Alabama is a hotbed of bass fishing and there are several anglers from the "Yellowhammer State" fishing this year's REDCREST on Lay Lake. One of those is Greg Vinson, who lives a few lakes down the Coosa River Chain but is still intimately familiar with the tournament venue. He's also fared well in big events, highlighted by a 3rd place finish at the first edition of this event in 2019, so he should be one to keep an eye on this year.
Re-Familiarizing with Lay Lake Fishing Is the First Step
Growing up fishing tournaments, Lay Lake was a popular stop for Vinson, but since he's gone to the national scene, he has spent less time there.
"I used to fish it a lot in local tournaments but have been detached from it the past ten years," he said. "Since I qualified, I spent a lot of time there before it went off-limits to go back and see how it's fishing. I typically fish Jordan Lake on the Coosa Chain because it's close to home."
Vinson said each of the lakes on the chain has their quirks. "All of the lakes on the chain have some similarities but are also their own beast," he began. "The biggest thing with Lay Lake is the water willow along the bank. There is some of it on other lakes, but it has the perfect depth in Lay Lake, where the largemouth live."
Largemouth will be a factor, but Vinson said the spotted bass population could be the star of the show. He says there are plenty of both, but many will target the plentiful spots.
"The spotted bass don't get as big on Lay Lake as they do on the other lakes, but there are a lot of them and plenty of quality 2 and 3-pound fish," he said. "But, it's also phenomenal for largemouth and there are some really big ones in there. I believe a mixed-bag approach will be the way to win this one."
Prespawn Patterns Galore Are Expected For Redcrest 2024
Vinson believes the fish will be close to spawning, with the bulk of the fish population close to the bank and preparing to spawn. Because of this, he'll mix in a wide range of tactics.
For finesse, he said it's hard to beat a shaky head with a 7-inch NetBait T-Mac worm in the Bama Bug color.
"If I had to pick one bait and color, that'd be it," he said. "A shaky head is great for spotted bass and largemouth on Lay Lake. I fish it on a 6-foot, 10-inch medium Halo Rods KS II. It has some backbone but a really fast tip so you can shake the bait in place without moving it too far, which is really important for a shaky head."
Vinson's power fishing approach will include a jig, especially the swim jig bite the lake is known for along the water willow.
"I'll be fishing a swim jig but also pitching a jig around the grass," he said. "My favorite trailer is a NetBait BaitFuel Kickin' B Creature Bait. It has a great swimming action when swimming a jig, but it also looks good as it falls if you pitch one."
Vinson prefers a rod designed for frog fishing, a 7-foot, 2-inch heavy Halo Fishing BB Frogging rod for both. "It's made for fishing a frog, but great for so many other techniques," he added.
Vinson also believes a crankbait could be a player for him at REDCREST. He plans to use everything from a square bill to a 10-foot diver as they will allow him to cover all sections of the water column while actively looking for staging bass.
"I like to fish all those baits on a 7-foot medium heavy Scott Canterbury Series cranking rod," he said. "It's great for shallow baits down to baits that dive to around 10 feet. I like it because it gives you a lot of control when fighting fish and even if one jumps, it's got the right bend so you don't lose them."
A final possibility for Vinson is a spinnerbait; he plans to fish it around shallow cover and ample grass along the bank. For spinnerbaits, he's a fan of a 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy in the Halo Rods KS II lineup.
"It's an all-purpose rod that will work for many different baits," he said. "I like it because it has a faster tip, and you can put that spinnerbait into tight places. It's great for making accurate casts."
If Lay Lake comes down to a home-field advantage, Greg Vinson could be one of the favorites to win. He has a long history with the lake and has spent plenty of time to become familiarized with the fishery again, hoping to take home the REDCREST trophy.
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