LOGAN MARTIN NOV. 2005

LAKE MARTIN
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Impounded 1926
Lake Level: Down for Winter Pool

Winter Bass Fishing on Lake Martin

They say, "Experience is the best teacher." With that thought in mind, I've been taught a lot. One thing I've learned after fishing Alabama's Lake Martin for over 30 years. Cold weather really brings out the big largemouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass this lake is known for producing. Here are just a few of the many memories I recall while fishing Lake Martin during cold weather.

Throughout my many 30+ years of tournament fishing, guiding clients from all over the world to Lake Martin and just generally exploring this massive lake, I've seen a lot of big bass. I've personally landed 5 largemouth bass over 8 pounds and landed several largemouth's exceeding that magical mark for friends, tournament partners and guided clients. One monster largemouth an out of town friend caught, came on a spinnerbait, in January in stained water, while fishing laying trees upriver. It weighed 9 1/2 pounds. The biggest I've seen caught on this lake.

This lengthy list includes several spotted bass weighing over 5 pounds (one clients / 6.40 pounds) and some huge striped bass, some exceeding 30 pounds. Most of these trophy sized bass, any angler would be proud to do battle with, came from early October on into spring. They were all fooled on a variety of lures.

Two big largemouth's I vividly recall hooking, landing and releasing, weighed close to 7 & 8 pounds apiece. They both came on a cold, December day, while practicing for an upcoming Bassmasters tournament years ago. Both of these largemouth bass hit topwater lures in mid-50 degree water temperatures. The 7 pounder hit a buzzbait (after it had missed a zara super spook topwater 30 minutes earlier) and the 8 pounder hit a Zara Super Spook. I also had 3 three pounders that day, caught on suspending jerkbaits (while fishing right next to George Cochran that eventually led the tournament on day one, only a hundred yards away) while fishing flats and laying logs. That's 5 bass weighing 24 pounds, that would win any one day tournament on Lake Martin. Ah, the memories.

Two other largemouth's I fooled on two different trips came in early February. One 8 pounder (caught in stained water fishing upriver came out of a laying pine tree), it hit a big, gaudy 3/4 ounce chartreuse and white spinnerbait with a chartreuse grub trailer and # 8 willow leaf blade. We call it the hubcap. On another February trip while looking for a jig they had not seen, I fooled an 8 1/2 pound largemouth on a chartreuse 1/4 ounce jig with a chartreuse pork trailer. So as you see, winter can be big bass time on Lake Martin, on a variety of offerings.

On this lake you have to keep in mind these big bass do not come easy. To succeed in finding big bass like these, first of all you have to find fish holding cover such as weeds, rocks or wood cover. Its now been over 80 years since Lake Martin was Impounded in 1926. A lot of the stumps, laying trees, logs and brush have deteriorated away. During the winter months lake drawdown (as drastically low as 15 feet down in years past), not only aids this theory, but also the fact that aquatic weeds become none existent 6 months out of the year. Most of the really big bass I've seen (those exceeding 5 pounds) came from around wood cover. Laying trees, brush, stumps, log jams and even a few piers have accounted for most of these trophy bass.

If launching at the now famous Wind Creek State park you have two choices to explore this massive, sprawled out lake. Stained water and clear water. If you go north of Wind Creek, you head towards the lake's headwaters. After about 5 miles, the lake takes on a new appearance and begins to narrow down to more of river type situation. Then it goes another 20 miles of twisting, turning river channel, situated along flats with small creeks and pockets. Here anglers will find stained water, feeder creeks, plenty of rock and wood cover and the headwaters of Lake Martin. This is where boaters are halted with shallow rocky shoals, situated a few miles below upriver Lake Harris dam.

This is big largemouth territory and many big largemouth's exceeding 5 pounds are taken here around wood and rock cover during winter and early spring. Striped bass are found here, some over 40 pounds have been taken by the angler fortunate enough to land them, in years past. Navigation is hazardous in these lake headwaters (with low water) so boaters be forewarned. When going past the Hwy. 280 bridge use extreme caution.

If you head south of Wind Creek you will encounter the mid to lower lake region, that goes all the way to Lake Martin dam. As you leave Wind Creek and head south you will notice the water clarity. Unless your trip is following several days of heavy rain, you will evidently see, this mid to lower lake area gets much clearer, the further south you go. Water clarity of 10 feet or more is common. Many big largemouth bass are caught here each winter. Tallapoosa River spotted bass, some exceeding 7 pounds, have been fooled on lures as simple as a spinnerbait or a small 4 inch finesse worm, jigging spoon, suspending jerkbait or topwater lure. During winter months, many anglers report catches of hybrid striped bass and striped bass, many exceeding 10 pounds, caught with live bait, trolling or jigging spoons. Many huge, striped bass are caught in the dead of winter on topwaters and big oversized jerkbaits, while they are schooling and feeding on baitfish.

Visit Lake Martin this winter season and discover the action many anglers are missing. It is an excellent lake for largemouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass during the cold months of winter and early spring. Or call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 and see how its done.

You can now subscribe to Lake Martin Magazine at www.lakemartinmagazine.com There you see my monthly column, "Off The Hook" By Reed Montgomery. I have been writing for Lake Martin's now very popular magazine, since it debuted in the spring of 2005. It is an excellent magazine, published by Tallapoosa publishers, every boater, lake resident and local and visiting angler should have. Or you can call their circulation department at: (256) 234-4281 and subscribe. Tell em' Reed sent you!

Thanks dress warm and be safe this winter on our lakes.

This lake report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"6 Years on the Radio / Jan 2005"
Birmingham, Alabama
Call Reeds Guide Service...First! (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com