LAKE MARTIN

ers in the winter, solely means springtime trophy size stripers should be plentiful. People often ask us what size is considered a trophy striper “ my answer is simple “ a trophy is in the eye of the beholder (or in fishing terms - the angler). For those of us that have been doing this for years and years, I’d say 20 plus pounds is a trophy, with our largest to date (which is the lake record) being 52 lbs. that was boated in March a few years back and we are always proud to say our guide service caught it. Each year our clients haul in huge numbers of 20-45 lb. stripers. I could absolutely be wrong, but I’m predicting, this may be the best spring we’ve had in years for the upper end class size stripers. If your goal is to catch a huge striper, Lake Martin is the lake you want to fish. Sure there are a few other lakes that will produce a big striper every now and then, but it seems to me you see and hear of more 30 plus pounders being caught on Lake Martin than anywhere in the south . One of the biggest mistakes some anglers make is not being patient for the big bite. There is a lot to the saying it takes time and a lot of patience to land a big striper. If I was coming to strictly try to catch a big one, I would set aside a minimum of 3 days and just tell yourself, hey, I might not catch it this year but I’m going to put the time and effort in and do it in the time of year that I should (March,April & May) and I’m going to a lake (which is Lake Martin, Al ) that I know has a proven track record of big stripers . I think if you have the right guide, the right attitude, patience, and a few days to spend on the water you’ll have a better chance than someone that doesn’t follow these suggestions. I sincerely hope this is your year to have that “Trip of a Lifetime “ . This month concentrate on more of a top water bite in creeks, long shallow points and the river channels. My choice of approach would be live bait and planer boards, my presentation would be a little slower for the larger size fish and a little faster for the quantity bite .

Until next time be safe and enjoy beautiful Lake Martin .

Enjoying Early Spring Fishing

Dr. Andrew Cox

Some days in February brought a taste of spring to our area with air temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s and warming water temperatures. It was a welcome relief from the cold, wet winter weather. March will likely continue to remind us that spring is drawing closer. Though, we will likely experience some continuing cold weather as spring progresses, these early days remind us of what is in front of us. Other than possibly October and the first of November, the months of March and April are some of the best months of the year for outdoor activities in the South. Spring like weather can certainly result in some good fishing on area waters. If you can pick your days and be on the water at the right time of day, the angler can experience some good to excellent fishing. Anglers have been catching and can continue to catch hybrids and crappie. Some anglers have been catching largemouth and spotted bass. On some waters, anglers can find an annual run of hybrids and white bass during this month, dependent upon water temperatures and conditions. As spring progresses into the month of April, fishing should dramatically improve.

Now is a good time to be on the water and to introduce a young person to the joys of fishing. I have been taking my grandson to some of the lakes and ponds located around West Georgia. The warming water can prompt the largemouth and spotted bass to come into the shallows along the lake’s banks. These fish can be located along banks that have riprap, rocks, or concrete along the shoreline, though they also can be found elsewhere within the lake’s shallows. Young people seem to enjoy their fishing experience, catching several fish. These trips have the potential to introduce a young person to a lifetime of angling and enjoyment of outdoor oriented pursuits.

Hopefully you can take time to enjoy this time of year on the water. Maybe you can make time to introduce a young person to angling. This is the time of year that anglers can catch large fish; in some cases the fish of a lifetime. Young people can experience catching numbers of fish and larger fish that may whet their appetite for fishing during those times of the year where catching fish can be more sporadic. Stay safe and enjoy our area’s angling resources.

Author’s Note:Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. He enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout using fly, baitcasting, and spinning equipment. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.