Tallapoosa River System - Lake Martin

DAY: If we have little rain (like most summers) the fishing can be affected by water clarity. Lake Martin gets very clear (especially downriver) to a point of 5-10 foot visibility. Bass feed by sight and fooling them often involves downsizing lures and fishing a little deeper than normal on Lake Martin. Light line and finesse fishing are the ticket to getting many bites during the day.

Fishing main-lake points is a good area for searching out deep water schools of both spotted bass and largemouth抯. Ledges on the main lake and up in the deeper creeks also hold bass all throughout the summer. Deep-diving crankbaits fished with 8-15 lb. test Trilene Big Game line and Carolina-rigged plastics are good combos for searching out both of these deep water areas. Piers with brush near deep water and shade are best for finding numbers of bass seeking these comforts during hot weather. Again, lures such as worms, lizards, jig & pig combos, and topwaters, should be downsized with line from 8-15 lb. test.

Jigging spoons or fishing with grubs, shad imitations or lead tailspinners along the ends of points, rock bluffs, around the ends of islands, along ledges and drop-offs will take bass of all sizes. Search out water as deep as 10-30 feet (or deeper) when looking for these bass. When a few are caught thoroughly fish the area with several different lures, or return later.

If fishing from Wind Creek park, upriver to the lakes headwaters, you may encounter a little more color to the water as you approach the lake headwaters. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits can be fished on heavier line for cover-seeking spotted bass and some big largemouth抯. Flipping worms, lizards, jigs, tube baits and fishing with deep-diving crankbaits are all dependable tactics for these upper lake areas. Many run-ins and rocky shoals adorn this upper portain of Lake Martin. Bass seeking the cooler water can be caught with jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, floating worms, rattletraps, topwaters and mid-to-deep running crankbaits. Boat traffic and recreational jet skis, may hamper your daytime fishing on this busy summertime lake, often calling for a few night fishing trips.

NIGHT: With very clear water fishing for bass at night can often be more productive than during the day on Lake Martin. Bass that drop their guard after sundown will move up on points, humps, islands and other shallow water areas, near the deeper water hangouts that most bass suspend around during the day. A lot of these bass feed at night and in some very clear water. This is where their eyesight traits are accompanied by picking up vibrations through their lateral line when they can't see the prey.

This means fishing with lures that emit a lot of vibration, create flash and have sound. Worms and lizards should have added rattles for more enticement. Jigs with rattles and a pork trailer are also good because bass smell their prey as well. Adding fish attractants to your lures at night (such as Dr. Ketchum's Bass Jelly) not only will mask human odor, but will help bass smell out the lure and often make them hold on a little longer, enabling you to get a better hookset.

Some bass hold deep during the day and moving shallow at night on Lake Martin, due to boat traffic and water clarity. This can mean only hitting the nearest structure at the same depth the bass are holding or suspended in. This means working a point (or other cover) all the way out to deep water. Some strikes can come right under the boat, so be ready.

With very clear water, topwater lures can call bass out of deep water at night. At times, a lot of noise, action and staying in one spot, is needed for some very finicky bass. Noise makers such as pop-r's, zara spooks, clacker or head-knocker model buzzbaits, jitterbugs, prop-baits, chuggers, minnow-type lures and baby (or tiny) torpedoes, are all good in slightly dark areas, stained water or around well lighted piers.

Quieter model lures such as frog and rats, soft jerkbaits or floating worms, crayfish and lizards, may be needed on calm, windless nights. This especially holds true on calm shallow water, where BIG bass can be finicky and very spooky. All of these lures and tactics are good for day or night fishing on Lake Martin throughout the Summer.