LAKE MARTIN MARCH 2003

LAKE MARTIN
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787- 5133
Impounded 1926
Lake Level: Down 4 feet
Water Temperature: mid-upper 50's

The Prespawn Bass of Lake Martin

Finesse em' with tidbits or force feed em' with power fishing, Lake Martin's got both. As lake levels rise from last week's constant rains very evident, stained-to-muddy water conditions can be found in the lakes headwaters and incoming tributaries. Many anglers seeking that big, trophy largemouth bass, now find conditions to their liking.

Still, with several inches of rain last week, Lake Martin's sprawled out waters, exhibit miles of clear water to explore. Right now, a good medium, is fishing places with a very light stain, that provide bass a sense of security and generally moves both spotted bass and largemouth's shallow in March.

From, the now famous Wind Creek State Park, down to the lakes dam, is normally very clear water. It takes a lot of rain to really muddy up this area. Mid-to-lower lake feeder creeks, are stained to muddy this week. Anglers seeking the ever moving and ever-elusive spotted bass, target these areas with more stable conditions, deeper water and much clearer water, than the lakes headwaters. Most anglers find some big spotted bass schools and some anglers (fortunate enough to land them), discover some really trophy spots in the 5-6 pound range.

Heading upriver, above Wind Creek State park, shows less water to navigate with the lake still down 4 feet, increased current and (for a few days/week) stained to muddy water conditions. Some spots, but really, this is known as largemouth territory.

In these lake headwaters, big largemouth bass are taken each winter and early spring period. Normally featuring lightly stained water conditions, these small cuts and pockets, and feeder creeks, found in the upper portions of Lake Martin, show most bass depending on keen eyesight to find their meals, or anglers offerings when things muddy up.

As waters get stained to muddy, they depend on their lateral line to detect movement from possible prey, meals they find in water so bad, they can barely see a few inches ahead. This can be crayfish, moving slowly across the lakes bottom, minnows in the backs of feeder creeks, shad schools or other baitfish such as a bream, and smaller prey, these big bass fatten up on before moving shallow to spawn. Lures that simulate these easy to catch meals can be many.

POWER FISHING: This term simply means the use of oversized tackle, usually covering a lot of water fast or targeting the bigger, much slower moving largemouth's, with in close techniques, for fishing off colored water such as flipping, pitching and swimming a jig combo....but exceptions are made, especially with the very aggressive spotted bass of Lake Martin.

On Lake Martin, with no weeds present, this means targeting wood cover, rocks, or bottom iregularieties with a variety of lures that excell in stained to muddy water conditions.

Starting on bottom, this can mean heavy, oversized jigs, adorned with big, bulky, plastic or pork trailers, such as Sizmic lures, Big Dill and Little Dill plastic chunks, or their Sassy Toad and new, Sassy Toad Jr. They also make plenty of lizards, small worms and big worms, as well as soft plastic jerkbaits, dubbed "the Flu-go."

Spinnerbaits are also the big bass lures in this stained water found upriver. Try Davis Lure companies new Pro Vibe X-wire series, great indestructible, lures in an array of fish catching colors. Deep diving crankbaits, rattletraps and suspending jerkbaits, show underwater vibrations, sound, and lots of flash and colors, for aiding bass in detecting prey (and lures) in these stained to muddy water conditions. Always try topwaters on Lake Martin in March.

Give Lake Martin a try this March, during these prespawn weeks ahead, or call Reeds Guide Service, to book an all day trip, same rates for one or two anglers, fishing Lake Martin, or any lake in Alabama. Several boats and guides available for multiple parties / Reeds Guide Service / Birmingham, Alabama (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"

Finesse fishing, or the use of smaller offerings in clear water situations, always calls for light tackle outfits on Lake Martin. Anglers are discovering many ways to present dozens of lures to these often, very picky spotted bass.

FINESSE EM' - Very small worms, grubs, tube baits, lizards, crayfish imitations, centipedes, French fries, slim line worms, mini-jig combos and now, vertical jigging spoons and the ever popular West coast technique, "THE DROP SHOT RIG" show extreme popularity. Even very small crankbaits, rattletraps, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and minuscule topwaters, are making the "finesse fishing scene" on Lake Martin.

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery
Sunday Mornings 9-10 A.M.Central Time
Radio Station WJOX 690 AM Birmingham, Alabama
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com