Fall arrived overnight here on Lay Lake and we have seen morning lows hovering right above freezing. It’s a great time to be on the water as the fishing is still good and the crowds are gone. We’ve had plenty of water over the last month and when the current gets going the fish like to move into the sloughs. With most fishermen hitting the woods in search of a trophy buck, one could have the whole place to his self on a weekday.

As for real estate, the log jam that started last fall is officially broken. We have sold twice as many homes this year as we did in ‘08. Prices have moderated but the value of Lay Lake property is still strong. Homes have sold for as much as 435k and vacant lots as much as 140k. The banks are still lending and buyers are still getting financed on vacation homes and the comps for these properties are still strong. The time is right to purchase and enjoy the holidays on Lay Lake.

Who would have thought a controlled drawdown would ever happen again back in ‘07.
But who could have ever thought we’d have to postpone one due to heavy rainfall?

Lake Conditions Alert

Spillway gates opening at Coosa and Tallapoosa River dams;

Lay Reservoir drawdown postponed

Because of heavy rains and forecasts of continuing rainfall, Alabama Power on Monday opened spillway gates at its Coosa River dams to manage rising lake levels.  The company plans to open spillway gates at Harris Dam on the Tallapoosa River. 

Spillway gates were opened at Weiss, Henry, Lay and Mitchell dams on the Coosa River this morning. Spillway gates will be opened at Logan Martin and Jordan dams this afternoon. On the Tallapoosa River, minimal spillway gate operation will also take place this afternoon at Harris Dam.  Alabama Power is working to maintain lake elevations at or below summer pool. However, the use of its flood easements above summer pool to manage high flows is possible. People on or near these reservoirs should take necessary precaution and action to protect their interests.

In addition, the biennial drawdown scheduled to begin this week on Lay Reservoir will be postponed until conditions allow rescheduling. 

Alabama Power will continue to closely monitor lake conditions and manage resources carefully. People with boats and other water equipment or facilities should always be alert to changing conditions on Alabama Power reservoirs and be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect their property.

For more information about Alabama Power lakes and updates, please visit https://lakes.alabamapower.com or call 1-800-LAKES11 (1-800-525-371

If it’ll quit raining APCO might pull off the first repair draw down on Lay Lake since 2005.

http://southerncompany.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1956

Dates are approaching for the 2009 fall drawdowns of Lay, Mitchell and Jordan lakes.  The lakes are typically drawn down temporarily every two years so property owners can perform shoreline maintenance. Drawdowns have not taken place, however, since 2005 because of the recent drought.

The fall drawdown schedule is as follows:

Changing conditions could warrant adjustments to the schedule. Any changes will be posted on Alabama Power’s automated Reservoir Information System at 1-800-LAKES11 (1-800-525-3711) and https://lakes.alabamapower.com.

Individuals with boats and other water-related equipment and facilities should always be alert to changing conditions on Alabama Power reservoirs and be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect their property.

Father-son team wins Lay Lake Open

Posted by Mike Bolton — Birmingham News May 02, 2009 9:22 PM

Emma Tannenbaum/Birmingham News

One of 500 boats speeds toward a fishing spot in the Mark’s Outdoors Lay Lake Open on Saturday.

The father-son team of Josh and Jerry Stracner of Vandiver won the Mark’s Outdoors Lay Lake Open Saturday, Alabama’s largest bass tournament.The pair caught five bass weighing 20.77 pounds to win the tournament by almost four pounds.

One thousands anglers in 500 boats fished the event.
“We were mainly sight-fishing,” said Josh Stracner who along with his father won $1,000 cash and a $35,000 bass boat. “We caught a limit of bass like that early. There were a lot of bedding fish on the lake today. They were everywhere we went.”

The team caught a 6-pound, 8-ounce bass sight-fishing as well as two 5-pound bass using the same method.

Centreville’s Jamie Horton and Calera’s Coby Carden, two of the more than a dozen Bassmaster pros fishing in the event, caught 16.84 pounds to finish second. Bill Lowen of Cincinnati teamed with Corner’s Johnny Rouse for third place with 16.59 pounds.

Sixth place went to John Hodges of Moody and Chris Colley of Leeds. Joe Minor of Clanton, who was fishing alone, took seventh and Joel McKemie and Billy Reynolds, both of Sylacauga, finished eighth.

