Coosa River / Lay Lake

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

2010 BASSMASTER CLASSIC CONDITIONS UPDATE
January 27, 2010

Lake level; full pool
Water Temperature; mid-40's
Water Clarity; Lay Lake's headwaters and some mid-to-upper lake feeder creeks are stained from recent rains. Lower lake - clear.

Its hard to believe it won't be your favorite angler. There are now 51 of the world's best bass anglers all gearing up, in preparation for the upcoming 2010 Bassmaster Classic, of which to date...is less than one month away.

And any one of them could win it!

Names like previous Bassmaster Classic Champions always come to mind, Skeet Reese, Boyd Duckett, Michael Iaconelli and yes, Kevin Van Dam. Or, it could turn out to be a rather unknown angler like a past Bassmaster Classic winner, Brian Kerchal. Of whom surprised all, earning his way to the top through the bass club's Bass Federation Tournaments, and then winning the Bassmaster Classic.

CONDITIONS
Conditions, as in all bass tournaments, will play a huge role in the outcome of this world-renowned bass fishing event. Ever-changing conditions will absolutely take place, both before and during, this late winter, 2010 Bassmaster Classic. It will also be a determining factor in the outcome of the eventual winner.

[* NOTE - This B.A.S.S. Bassmaster Classic Championship is scheduled to be held out of Beeswax Creek Park (at mid-lake, just off of Hwy. 145, near the town of Columbiana, Al. See: www.google.maps.com on Alabama's Coosa River Impoundment, Lay lake). Counting practice time and competition days Feb 19-21, along with daily weigh-ins at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center, it will be held the entire week of February 15 - 21 of 2010.]

Here are just some of the late winter weather conditions these professional 2010 Classic contenders can expect to have to deal with, during their Classic week being held on Alabama's, 50 mile long man made impoundment, Lay lake;

* The first week of January - This severe cold front began the New Year with lows in the teens for a few days and daytime highs not even reaching 50 degrees, lasting for almost two weeks! Highly unusual and very cold weather for mid-Alabama in early January! Water temps on Lay lake got the coldest I've ever seen, in the upper 30's. With some creek backwaters freezing over!

* Mid-January it got better - A slight warming trend, (featuring highs in the upper-50's and rain for 2-3 days), that sent most "cabin fever anglers" scurrying for their boats. But the water was still very cold in the low 40's and very few anglers reported phenomenal catches of either Coosa River spotted bass or largemouth bass.

* Late January. A Heat Wave! It was 55 degrees on Wednesday, January 27 and expected daytime highs to go to 60 degrees the next day! But lows remained in the 30's. Again, not warming the lake's water very much and not lasting very long either.

* The last weekend in January, 2010. - Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31. -- only 3 weeks till the beginning of the 2010 Bassmaster Classic -- and then February 21, the crowning of a new, Bassmaster Classic Champion. Saturday's highs, expected to be near 40 degrees, with morning lows near 25 degrees, Sunday, January 31, about the same.

Another bad cold front here in Alabama. Meaning the water temps will stay low, not rising, like during a week-long warming trend, that most of these Classic contenders are hoping for. If it continues, any one of these 51 "would be Classic Champion" may not even have a five fish limit to weigh in, each day at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic!

But spectators can rest assured, their favorite bass professional has been there and done that. All 51 of these 2010 Lay Lake Bassmaster Classic contenders have made it through some of the most grueling weather conditions for a shot at winning this life-changing event! Their not going to let a little bad weather stop that!

We will just have to wait and see who it is...

* More 2010 Bassmaster Classic info coming soon!

Provided by; Reed Montgomery of Reeds Guide Service!
See: www.fishingalabama.com