What pandemonium! I was in hog heaven!

The first spotted bass I boated weighed well over 4 pounds. I instinctively put it in the live well. Several others had followed it to the boat and I was sure releasing it while it was cut and bleeding would certainly turn the school off. By the time I returned to fishing the wind had blown me off the spot. I knew if I cranked up the big outboard motor it would spook the schooling fish.

So, I made one more long cast, the wind grabbed it and it sailed at least 30-40 yards right back in the calm water. Shad scattered and as soon as I began walking the zara spook a few turns of the reel and bam!..another explosion occurred.

The boat came to rest in the weeds along the shoreline. Its good it did, for I again had my hands full. Similar to a smallmouth bass, the huge spotted bass cleared the waters surface as it jumped and tried in vane to dislodge one of the three Gamakatsu treble hooks now holding securely in its mouth.

The strong 20 pound test Trilene Big Game line held. The medium-heavy action 6 foot pistol grip rod (see; www.tigerodz.com) did its job (like so many times before) and it help me wear down this unbelievably strong bass. I had estimated the first spotted bass at close to 4 pounds. By looks, I knew it was.

But when I went to put this one in the live well I noticed it was much bigger. So, even though it was now raining hard I had to get my scales out and weigh it. Unbelievably, it weighed five 1/2 pounds even! A big, pot-belied spotted bass any angler (even in the cold pouring down rain), would be proud to do battle with. Two spotted bass, on two casts, now in the live well - total weight, close to 10 pounds!

I was hoping there was more to come. Although I was cold and wet it felt good to catch some big bass on this day when I had the lake all to myself! After weighing the fish I poured myself a congratulating cup of warm coffee. I changed to a dry shirt and jacket and then sat under a poncho and had a sandwich. I knew the bass were not going any where and this short break would give them a little time to re-group on the spot, I'm sure I had disturbed.

I regained my composure. Now warm and well fed I returned to the school and continued to catch bass after bass on the Zara spook topwater lure... all alone in the pouring down rain, on a cold rainy day on Lay lake! I put 5 more huge spotted bass in the boat each easily weighting over 4 pounds each. This was in between culling 2-3 pounders! In all I had at least 30 topwater bass, with my 5 best weighing close to 23 pounds! Of course as they say, " all good things must eventually come to an end."

As my day ended, I returned all of these huge spotted bass to the lake, right back where I caught them. I knew there would be no one at the dock to take pictures for me.

I returned to Beeswax creek now very cold, thoroughly wet and hungry. But very happy with the days results! As I loaded the boat, I noticed only one other truck and trailer in the parking lot. I hope they had as good day as I did. But I doubt it! I got in my truck and headed out of the Beeswax creek boat launch. I did notice another vehicle as I left.

Sitting in the parking lot was a county sheriff that just smiled and gave me a funny look as I passed by. Probably wondering about my sanity...on this day to long be remembered, but only by me. The raw skin on my thumb, from lipping all those bass, was a great reminder for me as I happily headed home in the pouring down rain!

* Oh, where was I fishing?
Hint - Lets say there was standing timber, weeds and rock cover near by!

Always call on Reeds Guide Service first!...for an exciting day on the water!

Good Fishin'
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
" Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over 10 Years "
Owner / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
Email: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Some Huge, Striped Bass ."