Fising Lake Martin

Alabama Power Company impounded the Tallapoosa River in 1926 near Cherokee Bluffs to form Lake Martin. The lake was constructed primarily for flood control and to supply hydroelectric power to Alabama residents, but it also provides recreational opportunities to anglers and boaters.

Some anglers find it difficult to fish in Lake Martin due to the clarity of the water and the abundance of steep, rocky bluffs. Largemouth and spotted bass are popular species for fishing, but striped bass are also found here. Although other fish species have been stocked in the past, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division currently stocks only striped bass into Lake Martin at the rate of 3 per acre.

Unlike striped bass, other game fish species such as largemouth and spotted bass are able to reproduce naturally; therefore annual stockings are usually not necessary. Although the most productive times to fish the lake are during spring and fall, Lake Martin is widely considered to be one of the best wintertime bass fisheries in the state. During the summer many anglers fish at night due to the clear, hot temperatures, and pressure from recreational boaters.

Popular bass lures include 4-inch finesse worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, and floating trick worms. Small lures generally produce better than larger ones which is typical of clear water impoundments. Spotted bass usually relate to deep structure like rocky points, humps, or ledges; while largemouth bass usually remain much shallower and are attracted to cover like vegetation, brushpiles or log jams in the back of small coves and pockets.

This Alabama lake is very popular among tournament bass fishermen and most tournaments are held at the Wind Creek State Park. The park has a tournament weigh-in station on site. Occasionally, small club or pot tournaments are held at the Kowaliga Creek boat ramp on Highway 63. This lake is a very popular tournament lake because most anglers find it relatively easy to catch fish; however, the fish are generally small and winning weights are low when compared to other Alabama lakes. Many tournament anglers find success by catching a quick limit of spotted bass and then spending the remainder of the tournament attempting to catch bigger largemouth bass.

Striped bass are also popular for fishing in Martin. Anglers must learn to fish offshore in order to be successful since the striped bass rarely feeds near the shoreline. These fish feed almost entirely upon shad. When water temperatures are cooler, stripers tend to be more active and can be caught near the surface using artificial baits like large white hair jigs, chrome lipless crank baits, and especially Zara Spooks. Their annual spring spawning migration takes them to the shoals located on the upper end of the lake. During the summer striped bass spend most of their time in deep water (50-80 ft.) and are usually caught using live shad tight-lined beneath the boat.

For those planning a trip, there are accommodations available in Alexander City, Dadeville and other areas around the lake. And don't forget to visit Bass Pro Shops for the latest tackle and lures for a successful trip!

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.

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