Logan Martin
Logan Martin in the winter can be your best chance to catch the biggest bass in the lake. The water temperatures usually vary this time of year, but here are a few ways I approach Logan Martin to catch the bass of the year and maybe a lifetime!
Typically, when you read any article on fishing in the winter, it’s going to include fishing deep most of the time. I am not saying you cannot catch fish deep on Logan Martin in the winter, but usually a lot of my bigger fish come out of shallow water in the winter. This is especially true if the weather is in a warming trend.
Normally, I’m still going to start around on the main river. There are a couple things I look for in order to feel like I’m fishing the most productive waters. First, there must be some type of baitfish in the area. Second, I’m looking for more vertical structure this time of year.
The baitfish change daily on what part of the water column they may use. Vertical structure allows fish to move up and down easily with the baitfish. A couple examples of this might be deeper docks or steep river banks with rock and laydowns.
A few of my favorite bait this time of the year are a flat-sided crank bait, a spinnerbait and jig. I will throw some type of red or crawfish color pattern on the crank bait. This is one of the better baits to use if the water is colder than 60 degrees.
The flat-sided crankbait is a great way to get those fish to react in cold water. If the water has a little stain to it, a spinnerbait can be a deadly on warmer days.
Usually, the spinnerbait works best slow-rolling it on the bottom. I’ll typically use a ½-ounce spinnerbait with a single Colorado as the blade. The type of jig I use is dependent upon water color. If the water is dirty, I will flip a black and blue jig. If the water is clear, I’ll stick with the more natural colors, like green pumpkin.
A jig is a great way to get really big bites this time of year. In January and February, it’s the size, not the number. Those months are not the best for catching numbers of fish, but if you bundle up and brave the elements, you could possibly catch some of the biggest fish in the lake.
Neely Henry
Neely Henry historically is one of the better lakes on the Coosa for winter time fishing. Why? It sets up really well for wintertime fishing.
Neely Henry is full of rip rap banks and vertical bluff walls in certain sections of the lake. This allows bass to move up and down with ease with changes in the weather and in water temp.
Neely Henry also has a lot of docks and flat clay points. These two choices are also great wintertime hot spots.
On the rip rap, I usually first reach for a square bill crank bait. I keep colors fairly simple. Either I’ll throw a red or some sort of shad pattern. Boat positioning is a big key to success with the crankbait as well. I will hug the boat fairly tight to the bank and make repeated parallel casts. This allows me to cover more water efficiently and keep my bait in the strike zone longer.
My next bait choice is a jerkbait. A jerkbait can be a real good fish catcher if the water is a little clear. I’ll fish a jerkbait around clay points and deeper docks in creeks. Another great bait at Neely Henry is a jig.
The jig probably ranks up there as one of my favorite baits at Neely Henry. The reason I like the jig is because I can fish it around any type of structure. It doesn’t matter – rock, docks or wood. If the water is below 60 degrees, a jig will always be in the back of my mind when fishing Neely Henry.
These two months, January and February, can be when Neely Henry shines the brightest all year. So, don’t fail to go and give some of this
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide.
Check out Zeke’s monthly fishing column at Logan Martin and Neely Henry LakeLife 24/7 Magazine