“ It will be an awesome lake because it ’ s so dynamic and there are so many ways to catch fish .”
TOURNAMENT HISTORY AND WEIGHT PREDICTIONS
Dustin Connell , the REDCREST 2021 champ and lifelong resident of
Alabama , can claim home field advantage in 2024 .
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
Alabama ’ s Lay Lake , a 12,000-acre reservoir on the Coosa River , has a little bit of everything for anglers .
“ It will be an awesome lake because it ’ s so dynamic and there are so many ways to catch fish .”
Getting the lay of Lay
The Coosa River chain contains six reservoirs : Weiss , Neely Henry , Logan Martin , Mitchell , Jordan and Lay . Each is a little different in size , habitat and fishing conditions , according to Alabama Department of Conservation and National Resources biologist Michael P . Holley , who monitors the entire chain of lakes .
At about 12,000 acres , Lay Lake falls in the middle of the pack in size . As far as features , it has a little bit of everything . It includes a tailrace below Logan Martin Dam that could prove productive as well as other riverine portions , but because it doesn ’ t experience a major winter drawdown like Weiss and Logan Martin , it also contains plenty of shallow cover , including aquatic vegetation . As a result , multiple techniques and approaches should be in play .
“ Lay does have some of the riverine features like Jordan , Mitchell and Neely Henry , but it also has several large creeks with overbank areas and aquatic vegetation ,” Holley said . “ So Lay has it all , from gravel , rock , clay and sandytype banks and points to large backwaters with aquatic vegetation . It gives anglers many options , but the caveat is that it ’ s not a big reservoir , and anglers will undoubtedly find the same areas .”
A home game for Connell
One of three former REDCREST champions in the field , Dustin Connell has an excellent chance to become the first repeat winner . The 2021 champion will look to accomplish the feat on his home lake – Connell ’ s hometown of Clanton , Alabama , is a short drive from Lay Lake , and he ’ s spent his entire life in the area .
PHOTO BY JODY WHITE
TOURNAMENT HISTORY AND WEIGHT PREDICTIONS
WHILE LAY LAKE HAS a decorated tournament history , this event has no direct comparison due to its time of year and format . As a result , it ’ ll be hard to predict what constitutes a good day during REDCREST .
The most recent top-level tournament on the fishery was a Bassmaster Elite Series event last May . Will Davis Jr . won with 62 pounds , 12 ounces across four days . Before that was Bass Pro Tour rookie Keith Carson ’ s victory during a December 2021 Bassmaster Open with 47-1 for three days . Other past triumphs include Bassmaster Classic wins by Kevin VanDam ( 2010 ), Boyd Duckett ( 2007 ), Jay Yelas ( 2002 ) and George Cochran ( 1996 ).
None of those events occurred recently enough or at the right time of year to offer a blueprint for what it will take to make the cut or take home the trophy in March . The other wrinkle is that REDCREST will feature every-fish-counts scoring . According to Dustin Connell , weights could be all over the place .
“ Most of the events here are five-fish format , and 20 pounds is a good bag ,” he said . “ But 20 pounds is also pretty solid for every fish counts . You catch five for 20 , then add 5 or 6 more scoreables , and you ’ re probably getting close to 40 pounds , which I think will be a great oneday total in this one .”
Dalton Head shared a similar outlook . He ’ s not expecting a grinder . Given the numbers and quality of bass available , he believes it will take stringing together four strong days to contend on Lay Lake .
“ You usually need to be around a lot of fish to win or do well in any format ,” he said . “ In this event , catching 30 pounds a day should be good because that is 10 to 15 solid fish . I ’ d be happy to start with that . It may not be enough to win , but you ’ d be above a lot of guys .”
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