By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
August
27,
2010
Lake level: down 1/2 foot
Water temperature: 88
Water Clarity: Clear - main lake / some creeks lightly stained
TOPWATER LURES GOOD ON LAY LAKE ALL SUMMER LONG
5 BASS - TWENTY POUNDS THIS WEEK!
Topwater lures have produced some quality bass on Lay lake all summer long.
I know because I throw em'! I can think of 5 topwater lures that are almost
always pre-rigged on some of my rods. Not only rigged during the summer
months but all throughout the cooling down days of the Fall and early Winter
seasons.
My first choice (like most of you that know me, already know), is a lure
I will start out fishing at the dawn of every new fishing trip. Despite
the conditions, I'm going to make that first cast of the day with a Zara
Super Spook. Yes, the big one, featuring three treble hooks and built in,
noisy, internal rattles. JHBS stands for the color, Jimmy Houston Bleeding
Shad. One of my favorite colors.
Even during the early winter month of December I've seen some big spotted
bass and some of Lay's biggest largemouth bass simply try to annihilate
this big bass, topwater lure. (See: "5 bass 30 pounds on Lay Lake" at
the articles link on my website www.fishingalabama.com)
So what would my second lure choice be? After I thrash the water into nothing
but a remaining trail of floating bubbles with the zara super spook, all
that's left to do is offer the bass another topwater lure! My second topwater
lure choice would have to be a buzz bait! With the spook and a buzz bait,
an angler can offer the bass variety.
Either a slow walking lure, one that moves twenty times but only goes a
few feet. Or an angler can cover water much faster and perhaps get those
more active bass while fishing with a noisy, aggravating buzz bait. Of
which I always attach a trailer hook for short strikes. Why wait until
you miss a bass to add a trailer hook?
Next, with a very close third choice would have to be a Snagproof frog.
The kind of frog that features a hollow body, two upturned hooks and a
skirt for trailing legs. I have seen some very big bass hit this type of
frog lure in every month (even during the winter months), while fishing
Lay lake, a very weedy, frog-infested impoundment.
One of my biggest largemouth bass I've successfully caught on a frog (you
can't count the ones you lose), on Lay lake was an 8 1/2 pounder that came
on February 8th a few years ago, when a winter warming trend had Lay lake's
largemouth bass cruising the shallows. I remember that date exclusively...because
its my daughters birthday!
My fourth topwater lure choice would be another model frog. There are many
frogs on today's lure market that can be rigged with just one hook. I prefer
Sizmic lure's "Sizmic toad" rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu wide bend
hook. Fished like a buzz bait with a slow, steady retrieve this frog covers
water fast. But it is very weedless and can be thrown in some very thick
weeds and other places, the buzz bait would only hang up in. Either a white,
black, or pumpkinseed/white belly or maybe a chartreuse and white are the
best colors.
My fifth (but not final), topwater lure choice would have to be James Heddon's
Baby Torpedo. This is among four sizes of torpedoe's Heddon makes. The
others are the Teeny Torpedo, the Tiny Torpedo and the rather new and bigger
model Torpedo, "the Magnum Torpedo", which is even bigger than
the Baby Torpedo.
Still, my favorite, The Baby Torpedo features a propeller on the back end
of the lure. It sounds just like a fleeing bait fish as you impart short
jerks of the lure creating a swishing sound bass cannot resist! Chrome/black
back can't be beat.
LINE CHOICE
I fish all of these topwater lures on Trilene Big Game 20 pound test monofilament
green line...and with good reason.
Braided line has no stretch. Although it is hailed as the best type of
line by today's experienced frog chunkers, I still think your line should
feature some stretch qualities. This allows an angler to get a better hook
set and it also allows the bass just a split second longer to really inhale
the lure and give you a better chance of hooking the bass.
Fluorocarbon line is strong and its virtually invisible in any water clarity.
