Coffee County Lake reopens today

The Coffee County public lake opened in the summer of 1947 when I was 13 years old. My sisters Chris and Sue and our Papa Wilson and I went there to fish. Papa was almost blind and we often got him to go places with us. He made us feel secure. I guess I must have driven our dad's old truck to get there; can't remember.


Anyway, it was a hot, sultry July day and we rented a boat to get out in the lake to fish. While we were out in the middle of the big lake, a storm came up and we couldn't paddle the boat back to the boat ramp. We kept going in circles and finally the wind pushed our boat to the opposite side where there was no path, just a deep thicket and woods. We got off the boat and waited for the storm to pass and then hiked around the woods, across the dam, and back to the concession stand to let them know we couldn't get the boat back. I guess somebody must have retrieved it for us. I don't remember if we caught any fish. And I guess we didn't have on life jackets. If we did, I guess we left them in the boat. It was many years before I wanted to get in a boat without a motor.


When the lake was new, there was an area marked off with ropes as a designated swimming area. Daddy would let us use an "inter-tube" from a car or truck (one that he had patched I'm sure) to use to float on top of the water. We made the swimsuits we wore.


Now I'm "paying" for all the time I spent in the sun and getting sunburned. I have to go to a dermatologist regularly to have pre-cancer skin places removed on my arms and face. There was no sun screen back then. 


Today there is a nice fishing pier where water is deep and a good spot to go fishing. Also there are lots of picnic tables along the shoreline on the west side, along a road that enters the park.


The city of Elba recently took over the management of the park that is operated by the state Wildlife and Fisheries Dept. State rules for fishing are in effect.


Hopefully this lake will be here for many more generations to enjoy. It is a great place to go fishing for catfish, bream, crappie and bass. I can't wait to get up early one morning and be there when it opens at 5 a.m. and catch enough for our lunch. Yum yum...... I'll have to clean them; Jim refuses to do that. He didn't get to go fishing when he was growing up and never learned to clean fish. He doesn't know what he missed.......