Elite

A look at Lay Lake

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Captions by
Mike Suchan
After a week off, it’s time for the big dogs to chow down in the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake. The fifth stop on B.A.S.S.’s top circuit runs Thursday through Sunday with anglers pursuing largemouth and spotted bass longer than 12 inches.
Lay Lake, just southeast of B.A.S.S. headquarters in Birmingham, Ala., will be hosting its sixth pro level Bassmaster tournament. Operational in 1914, Lay Lake Dam was the first major project of Alabama Power Company. By all accounts, the fishing should be fantastic this week as anglers could find bass feeding up after the spawn.
An impoundment of the Coosa River, Lay Lake is 12,000 acres with about 290 miles of shoreline. The lake is 48 miles long and averages 22 feet deep with a maximum depth of 88 feet. It is a run-of-the-river lake, meaning the water level stays relatively consistent year round. The bite can be ignited when Alabama Power generates water.
Lay Lake has hosted four Bassmaster Classics, tying Lake Hartwell and the Louisiana Delta for most all-time. Kevin VanDam (above) tied Rick Clunn with his fourth Classic crown when he edged Jeff Kriet in 2010 as the leaders all famously fished in Beeswax Creek. Other Classic winners at Lay were Boyd Duckett (2007), Jay Yelas (2002) and George Cochran (1996).
The most recent pro event on Lay Lake was the 2020 St. Croix Bassmaster Open, won by Florida’s Keith Carson with 47 pounds, 1 ounce.
Keen to the generation schedule of Alabama Power, Carson  threw a Berkley Frittside 5 crankbait around grasslines. Although the tournament was in December with fluctuating weather, Carson caught several big bass, including the biggest going 7-3, and had a big bag of 18-10.
Will Davis Jr. thinks the Elites can do a bit better. One of 14 Alabamians competing this year, Davis lists Lay as his home lake. The rookie from Sylacauga, Ala., said the 104-man field could be in for a catch fest with several bags eclipsing 20 pounds. He thinks it should take more than 17 a day to win, and anglers will need to mix in spotted bass with largemouth.
“I don’t think you will be able to win on all largemouth,” Davis said. “I think you will have to weigh in one or two spots a day. I don’t think a guy can weigh in strictly largemouth for four days and win. That’s just me, but they might surprise me.”
Beeswax Creek Park, 245 Beeswax Park Rd. in Columbiana, is tournament central. Takeoffs are set for 6:30 a.m. CT with weigh-ins at 3 p.m. CT. The Expo opens at noon on Saturday and Sunday. All B.A.S.S. venues are free to attend.
The Elites have a stable weather pattern this week, with a front producing a storm that’s expected to pass through Thursday night.
The full field fishes the first two days, before a cut to 50 for Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 then advance to Championship Sunday to compete for the top prize of $100,000, a coveted blue trophy and Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
After four of nine events, Brandon Cobb has accumulated 387 points behind three Top 10 finishes to top the AOY standings. Cobb stands 18 points ahead of second-place Drew Cook, with Tyler Rivet 20 points behind Cook. Carl Jocumsen is fourth with 335, two ahead of fifth-place Kyle Welcher. Mike Iaconelli, the 2006 AOY winner, stands sixth and is someone to watch with three summer events up north.
California’s Bryant Smith leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings. The fourth different leader after Logan Latuso, Joey Cifuentes and Will Davis Jr., Smith stands 11th overall in AOY, one spot and one point ahead of David Gaston for ROY. Gaston, who has made all four Top 50 cuts, is fishing his home waters.
Check out the LIVE preview show for the event on Wednesday, May 10 at 8 a.m. CT before Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 7 a.m. CT on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms. FS1 will broadcast LIVE for three hours starting at 6:30 a.m. CT Saturday and will air five and a half hours on Sunday beginning at 7 a.m. CT.

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