But fluorocarbon line gets wet and then it sinks, which you do want with
any of these topwater lures. Sinking line just drags down the nose of the
topwater lure when you try to manipulate them the way they are supposed
to be fished, with the nose up!
RODS
Long rods accompany an angler with long casts, they help you get a good
hook set, and you can really horse a big bass from Lay lake's weeds and
wood cover with a long rod, preferably a medium heavy action model in the
6 1/2 to 7 1/2 foot category, with plenty of back bone and a little tip
to aid you in accuracy. Flipping rods or Pitchin' rods are good choices,
for fishing with all of these aforementioned topwater lures.
REELS
Wide spooled reels hold a lot of heavy test line. (Heavy test line, has
a wider diameter than smaller test line.) A fast retrieve, high gear ratio,
ABU Garcia model reel is suggested. These reels help you get the bass out
of cover and to the boat much faster!
A RECENT TRIP TO LAY LAKE / WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
I live about 15 miles from Lay lake. A lot of times during this past summer
I just went fishing! There are times -- like when heavy rain is predicted
-- I leave my camera at home or its in the truck for protection from the
elements. Wednesday of this week I'm glad I didn't fail to bring it.
I don't know if it was the full moon, the water cooling down a few degrees
into the upper 80's, or maybe it was mid week with few anglers on the lake,
or for once, I was in the right place at the right time. But it was a day
most anglers only dream of. Proof? Yeah, I got pictures this time!
WEDS AUGUST 25 - The morning started off with a very loud explosion as
a huge largemouth bass nailed my zara super spook. First bass of the day!
Immediately after I hooked it it took off plowing for the bottom of the
lake and at the time, it seemed to be good bass. Only after the drag screeched,
my knot held and my line was stretched to the limit, did I get a good look
at the huge bass as it leaped two feet in the air! Much bigger than I had
imagined.
I landed the huge bass, but only after sweating it out and praying everything
would hold. After a lengthy battle it came alongside the boat and I almost
attempted to just swing it in the boat. After all, I was in no tournament
(afterwards wishing I was), and if it came off the hook, it really did
not matter. But after seeing the huge bass (even though all 3 of the treble
hooks had found their mark) I decided to go for the net, especially since
today...I had my camera! It looked to be close to 7 pounds!
My second bass of the morning came about 50 yards and about 10 casts later.
It was a three pound spotted bass that nailed the spook around a weedy
point. Then another spot about three pounds and two more about 2 pounds
each! While fishing two places only a few miles apart, I now had a nice
limit of bass by 7 a.m. I could have left and not caught another bass and
been happy! But of course I kept on fishing.
Although he sun was now getting high a few morning clouds rolled in, extending
the topwater bite. My next bass was a nice largemouth bass that looked
to easy weigh four pounds. It hit the Snagproof frog, right up in the lake's
thickest of weeds. My reaction was a little slow, for there had been a
short lull in the action and I admit my mind was wandering when the bass
hit. But that slow reaction can be a good thing! The bass was hooked good
and it had the entire frog in its mouth with both hooks holding well!
I just swung that four pounder right up in the boat. With a good 7 1/2
foot flipping rod and 20 pound test line, I knew the freshly-tied on frog
lure would hold.
Now I had five bass a 7 pounder, a 4 pounder, and three spotted bass that
would easily weigh 3 pounds average weight each. Total estimated weight?
About 20 pounds. Man, I thought to myself! Could it get any better? Little
known to me at the time, the answer to that question was only a few casts
away!
Although it was now getting hot and muggy the cloud cover held. It was
now about 10 a.m. A time traditionally in late August, when most anglers
would resort to flipping, pitchin', worming or deep cranking some of the
lake's deeper water by now. And that's OK! To me, as I looked around and
did not see another boat, it was just a time to enjoy what this wonderful
day had brought me! On the next cast with my trusty Zara Super Spook...it
did!
