DOUG NICHLES GUIDE SERVICE - Lay
Date: November 20, 2009
Lake: Lay Lake
Water temp: 57
Clarity: 6 inches
Launching at Beeswax on beautiful Lay Lake, conditions did not appear to be favorable with the water temperature having dropped 5 degrees in the last week. Normally, this is a turn-off for large mouth bass. Not wanting to forsake them completely, I decided to start in Beeswax creek, swimming a Davis Paca swimjig in green pumpkin with a hint of chartreuse tipped with a Zoom twin tail in green pumpkin. The 2 islands in Beeswax are surrounded by dollar grass and some millfoil. The flood waters have washed out most of the normal Lay Lake grass, it is nowhere to be found. After only 30 minutes of fishing, my client boated a nice 3 1/2 lb largemouth, followed by a larger fish breaking his line at the boat.
Knowing that there was still largemouth bite available, I felt comfortable moving out on the river into the current and heading towards the dam. I had called 1-800-525-3711, which is the Alabama Power generation schedule, and found out that they were going to be running 3 turbins all day. My first stop was near the steam plant where, with the help of my 36 volt Minn Kota trolling motor, I was able to maintain position and fish slow enough to start catching bass on a Fat Daddy casting jig, 3/8 oz in brown and green with a green Super Chunk, Jr as a trailer. In this location, we boated 3 solid keeper Spotted bass. A pattern was established that the bass was holding in the mouths of the cuts and creeks where the current washed by.
After establishing this pattern, we ran the cuts and the mouths of creeks from the steam plant to Buzzard Island upriver and caught over 35 quality Spotted bass. Wanting to cover all my options, we threw a crankbait and a Jackall MC60MR in chartreuse Fire Tiger and a TN70 vibrating bait in TN shad, both caught fish on the same pattern as the jig.
The fishing line we were using was Seaguar InvizX in 15 lb test. The properties of this line appear to be the best line available for cold water fishing with very low memory and good sensitivity for fishing cold weather and cold water conditions.
With the unpredictable Alabama weather, fishing this time of the year brings great days or challenging days on the lakes. If you are interested in fishing with me and learning how to read the weather conditions and adjust accordingly, please contact me at 205-396-5556 or e-mail me at fishendoug.@hotmail.com" href="mailto:fishendoug.@hotmail.com">fishendoug.@hotmail.com and you can check out tips and techniques at my link onf http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/" href="http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/">http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/
With Christmas approaching, a guided fishing trip would be a perfect gift for both the young and old anglers that are trying to improve skills and techniques. I am booking trips for December - February and have many openings to choose from at this time.
Thank you,
Doug Nichles
Fishing Guide
Lake: Lay Lake
Water temp: 57
Clarity: 6 inches
Launching at Beeswax on beautiful Lay Lake, conditions did not appear to be favorable with the water temperature having dropped 5 degrees in the last week. Normally, this is a turn-off for large mouth bass. Not wanting to forsake them completely, I decided to start in Beeswax creek, swimming a Davis Paca swimjig in green pumpkin with a hint of chartreuse tipped with a Zoom twin tail in green pumpkin. The 2 islands in Beeswax are surrounded by dollar grass and some millfoil. The flood waters have washed out most of the normal Lay Lake grass, it is nowhere to be found. After only 30 minutes of fishing, my client boated a nice 3 1/2 lb largemouth, followed by a larger fish breaking his line at the boat.
Knowing that there was still largemouth bite available, I felt comfortable moving out on the river into the current and heading towards the dam. I had called 1-800-525-3711, which is the Alabama Power generation schedule, and found out that they were going to be running 3 turbins all day. My first stop was near the steam plant where, with the help of my 36 volt Minn Kota trolling motor, I was able to maintain position and fish slow enough to start catching bass on a Fat Daddy casting jig, 3/8 oz in brown and green with a green Super Chunk, Jr as a trailer. In this location, we boated 3 solid keeper Spotted bass. A pattern was established that the bass was holding in the mouths of the cuts and creeks where the current washed by.
After establishing this pattern, we ran the cuts and the mouths of creeks from the steam plant to Buzzard Island upriver and caught over 35 quality Spotted bass. Wanting to cover all my options, we threw a crankbait and a Jackall MC60MR in chartreuse Fire Tiger and a TN70 vibrating bait in TN shad, both caught fish on the same pattern as the jig.
The fishing line we were using was Seaguar InvizX in 15 lb test. The properties of this line appear to be the best line available for cold water fishing with very low memory and good sensitivity for fishing cold weather and cold water conditions.
With the unpredictable Alabama weather, fishing this time of the year brings great days or challenging days on the lakes. If you are interested in fishing with me and learning how to read the weather conditions and adjust accordingly, please contact me at 205-396-5556 or e-mail me at fishendoug.@hotmail.com" href="mailto:fishendoug.@hotmail.com">fishendoug.@hotmail.com and you can check out tips and techniques at my link onf http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/" href="http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/">http://www.ninjatacklebox.com/
With Christmas approaching, a guided fishing trip would be a perfect gift for both the young and old anglers that are trying to improve skills and techniques. I am booking trips for December - February and have many openings to choose from at this time.
Thank you,
Doug Nichles
Fishing Guide