Lake Martin is situated on the lower end of the Tallapoosa River System, near Alexander City, in mid eastern Alabama. It is a very old (78 years) man made impoundment, tailor made for each anglers fishing desires. Specific bass species can be targeted lake wide, fishing both day and night, throughout the hot months of summer.

Many bass species can be found from the lakes headwaters to the lower Lake Martin dam. Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass and some huge, Striped Bass are taken each week of the summer. That is with a little knowledge of each bass species and their specific desires during summer.

Various cover choices are found lake wide and water clarity, from gin clear on the lakes lower end, to heavily stained water in the lakes headwaters and major feeder creeks, is always possible. Lake Martin offers a variety of fishing situations, for both day and night fishing for spotted bass, largemouth bass and some huge, striped bass.

Your biggest concern during the remaining months of summer on Lake Martin, is not where you can catch em,' or how to catch em' or even what to catch them with! Its mainly avoiding the hordes of summertime crowds, pleasure boaters, water skiers, pontoon parties and jet skies, all that invade this very recreational lake each summer season.

Famed Wind Creek State Park is the main spot where lots of campers and vacationers spend the entire summer. Its fine for launching the boat, with 3 boat launches and plenty of floating piers, all provided by the Corps of Engineers. But right after sunup expect company and make plans to move either up the lake or down the lake to a less crowded, more secluded location.

Even when your fishing within the immediate vicinity of Wind Creek, early morning hours, will show cooperative bass, often schooling and feeding voraciously. But this only takes place for a short period of time. So plan on being there at sunup, just before the sun gets high and traffic increases, usually moving the fish towards deeper water.

When schooling bass are located get a lure to them fast. Always try various lure sizes and lure types, like topwater lures (see:www.lurenet.com), jigging spoons, inline spinners (see: www.reelpearlusa.com) and rattling lipless lures (See: www.spro.com new "viv" series). These lures are always good for a few spotted bass, white bass, striped bass, hybred-striped bass, and some nice sized largemouth's, that all get in on this fast paced action on top.

Heading down the lake, as you leave Wind Creek State Park, be prepared to encounter clearer water the further you go. Also, there are more boat launches and residents on the mid-to-lower lake. Of course throughout the entire summer...this portion of the lake will always show lots of recreational water vessels and jet skies everywhere.

You can remedy this somewhat over crowded situation, by heading far up the lakes headwaters, or planing a night fishing trip with a lot less company after dark. Or if your forced to fish this area of the lake during the daylight hours, adjust by fishing creek backwaters, small cuts and pockets off the main river channel and fishing late evenings and early morning hours. Here, you will find some seclusion away from most of the crowds and boat traffic.

Early mornings and late in the evening, you will also find these out-of-the-way spots hold feeding fish and you can at least catch some bass!

One of the biggest problems all anglers have to adjust to on Lake Martin's mid-to-lower lake section (besides the constant traffic) is water clarity. If you normally fish other lakes in Alabama (most of which usually display a stain to the water), its hard to get used to seeing a deep diving crankbait, coming all the way from the furthermost cast away, all the way back to the boat!

Very clear water on this lake always shows some very skittish bass. These clear water conditions often call for finessing the fish with small offerings. This especially hold true for the often picky, Tallapoosa River Spotted Bass that inhibit this deep impoundment.

During the daylight hours searching for these nomadic summertime schools of bass can mean having to slowly probe deep water ledges, scattered rock piles, drop-offs, humps, submerged islands, sand bars, rock bluffs with broken off banks or huge scattered boulders, and targeting other irregular, bottom features, that schools of both spotted bass and largemouth bass relate to during summer.

This finesse em' tactic means utilizing light line in the 6-10 pound test category, fishing with spincast rod and reel combos and selecting among dozens of lure choices when it comes to colors, sizes and different types of offerings.

Whether your fishing with jig heads (see: www.spotsticker.com) or Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged plastics (See: www.genelarew.com), most anglers first choice is a small worm. Worm sizes of 4-6 inch are dependable for a few bites, no matter where you fish. Some anglers fish small crayfish imitations, as little as 2 inches in length. A lizard in 4-6 inch size is also very popular on this lake. Natural colors of green, blue, pumpkinseed, watermelon, root beer and other lighter shades, are always best choices in these very clear waters. Curly tail grubs, jigs, slider systems, and various types of plastic shad imitations are also very popular on Lake Martin, for both day and night fishing.

There are some hefty sized spotted bass taken on all of these lures each summer, (by some lucky angler fortunate enough to land one) many trophy spots weighing over 5 pounds. Other lures good in the lakes mid-to-lower section are various sizes of topwaters, floating and suspending jerkbaits, shallow-to-deep diving crankbaits, rattling lipless lures, rooster tails or other inline spinners (see: www.reelpearlusa.com) and especially when probing very deep water on this lake always try jigging spoons and tailspinners.

Give Lake Martin a try this summer and learn how to beat the heat, avoid the crowds and fish for what's biting! Or call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 for day or night trips fishing Lake Martin (or any lake in Alabama) for over 40 years. Several professional guides and boats available year round, for multiple parties and corporate trips, with discount prices available. See my website for fishing tips, lake reports, links, and more Alabama Lakes info: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com

Thanks and be safe this summer on our very crowded lakes!