7. Lay Lake
This 12,000-acre reservoir impounded in 1914 by Alabama Power is one of the state’s oldest but still provides excellent fishing. Located 35 minutes south of Birmingham off Interstate Highway 65 in east-central Alabama, it borders St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Coosa and Chilton counties. Seven public access areas offer bank and boat access. Largemouth bass up to 18 inches are abundant, with moderate numbers of even larger bass. Spotted bass also reach larger sizes here than in most state lakes. Best fishing for largemouth bass occurs in creeks and shallow water sloughs. Anglers targeting spotted bass fish riverine portions of the lake, particularly when current flow is strong.
For lodging, visit birminghamal.org.
For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail, visit AlabamaBassTrail.org.