Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre impoundment of the Coosa River that lies about 50 miles south of Birmingham, Alabama. The creation of Lay Lake began in 1912, when the construction of Lay Dam started.
Lay Lake is a great recreational area for people in Alabama as well as out-of-state visitors. The area provides nature trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, and RV areas. The most popular activities at Lay Lake, however, are boating and fishing. There are multiple public and private boat ramps that allow access to the water, and there are four small islands located within the lake that can be explored.
There are wonderful opportunities for fishing at Lay Lake, and there are even multiple fishing tournaments that happen each year for more serious anglers. The lake provides cool, clear, deep water and lots of hiding spots that are perfect for many sport fish species. Below are some of the most common types of fish that can be spotted in Lay Lake.
Lay Lake Fish Species
1) Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
Spotted bass are a highly popular sporting species in Lay Lake, and these fish really enjoy very clear waters. They will often be found deeper than largemouth bass in areas with rocky bottoms and steeply sloping sides. This species has an olive-green back that fades to silvery sides and a light belly.
Spotted bass gets their name from the rows of small dark spots that line their belly. These fish average around 10 – 17 inches in length and weigh 0.5 – 3.5 pounds. Spotted bass also have a tooth patch on their tongues, which helps them eat crayfish, insects, and smaller fishes.
2) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth bass are the most popular sport fish in Lay Lake, and they can be found in areas with rocky or vegetated coverings. Largemouth bass get their name from their mouth, which extends past the eye, unlike smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass have olive-green bodies with dark mottling along the back and speckles along the sides.
This species typically grows to about 15 – 18 inches long, although the largest largemouth ever recorded was 22 pounds and 4 ounces. Largemouths are carnivores that primarily feed on crayfish but will also eat other fishes and insects.
3) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Smallmouth bass are less common in Lay Lake compared to other black bass species, but they can be found near similar areas as the largemouth bass. Smallmouths are an olive-green color with vertical bands on the side of the body, and they range from 12 – 18 inches in length and weigh around 1 – 4 pounds.
While smallmouth bass look very similar to largemouth bass, the major distinction between the two is that smallmouth bass have a smaller mouth that extends to the midpoint of the eye. Despite the difference in mouth sizes, smallmouths eat a diet similar to largemouth bass. The daily creel limit for all black bass species combined in Alabama is 10 fish, and only five of these fish can be smallmouth bass.
4) White bass (Morone chrysops)
White bass are found in Lay Lake near channel breaks or along the dam, where the water has a slight current. These fish are a silvery white color, and they wear 6 – 8 black stripes laterally across their bodies. They have an underbite mouth, much like the largemouth bass; however, white bass are more closely related to striped bass.
White bass are mid-sized fish, and they average about 12 – 14 inches in length and weigh around two pounds. This species is highly aggressive when it comes to feeding, and schools of white bass will hunt together for items such as gizzard shad, perch, carp, and other fish species. There is currently a 15-fish daily creel limit for white bass in Alabama.
5) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
Striped bass are relatively popular sportfish that are found in the Coosa River and Lay Lake, and they can be seen in waters that are cool, clear, and deep. Striped bass have bodies that are laterally compressed with green or blue backs and silver iridescent sides. These fish also have 6 – 9 black stripes that run horizontally across the body.
Striped bass are larger fish that can grow to about 2 – 3 feet in length and weigh between 10 – 30 pounds, although they can get larger in impoundments of the Coosa River. This species is generally piscivorous and will hunt for other fishes at night.
6) Hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops)
Striped bass hybrids, also known as wipers, are crosses between striped bass and white bass, and they are produced in hatcheries in order to be stocked in bodies of water like Lay Lake. These fish prefer waters similar to that of true striped bass in areas that are cool, clear, and deep. Striped bass hybrids have bodies that are laterally compressed and are silver in color with broken dark horizontal lines. This hybrid also has an arched back, much like white bass, in addition to two tongue patches, which they inherit from the striped bass.
Striped bass hybrids grow very rapidly, and they can reach 18 – 20 pounds by eight years of age. These fish travel in schools and will hunt for items such as shad, minnows, crustaceans, and insects. The daily creel limit for striped bass and hybrid striped bass is 15 fish in Alabama.
7) Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis)
Yellow bass may be found in Lay Lake, and they prefer areas that have little vegetation and low turbidity. This species is characterized by its olive-green back and yellowish sides. They also have seven dark horizontal stripes on the mid to upper portion of their bodies and broken lines on the lower middle portion.
Yellow bass are relatively small, growing to about 6 – 10 inches long and weighing around 8 – 11 ounces. These fish do not have teeth or tongues, but they are still able to hunt in schools for insects, crustaceans, and other fishes. The daily creel limit for yellow bass in Alabama is currently 15 fish.
8) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Black crappies are relatively common in Lay Lake because they enjoy still, clear waters. Black crappies have compressed bodies that are darker green on the back with dark mottling on the silvery sides. They also have 7 – 8 spines on their dorsal fins, which distinguishes them from white crappies, which have 5 – 6 spines.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, so the males tend to be larger and darker than the females. Black crappies typically grow to about 8 – 12 inches and weigh 0.25 – 1 lbs. These fish are able to see relatively well in the dark, so they will generally hunt during the night or early morning for small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
9) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
White crappies are slightly less abundant at Lay Lake compared to black crappies, and the best chances of finding these fish are in vegetated areas near windier shorelines. This species has compressed bodies that are silvery-olive on the back and silvery-white towards the belly. These fish have dark vertical bands along the sides of their bodies, and their gill covers have spines. During breeding season, males will look slightly different than females because the males will develop a dark throat.
White crappies average about 9 – 10 inches long and are around 2 pounds as adults. These fish generally eat smaller fishes like minnows or shad, but they will also eat insects like mayflies. The current daily creel limit for crappies is 30 fish in Alabama, and all crappie kept must be greater than nine inches in length.
10) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel catfish are one of the most abundant types of catfish in the United States, and they are commonly seen in rivers and lakes like Lay Lake. This species will most likely be found near covered areas and the shoreline of Lay Lake. Like all catfish, the channel catfish does not have scales and has barbels on the upper and lower jaw; however, the channel catfish can be distinguished by its deeply forked tail, silvery body, and overbite.
These fish grow to about 10 – 20 inches long and weigh anywhere from 2 – 10 pounds. Catfish tend to eat quite a bit of food, so they use their barbels covered in taste buds to sense their surroundings and find food like snails, fishes, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic plants, and possibly birds.
11) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
Blue catfish are a close relative of channel catfish, and they are the most populated catfish species in Lay Lake. Blue catfish have a blueish-gray back that fades to a white belly, and they possess no spots, unlike channel catfish.
These fish generally range between 20 – 60 inches in length, and have an average weight of around 20 – 50 pounds; however, they can easily reach 100 or more pounds if they are older. Blue catfish have jaws lined with tiny teeth that help them eat just about anything they can catch including insects, fish, worms, and crustaceans.
12) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Flathead catfish can be found in areas of Lay Lake where there are plenty of rocky or woody coverings and deeper waters. Flathead catfish are generally bigger than channel catfish, and flatheads are a mottled brown color with a square tail and an underbite. This species, like the channel catfish, has barbs on its dorsal and pectoral fins, which are used to poke predators or humans that may have startled them.
This species usually averages 20 – 30 inches in length, and they can exceed 100 pounds. Flatheads are fierce carnivores, and they typically prey on a variety of fish species such as drum, shad, and other catfish species including their own. There is currently no creel limit on any catfish below 34 inches in length in Alabama, but only one catfish that exceeds 34 inches can be taken.
13) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are a common sunfish in North America, and they can be found in shallow, vegetated areas of lakes as juveniles, but adults will tend to be in deeper waters during the day. These fish are characterized by having disk-shaped bodies with an olive green back, an orangish-yellow belly, and a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin. Bluegills get their name from the bluish hue surrounding the gill covers.
This species averages around 7.5 inches in length and weighs around half a pound as adults. These fish have very little mouths, so they will only eat smaller prey such as zooplankton, insects, worms, and snails. Bluegills are a main source of food for many larger fish species such as largemouth bass, so they have adapted to be maneuverable. For instance, this species can make very quick stops by spreading out their pectoral fins.
14) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
Green sunfish are not an incredibly abundant sunfish species in Lay Lake, but they may be found in still waters where there is vegetation for cover. This species has a wider body compared to other sunfish, and these bodies are blue-green in color with black dots and white bellies. They also have darker vertical bands across their bodies and a dark spot on their dorsal fin.
Green sunfish are not a desirable sport fish because they are relatively small, ranging from about 3 – 7 inches long and weighing less than a pound. These fish are very aggressive and will outcompete native fish species for food such as crayfish, fish eggs, insects, and smaller fishes.
15) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Redear sunfish are found in Lay Lake in areas where the water is warmer and has a moderate amount of cover. These fish have laterally compressed bodies that are usually green, gray, or olive, and they will sometimes have dark flecks and vertical lines along the length of them. Redear sunfish get their name from their black opercular (ear) flap which has a bright red border in males and an orange border for females.
This species can grow up to 12 inches long and generally weigh under two pounds. Redear sunfish are benthic feeders, and once they become adults and develop a strong jaw, they will almost exclusively feed on aquatic snails. These fish are slightly harder to catch compared to bluegills, but they are still willing to bite many kinds of bait, which makes sunfish a perfect starter fish for new anglers.
16) Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
Redbreast sunfish can be found throughout Lay Lake in areas with sandy or rocky bottoms and aquatic vegetation to hide in. These fish have blue-green backs and sides and yellow- or rust-colored bellies. Breeding males will develop bright red upper bellies, which is how they get their name, redbreast sunfish.
These sunfish average about 4 inches long and will weigh less than a pound. Redbreast sunfish are opportunistic feeders and will prey on many different smaller food items including juvenile insects and larvae.
17) Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
Longear sunfish like the cooler, clear waters of Lay Lake, where there is plenty of cover to hide in. This species closely resembles other panfish, but they have a few distinguishing characteristics. One characteristic is that they have orangey-red bodies that are covered in light blue spots. This species also has an elongated ear flap that lacks a dot, unlike pumpkinseed sunfish. Longear sunfish also have a blue streak on the top of their mouths that other panfish do not have.
These fish average about 5 – 8 inches long and weigh around six ounces. Unlike many other sunfish, longear sunfish like to feed near the surface of the water on aquatic insects, microcrustaceans, fish eggs, and juvenile fishes.
18) Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
Warmouths, also known as redeye, are found in Lay Lake where there is lots of vegetation and logs and where the sides of the river have steep slopes. Warmouths are a type of sunfish that has a thick olive-brown body with dark brown mottling and three to five red-brown stripes across the gill cover. They average about 5 – 8 inches long and weigh around two pounds.
Warmouths get the nickname “redeye” because they have bright red eyes. These fish also have the name “warmouth” because they have very large mouths that extend to the pupil of their eyes. They use this mouth, along with teeth on their tongues and the roof of their mouths, to eat crustaceans, insects, and small fishes.
19) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
Freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, is a fish that will most likely be found in the shallow, muddy waters of Lay Lake. This species gets its name from the drumming or croaking noise males can make with a specific muscle in their body to attract mates. Freshwater drum are characterized by their silver bodies with a lateral line that extends all the way through their caudal fin. They also have a steeply sloping body that gives them the appearance of a humpback.
This species averages about 10 – 14 inches long and will usually weigh up to five pounds. Drums have large teeth that help them eat a variety of prey at the bottom of the lake including snails, insects, small fish, and invasive zebra mussels.
20) Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)
Gizzard shad can be found near the shorelines of Lay Lake where there are higher winds and turbidity. This species has silvery-blue backs that fade to white sides, and they average between 6 – 8 inches long and 1 – 8 ounces in weight. These fish also have a long final ray on the dorsal fin that resembles a whip.
Gizzard shad get their name from their unique muscular stomach that acts almost like a bird gizzard, which breaks down plant matter and phytoplankton that the fish filter feed on from the water column. This species is very important for the health of many ecosystems including Lay Lake because they help control plankton populations, and they are a prey item for many other fish species including crappies, white bass, and black bass.