Daniel Barrett of Sylacauga and Kevin Waits of Rockford took ninth. Ray Sudsberry of Calera and Eric Vining of Wilsonville finished out the top 10.

All of the top 10 teams won $1,000 each.

The most disappointed angler of the day was Waco, Texas pro Alton Jones, the 2008 Classic winner. A bonus of $25,000 was up for grabs for any angler breaking the tournament record of 9.12 pounds. Jones said he found a bass on the bed that he believed would top 10 pounds and he cast to that fish for more than four hours but the bass never would bite.

Bassmaster Classic will return to Birmingham area in 2010 and to be at Lay Lake

Columbiana is home to area’s seventh event

Wednesday, March 18, 2009MIKE BOLTON

News staff writer

The Bassmaster Classic, a professional fishing event that officials say brings in tens of millions of dollars to Birmingham, returns to the Magic City again in 2010, BASS officials confirmed Tuesday.

It was first announced in 2008 that the Classic would return to Birmingham in 2010. Missing from the puzzle was what lake would host the event. BASS filled in the blanks Tuesday, saying the event will be held Feb. 19-21 at Lay Lake.

Lay, located primarily in Shelby County, was the site of Classics in 1996, 2002 and 2007. The launch site for the 2010 Classic will take place at the Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp in Columbiana. Previous Classic launches on the lake have taken place at Paradise Point.

Birmingham, voted the “Bass Capital of the World” in an ESPN online poll in 2006, is a favorite site of the Classic. It has played host to the Classic six times, more than any other city. In addition to the Classics at Lay Lake, Birmingham also hosted Classics held at Lake Logan Martin in 1992, 1993 and 1997.

Alabama has hosted the event 10 times with other Classics being held on Wheeler Lake in 1974, Lake Guntersville in 1976 and on the Alabama River in 1981 and 1982.

Birmingham has also played host to the FLW Tour World Championship on two occasions. The FLW Tour is a rival organization to BASS.

More than 50,000 people attended the Birmingham weigh-ins, launches and Outdoor Expo at the 2007 Classic on Lay Lake.

Birmingham officials estimated that tournament brought an economic impact to the city and surrounding area of more than $19 million.

BASS is owned by ESPN and the television network provides hours of coverage of the event, city and the lake.

“Shelby County is excited about the opportunity to showcase our natural resources and attract an international audience as we host our fourth Bassmaster Classic,” said Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock. “Lay Lake continues to be a destination for anglers and water recreation enthusiasts, and Shelby County will continue to promote tourism through these types of events in our local, regional and state economy.”

Reigning Classic champion Skeet Reese, who finished second to Demopolis’ Boyd Duckett in the 2007 Classic on Lay Lake, was thrilled by Tuesday’s announcement.

“Another Classic on Lay Lake is great news,” he said. “I will get the opportunity to go back to Lay Lake and try to win. Finishing second to Boyd in 2007 was a little tough to swallow.”

By virtue of being the reigning champion Reese is the only one of 51 eventual competitors to qualify for the Classic in Birmingham.

“Birmingham is excited to host the 40th Bassmaster Classic and we anticipate another fantastic event,” said Mike Gunn, vice president of the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This is our seventh time hosting this prestigious, major sporting event.”

Hello,
2009 has begun and we’re off to a much better start here on Lay Lake. In spite of all the doom and gloom for the national real estate market,Lay Lake and central Alabama have not taken such a hit. In select surburbs of Birmingham homes prices have fallen but we are still well below the national average.

Prices have adjusted on Alabama lakes but lots and homes are still a solid investment. Lay Lake is even more sound as the inventory available is less than half compared to other state waterways. Please call Bryon today to explore the options. Visit his website at
www.laylakerealtor.com
for complete contact info.

This week should begin the peak time frame for fall colors on Lay Lake. Typically in this part of Alabama the leaves are at their full glory between election day and Thanksgiving. The beauty hangs around until heavy rain starts to remove the leaves. It’s a great time to be on Lay Lake. A boat ride around the lake is a sight to behold and the fishing is great as well. Nice warm afternoons and cool nights make for a great time to enjoy lake living.

We have many homes and lots available to fit any budget and the rates are still low. Lake property remains a solid investment and now is the time to buy property on Lay Lake. Close to Birmingham and Montgomery, surrounded by communities offering all the services and conveniences a family needs, unmatched beauty and very low property taxes, make Lay Lake the best spot in the state for full time living or a weekend getaway.

Call Bryon today and let him start the search for you……..