How to Catch Bass on Lake Martin

           Whew!  It’s over!  The 4^th of July has come and gone and we are none the worse for the wear!  With the water mark almost at winter levels (481.6 on Monday of this week), the word I am getting from local marinas is that a lot of pleasure boaters are having their rigs winterized, putting them up for this year.   They just aren’t going to fight the low water levels any more.

            The good news is the fish are biting better than ever on Lake Martin.  And I am talking all kinds of fish!  I have had a lot of fun this week with folks who are new to fishing in this area.  They wanted to know what to do when you get a bite.  Well, of course, I told them, you reel him in!  So I thought I would give just a few pointers on how to catch bass in Lake Martin.

            When you feel the bite, reel down slowly to keep a tight line until the tip is pointed down at the water. Then lift up slowly and when you feel pressure, go ahead and give it a jerk to set the hook. Don't try to rip the fish's jaw off. A quick smooth jerk will do the job. If you have a lot of line out, you are going to need to jerk a little harder. Then reel like crazy to keep the line tight. Remember to keep the rod tip up after setting the hook. The bass will try to wrap the line around anything it can find. Tightening up on a fish is a bit of a "feeling" kind of thing. If you give in too much it may spit the bait out. If you tighten up too much and the fish feels you, it will spit the bait out. Other times the doggone fish will spit the bait out no matter what you do.  You just have to learn to hold your mouth right!  Of course, there’s a lot more to it.  Practice and technique, it’s an ongoing process.

            The latest news is the cost of fishing and hunting licenses will increase September 1^st of this year.   Annual licenses will then expire August 30^th instead of one year from date of purchase.   Fishing licenses will go from $9.50 to $12.00 and hunting licenses will go from $16 to $24.  It’s a small price to pay for good clean fun, and there’s not much of that to be had lately.  So don’t grumble and gripe!  Look at what you are paying for a gallon of gas compared to 10 years ago! Just go get your fishing license and keep fishing!

            You can contact me by email at dduck821@windstream.net with your latest best fishing story or any hints you would like to pass along.  I would love to get photos of your biggest catches.  Together we’ll fish Lake Martin bringing in those big catches and telling even bigger stories! 

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