The last open of the year was supposed to be in NC, but they switched it to Lake Martin because of the hurricane. I thought I couldn't catch a 3 lb bass out of that lake because I was lousy fisherman. Turns out those guys can't catch one either. I guess I can still be a lousy fisherman.

Will Davis caught a 4 lb largemouth yesterday and a 3 lb spot today, and that had him leading the last time I looked. Most of them haven't come close to a 3 pounder.

Sounds about right to me. Some of those local tournament guys can do good but heavy bags are still few and far between

Grew up fishing on Lake Martin....Crappie mostly. Cleanest river water in the state.....but VERY infertile which leads to skinny feesh. Very similar to Smith Lake.

Grew up on that lake as well. I’ve hooked a few big fish on the north end but could never seal the deal. Did catch a 5 lb spot.

I watched some of it today. I fish Martin monthly. As mentioned it’s very infertile but there are some good large mouth around if you know where to look.

My largest bass on public waters is one a little over 11lbs. A female that was skinny and just laid her eggs prior to catching. Released to grow another year. The area was known for catch and release at the time. Local folks didn't let it out too much, but some would let you know they had caught and released above average fish for years. A lot of bream and shad in this place along with large catfish that really should have been caught out. Imagine, it takes around 11 years to grow that big a fish. A lot of folks can come along and eat your potential once in a lifetime trophy. This same place just hasn't produced the last 7 years. Just takes a lot of cooperation and help from mother nature, especially with the number of folks fishing these days with less remote areas to grow a huge bass.

Ive caught a 7# large head and probably 4# spot on Martin. My dad caught one that was 8.6# but those were over 25 years ago.

Of all the great bass fishing lakes why the heck did they pick Martin?

I got lost on it

My guess is money was involved in some way.

It was original scheduled on a lake in one of the areas affected by Helene. They had to make a quick, last minute decision to change lakes and Martin seemed the most feasible.

15 pounds will probably win it.

Pretty close…. 35lb 15oz for the win

They were sure burning the fuel last week and this past weekend. They were churning the sloughs too, where was the game warden and marine patrol to supervise the new rules that were mandated? There were a bunch blowing up the small sloughs in the Sandy Creek area I’m in.

I caught a good one over there Wednesday and and had 12lbs. caught a 100 saturday and probably didn't have 10lbs.


https://imgur.com/a/QGiZXnP

Curious as to what these “new rules” are? Are they Lake Martin specific? I’ve got property on the lake but haven’t heard anything

Saw 3 really nice rigs convoyed up heading NW on 157 yesterday morning. Figured they may have been some of the pros going home. Only saw 1 tag n it was an Arkansas tag.

Following. I use to live in sandy creek area as well. Curios about new rules as well.

Lake Martin Information - new laws
Proximity law: Starting October 1, 2024, all motorized boats must operate at idle speed within 100 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure. Idle speed means creating no wake, which can be achieved by shifting to neutral and then putting the boat forward one click. Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are prohibited within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure.

That’s gonna be interesting. Hope they enforce it.

Thank you!

100 feet is 33 yards that will make 0 difference in 90% of situations and how they enforce it will be difficult since it will be an officers guestimate

That's what I thought when I first read about the law. I would have already been at idle speed that close to a pier, and would that close to the shore in most places. There are a few creeks in undeveloped areas that might be less than 200' wide in places that I used to go through on a plane, so I guess it affects those. I wouldn't have been on a plane in them if there was another boat around. But I've had folks ski by me in those creeks, so I guess that will be illegal now.

My guess is that I will be the only fisherman on the lake who pays any attention to the new law, and skiers will continue to do their best to capsize my little boat.

My brother and I fished there one week end like forty years ago on the southern end...a few large mouth on the north end.... the spotted bass were going crazy... cranking points and fishing ledges at 15ft..... water was so clear I could watch a spot take my Wag Worm around the brush piles...Only time will tell if this move makes a difference on those perimeters....

I stay off all Alabama lakes between the end of May and the end of October. Just not worth the hassle of all the idiots. I'll canoe or jonboat during those months.

Probably the same way they police people driving in the left hand lane

You could probably win a 1 day bass tournament on Lake Martin with less than 10lbs. One of the worst places I've ever fished. Good thing I am a better Striper fisherman. Caught a few good ones last weekend down there between 20-30lbs despite the traffic but nothing huge yet. Headed back tomorrow. Should be on fire this weekend.

Sounds like Tuscaloosa.....most of the Tues/Fri night tournaments are won with single-digit weights. Every once in a while you'll hear of someone turning in a 15-17lb bag during a Sat tournament, but those reports often come with a lot of skepticism.

I fish a ton of tournaments on Martin and you typically have to have 10# to be in top 10. As with any lake it’s just a timing deal. Martin actually fishes well if you know where to go. There is definitely some nice striper roaming around.

We caught 17lbs one year when it was flooded jumped a beaver dam in my aluminum boat way up north river