SHORELINES

4. Catch a sunrise CARGILL CREEK Lake Mitchell Stretching about 14 miles long and around 140 miles of shoreline, most of Lake Mitchell is wildlife-protected. Its pristine scenery and quieter waters make it a calming place to start the morning. "Watching the sunset from the mouth of Cargill Creek is a treat, but watching the sunrise is even better. So many of our lake houses have an eastern view that makes sunrise easy to catch for the early risers," says Kathy Zuelzke, a real estate agent and resident on Lake Mitchell. "Did I mention that you can see great bald eagles and blue herons feeding in the early morning?" 5. Go fishing Lay Lake/Lake Jordan While fishing is a popular sport on all our lakes, Clay Baldis, tournament director and program coordinator for the Alabama Bass Trail, boasts of the exceptional fishing on some of Alabama Power's smallest lakes – Lake Jordan and Lay Lake. Both lakes are known for their healthy spotted bass population. "Every year continues to astound me," Baldis says. "ese lakes are so tiny compared to others that we fish in around the state and I am amazed at the amount of fish out of these two." e Alabama Bass Trail is a team trail and each tournament (both lakes are represented on the trail) brings 225 boats and 450 anglers to the reservoir to fish. "In most cases, 75 to 80 percent of anglers come back and weigh a five-fish limit on Jordan and Lay," says Baldis, who has been fishing for 20 years. "ere have been several records in size and amount that have been broken recently on these lakes. ADCNR (the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) and Alabama Power do a very good job in taking care of what we have here in the state in fisheries." Photo: Karim Shamsi-Basha 28 | 2017 Vol:3

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