A small isolated weed bed, one that had housed many big bass before on
previous trips this summer, got my attention. Especially when, from my
close inspection on one my last trips to Lay lake, I had discovered that
there was a submerged tree hidden right bedside this isolated weed bed.
Funny how you remember such a small spot. This readied me for the next
cast. And unknown to me at the time, an amazing blow-up!
I made a long cast, landing the spook far past the weed bed. I walked the
spook right up alongside the weed bed. Now the enticing topwater lure was
right over the tree hidden down below, I was expecting a bite and I got
it! Bam!
I was as ready as an angler could be, when another huge bass exploded on
the spook! I waited until the spook disappeared and I felt the bass, then
I set the hook...twice! The battle was on. It was a very strong bass. Everything
held, as I wore it down and again went for the net. After all, this one
looked to be as big as my first bass of the day.
Well it wasn't as big as that one, but it ran a close second place looking
to easily be about 5 pounds. By now the live well was getting crowded and
I had decided it was time to let these bass go. I usually just lay them
on the floor of the boat and snap a good picture. That is, if they will
stay still.
Instead, I just let most of the smaller ones go, all of them, but the four
biggest. Three big largemouth bass and one good spotted were in good health
as I returned to Beeswax creek around midday to find someone to take some
pictures for me!
To my surprise, although there were about 20 trucks and empty boat trailers
in Beeswax creek parking lot, nobody was around! I had passed a boat with
two anglers, a man and a woman fishing in Beeswax creek and I was thinking
about going back out when they came idling up. I knew this guy! He was
on Airport Marine's Ranger pro staff and him and his wife had only caught
a few small bass for their efforts! He was more than glad to take some
pictures of some big bass!
As I pulled out the 3 pound spot and a four pound largemouth he exclaimed, " Those
are some nice bass! " Unknown to him was a bigger surprise still in
my live well! I then pulled out the 5 pounder. " Man! " He said, " that's
a good one! You would have done well with that sack of only 3 bass last
Saturday!
Airport Marine's Summer/ Fall Buddy trail had been on Lay lake Saturday,
August 21. with about 60 boats. I had prior commitments and could not make
that one. Afterwards I really wished I had, especially with this sack of
bass!
To really put the icing on the cake, I told him to hold on a just a minute,
I had one more bass...bigger than all of the rest! His doubtful eyes lit
up when I pulled the 7 pounder out of the live well! He was stunned. So
was I, when I heard his next words. " You know, the Airport Marine
tournament last Saturday was won with 14 1/2 pounds and big bass was a
5 1/2 pound largemouth bass. You could have taken it all with just these
four bass."
We estimated these four bass to weigh about 19-20 pounds! I'm sure by now
he has told of my day to all...
So what about the upcoming Fall season? To me...it only gets better.
* NOTE - www.markshotlakes.com will have this report, but if they do not
post the picture I sent you can still see them. If you would like to see
me holding the 3 biggest largemouth bass a 4, 5 and 7 pounder just send
me an e-mail alabassgyd@aol.com and I'll send them to you!
* Always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! " Lay lake's only professional
guide service you should be hiring! (Others are just out of work anglers
guiding for now till things get better.) Guiding on Lay lake and all other
Alabama lakes for over 40 years! " See my website www.fishingalabama.com
for more info on Alabama's oldest professional fishing guide service! Weekdays
and weekends available with discounts for two day trips. Family outings,
corporate trips, novice, parent/child learning trips, or tournament anglers
are all welcome!
* Shop at www.marksoutdoors.com for all your fishing and hunting needs!
* Looking for a new or used boat? Go to Airport Marine in Clanton, Al.
Tell em' Reed sent you! Or visit their website www.airportmarine.com for
summer sales and close outs on many makes and models!
* World's best bass boat? See: www.rangerboats.com
* Looking for Alabama's best paying summer / fall buddy tournament trail?
See: www.airportmarinetrails.com
Thanks, Good Luck and Good Fishin' !
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!
