@fairpilot
Close to Talladega is Logan Martin lake. We used to have a place on this lake. It's dark but clean system of the Coosa River. There are some areas to avoid depending on the water level. Some sloughs may not be accessible as well due to water level and in some areas extremely shallow. I would probably avoid this lake during race week despite it being so close as it would likely be crowded and heavy police presence all around the area. Info here
http://www.loganmartin.info/
Lake Martin is a really nice lake that I only visited for the first time last year. It's fairly big and open in some areas. There are a lot of good food restaurants and pizza places around the lake. If you enjoy cliff jumping there is Chimney Rock. Water is very clear. It's about an hour and 15 minutes from Talladega but if you're staying for a week it would be worth the drive IMHO. some areas you may think you're riding in the salt water bay because the hues of water change from deep blues to emerald greens. The bottom of the lake is red rock and sand I think and there were a few places we passed where the rocks come out from under water but they were well marked areas and water was clear so the hazard areas were easy to spot. Info
http://www.lakemartin.com/. Here's a video of our local get together last year to give you an idea of the water.
I boat primarily on the rivers in central Alabama and Lake Mitchell is my "base home" as far as lakes goes. Grew up on Ware Island as a child and it's the only island in Alabama with an air strip. It's off the Coosa River so water clarity can change but typically its a darker but clean water. It's also part of a dam system off the Coosa so water and current can fluctuate depending on the season and rainfall. The further north you are on any lake in the Coosa the less clear the water and more turbulent. Lake Mitchell is about an hour and 10 minutes from Talladega. Good fishing, beautiful scenery, water sports and swimming. There is one resteraunt that I know of on the lake. Info
http://www.lakemitchell.com/. Here's some videos riding on Lake Mitchell to give you an idea of the water and area
Lay Lake is also part of the Coosa River and sits above Lake Mitchell. Water clarity is about the same however Lay Lake has a lot of stick-ups, stumps and things to watch out for if you have never boated there. Good fishing, water sports and swimming. Not sure if any restaurants.
http://www.laylake.info/
Opposite side of the state and of Talladega is Lake Tuscaloosa. It's about 2 hours away. I started going there last year meeting up with fellow jet boaters. Water is pretty clear, clean and there are some nice coves to pull into. It's a winding reservoir lake so its not as wide and vast as it is long. Info
http://www.laketuscaloosa.info/. I don't think there are any shops or restaurants on the lake but it is a pretty lake and I enjoy my time there. Here's some video of our time there to give you an idea of the water and area.
There is also Smith Lake which is very clean water and VERY deep. I haven't been there is over 20 years so I can't comment much but I can say of my time there it was a very nice lake. It's about an hour and 45 minutes from 'Dega. Info
http://www.smithlake.info/
Lake Guntersville is also a really nice lake I have yet to visit. I hear the state park and campground is pretty nice there
http://www.alapark.com/lake-guntersville-state-park. Lake is about an hour and 40 minutes directly north of Talldega. Lodging info
http://www.lakeguntersville.org/visitor-information/lodging
. The ones at Guntersville are mansions by comparison!
