By
Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Lake level: winter pool / down 15 feet
Normal Full Pool Level is: 490.0
(Call 1-800-lakes 11 for current lake levels).
Lake Martin Spring Bass Fishing
Bedding bass can be a controversial subject among fishing
enthusiasts. Some anglers target bedding bass during April
on Lake Martin. Some don't. Ask any angler that has attempted
to catch a bass that is actually on the bed and most will
tell you it is not an easy task. You may spend as much as
one hour trying to irritate the smaller male bass into striking
your lure.
If your lucky enough, you may get a shot at a much bigger
female bass that actually only spends a few days on the bed.
Some bass may hit your lures instinctively. Traditionally,
most strikes from bedding bass do take time to take place.
Anglers that are competing in one of Lake Martin's weekly
spring time bass tournaments, may find it worth their effort
to spend some time on just one particular bedding bass.
If a bass tournament angler is fortunate enough to fool
a bedding bass into striking and then get it in the boat,
it could prove to be the winning bass and reap the angler
hundreds of dollars for big bass of the tournament.
The downside of this bass tournament game plan is the angler
in the back of the boat cannot fish for this same bedding
bass. He or she could be the successful anglers partner and
be ready with the net. Or the angler in the back of the boat
may be a competitor. So the back of the boat angler should
just fan cast the immediate area around the boat, with as
little disturbance as possible to entice other bass either
bedding or cruising in the same shallows to bite.
Stealth, making long casts, being very quite with a very
slow approach and fishing without making any sudden movement
in the boat...is the ticket to sneaking up on bedding bass.
Many bass tournament organizations pair up professional
anglers in a draw format with an amateur angler. The pro
gets first shot at any bedding bass that is spotted. The
amateur angler either fishes open water, or sits perfectly
still. This allows the angler in the front of the boat ample
time to successfully fool the bedding bass into striking.
Exciting, but not a lot of fun, especially when it may take
more than an one hour to get the bedding bass to bite.
Most anglers just fish Lake Martin for the fun of it often
keeping a few bass for the dinner table. In recent years
on all of Alabama's Lakes the concept of catch and release
has really influenced most anglers to return these bass back
to the lake. This assures some future angler a thrill and
most importantly it allows the bass its freedom to live,
breed and fight another day.
Letting these bass go right where you caught them, leaves
both the male and female bass with a chance to get back to
their duties. Which is protecting the bed from egg eating
intruders. This ordeal could last for weeks. Or after the
eggs hatch, the very protective mother and father of these
newborn bass can guard over the newborn bass fry for weeks.
That is, until they can make it in on their own in their
new, underwater world.
If Lake Martin anglers want to keep a few bass to eat, there
is nothing wrong with that. To avoid catching male or female
bass that are actually bedding in spawning flats displaying
less than three of water, just fish out away from these spawning
areas in slightly deeper water. This is where you can catch
the smaller spotted bass, a much more tastier fish than a
big, old largemouth bass.
Fishing away from the spawning flats does have its rewards
as well. Not all bass spawn at the same time. An angler pounding
the shallows is always fishing used water behind other bank
beating anglers during the spring season when our lakes once
again get crowded. Anglers that target bass away from the
bank may discover hordes of bass waiting to move up and spawn.
You may have these places all to yourself and discover bass
that other anglers are overlooking.
Please practice Catch an Release this spring when targeting
these bedding bass. The future of fishing depends on you.
* Looking to visit Lake Martin soon? Always call on Reeds
Guide Service...first! " Serving anglers that visit or have
lived on Lake Martin (and other Alabama lakes) for over 30
years." Several professional guides and boats available
year round for multiple parties and corporate guided trips.
Discounts available. Remember, a guided fishing trip with
Reeds Guide Service makes a great Birthday gift, Christmas
gift, Father's Day gift or any occasion, for those loved
ones that love to fish!
* Looking
for a new or used boat?
Go to: www.airportmarine.com and
see their bass tournament trail info found there. Alabama's best paying tournament
trails and annual events!
* Looking for a great bass tournament trail?
Go to: www.airportmarinetournamenttrail.com
* Looking for the best bass boat in the world?
Go to: www.rangerboats.com
* Looking for fishing rods, reels, fishing tackle and hunting items?
Go to: www.marksoutdoors.com
Thanks, and Good Fishin'
Practice catch and release year-round especially this Spring.
You won't regret it!
Good Fishin'...
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
