Its been around for many years. As a matter of fact, Lake Martin, situated on the Tallapoosa River near Alexander City, is celebrating its 78 th year since impoundment. That's a long time for a lake that's is fished every week by hundreds of anglers, to survive. Clearly evident, the lake is showing its age, by the average weight it takes for winning a major bass tournament with 200 boats...12-13 pounds!

Some of the world's best bass anglers, many fishing the Bassmaster tournament trails and F L W Outdoors various tournament trails, have yet to figure out how to catch these hard to find bass. One reason being, the lack of wood cover. Years of lake drawdown during winter have all but deteriorated away the wood cover left here during impoundment. The lake can be down only 4-5 feet, but at times in years past, it has been drawn down to as much as 15 feet below full pool. Lake Martin is returned to full pool in April.

Two species of bass found all over this huge sprawled out lake give anglers several choices when it comes to targeting tournament winning sacks of bass. Largemouth bass, of which the lake has plenty of, can show that any angler can win any major bass tournament. That is, if the angler can locate them consistently in a multiple day tournament.

The Tallapoosa River Spotted bass is another popular bass species, in abundance on Lake Martin, with some exceeding 7 pounds taken in major bass tournaments. But these nomadic bass can move from one day to another. Leaving most tournament anglers struggling to even get a limit on the second day or third day of a major bass tournament. So, many anglers target both bass species when building up a tournament winning game plan.

Usually when competing against the world's best bass anglers, its going to take quality, tournament sized bass of both species to win on this lake. Some of these seasoned pros have visited Lake Martin dozens of times. Still, most find to their disliking, this can be a lake that is not so forgiving when it comes to consistently putting quality bass in the boat. Even for the most experienced bass anglers.

Fishing for either of these bass species does have its recognizable differences. However, both largemouth bass and spotted bass can be taken from the same places, with the same lures, on Lake Martin in every season.

Wind Creek is now famous for providing a launch site for most of these weekly bass tournaments. This famous location is at a half way point in the lake. Anglers launching here can decide if they want to go downriver, facing clear water conditions or head north to the many feeder creeks and the lakes headwaters, known for stained water and its largemouth habitat. But like said, whether you go upriver or downriver you can catch both of these bass species in a days fishing.

Striped bass have long been established in Lake Martin. Huge saltwater striped bass now exist on Lake Martin. Many of these striped bass were stocked in the lake by the thousands many years ago. Some huge stripes are now nearing 50 pounds and have been taken by the angler that is fortunate enough to land these tackle testing bass. A 20 pounder is a common site on any trip. Especially during winter.

These huge fish thrive in cold water situations and have been known to school lakewide, even during cold, winter months. Like the largemouth bass and spotted bass most anglers are seeking, you can search for hybrids and saltwater striped bass in the lakes headwaters and its warm spring fed creeks. Or you can search the lakes deeper waters, from Wind creek all the way to the dam at the lakes lower end.

Many anglers fishing crankbaits, jerkbaits, rattling lipless lures, and even topwaters, have hooked into these monsters when bass fishing. For some, often never seeing what they have hooked, all they have is the old tale of, "the one that got away." So be prepared with stout tackle, strong line, and sharp hooks when searching for Lake Martin's striped bass this winter. Visit Lake Martin this winter and see why many tournament trails make this lake 'first' on their list each new year.

Lake Martin. It can be feast or famine, so being there is the only way to try and figure out these bass. Or you can call on Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133. "Over 40 years fishing for spotted bass, largemouth bass and some huge striped bass on Alabama's Lake Martin."

This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"Celebrating 5 Years on the Radio Jan 2004"
Sunday Morning's 9-10 A.M. Central Time
Radio Station WJOX 690 AM 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