Summer
July 13th, 2011Summer is going full blast( the AC is too!) and now’s the time to come out and enjoy the lake. We have lots, homes and acreage ready to go. Call Bryon today!
Fishing is at its Best on Lay
May 12th, 2010
While everyone is fishing check out www.laylakerealtor.com for all the available homes and land on Lay Lake
Phenomenal bite’ predicted for Mark’s Outdoors Lay Lake Open
| By Pat Robertson - 05/05/2010 | |
Fishing in “The fish definitely will be in post spawn by the time of the tournament and the lake looks in awesome shape. It’s full of water and the grass looks good. There is going to be a phenomenal bite,” And the tournament last year was the best ever, he noted. “We had three fish that broke the 7-pound range and we had more fish weighed in last year than we ever weighed in before. We had more than 400 boats out of 500 weigh in.” A major bonus, he said, was that only three fish were weighed in dead. “That is a huge, huge success with that many boats weighing in.” “The topwater bite is going to come on real hard and heavy and they will also catch them throwing weightless flukes because the fish are going to be guarding fry. The spinnerbait bite will be good and the catch on swim baits in shad patterns ought to be just ungodly!” The excitement for anglers will be even higher than in the past because of the increased participation this year by professional anglers, “We’ve got 15 pros fishing so it’s going to be a really cool experience,” he said. Among top pro anglers committed to fish the tournament are Alton Jones, Boyd Docket, Byron Velvick, Fred Roumbanis, Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon and Randy Howell. “If an angler wants to call in and sign up to fish with the pros they can get on the list and if they get drawn they get to fish with that pro for free,” he said. The entry fee is $125 per boat and A lucky angler can also win a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig by test driving the boat before the tournament. GMC is also giving away a GMC 1500 pickup but you have to test drive it, too, at the same time you test drive the boat. “There is the possibility you could drive away from this tournament with a new truck and a new boat,” Proceeds from the tournament are used to replenish bass in Entries are already being registered for 2011 and 2012. For details call Mark’s Outdoor Sports in Mark’’s Outdoors Lay Sat. May 1, 2010 Paradise Point 205-822-2010
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Homes Sales Were Strong in ‘09 on Lay Lake
February 1st, 20102009 was a great year for re sales on Lay Lake. Lot sales have hit a slump but homes are still moving and now is a great time to buy. Sales on Lay Lake have surpassed the ‘07 levels and lenders are back in the vacation home market. Business quadrupled from ‘08 levels and millions of dollars worth of homes closed with families getting ready for some serious fishing action.
Spring and summer will be great and Bryon will be here moving it all along. Go to www.laylakerealtor.com and browse all the available properties.
Bassmaster’s is Almost Here
February 1st, 2010
Lay Lake in Alabama’s Shelby County
Tapped as Fishery for 2010 Bassmaster Classic
BASS Communications
BASS announced today that the 2010 Bassmaster Classic will return in February to Lay Lake in Shelby County, Ala., site of three previous Classic competitions — 1996, 2002 and 2007.Fifty-one Classic qualifiers will hit the Coosa River impoundment Feb. 19-21 for the 2010 Classic title. As previously announced, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham, Ala., will be the site of the daily weigh-ins and accompanying 2010 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo. This weekend BASS firmed up the location for the morning festivities at Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp, 537 Beeswax Park Road, near the town of Columbiana, Ala.
“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.”
Alabama is no stranger to the biggest event in the sport. The state has hosted 10 Classic events, including three contested on Lay Lake. The most recent, in 2007, is famous for being the first to be won by a home-state pro: Bassmaster Elite Series pro Boyd Duckett of Demopolis. He laid to rest the myth of “home-state jinx” when he won with 48 pounds, 10 ounces of Lay Lake bass.
Duckett bested fellow Elite pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., by just 6 ounces.
Reese, who landed his first Classic title less than a month ago at the Red River in Louisiana, said another Classic on Lay Lake could be his chance to extract about 6 ounces’ worth of revenge.
“Another Classic on Lay Lake is great news. 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,” he said half-jokingly.
“I feel a Classic on Lay also will be an opportunity for me to repeat as champion, and I’m excited about going back there.”
With the defending champion’s automatic qualification for 2010, right now Reese is the only angler with a secured berth — the other 50 will qualify through various BASS tournament circuits.
“Birmingham is excited to host the 40th Bassmaster Classic and we anticipate another fantastic event,” said Mike Gunn, vice president, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This is our seventh time hosting this prestigious, major sporting event.”
Current Lake Conditions
Date: 10/28/2009
Hour Ending: 7:51:00 PM
Lake Elevation
395.54 Feet
Turbine Release
26082 cfs
Lake Conditions Message
Effective - 10/27/2009
The Lay Biennial Drawdown that was initially scheduled to begin October 14 was postponed prior to its start due to high inflows from abnormal rainfall amounts. Due to the abnormally wet fall conditions and continued rain forecast, as well as other factors surrounding the USFWS conditions, we are regretfully cancelling the 2009 drawdown for Lay. The next drawdown will take place in 2011; details of that drawdown will be communicated as time draws closer.
Fall is a Great Time to be on Lay Lake
October 19th, 2009Fall 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.
Drawdown Postponed
October 12th, 2009Who 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
Lay Reservoir drawdown postponed
Because of heavy rains and forecasts of continuing rainfall, Alabama Power on Monday opened spillway gates at its
Spillway gates were opened at Weiss, Henry, Lay and Mitchell dams on the
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
1st Lay Lake Drawdown Since 2005 Nears
September 19th, 2009If 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:
| Lake | Normal Elevation | Drawdown Elevation | Start Lowering | End Lowering | Start Refill | Return to Normal |
| Jordan/ Bouldin |
252 | 248/249 | 9/16/09 | 9/18/09 | 9/30/09 | 10/2/09 |
| Mitchell | 312 | 308/309 | 9/30/09 | 10/2/09 | 10/14/09 | 10/16/09 |
| Lay | 396 | 393/394 | 10/14/09 | 10/16/09 | 10/28/09 | 10/30/09 |
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.
Mark’s Outdoors Tournament
May 4th, 2009Father-son team wins Lay Lake Open
Posted by Mike Bolton — Birmingham News May 02, 2009 9:22 PM
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.
Fishing frenzy…..Bham News 3/18/09
March 18th, 2009Bassmaster 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.”