NEWS

2015 Logan Martin Lake Tournament Feature Story

ABT Logan Martin Preview
by Dan O’Sullivan

In the ongoing tale of bass fishing in the State of Alabama, Logan Martin has written several significant portion of the manuscript.  Three Bassmaster Classics, and countless tour and opens events have been held on the impoundment near Pell City.

This weekend, the Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division makes its fourth stop of their 2015 season at the Coosa River fishery that has seen Robert Hamilton Jr., David Fritts and Dion Hibdon earn the Bassmaster Classic trophy on its waters.

At stake will be the $10,000 winner’s purse along with cash going to the rest of the field in the top 40 positions, as well as valuable points towards qualifying for the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail Championship at Wheeler Lake in October.

With all of this at stake, we wanted to find out what the field could expect for the event.  We spoke to William Davis, the owner of Davis Bait Company, and the inventor of the original Shaky Head and Shaky Worm.  The Sylacauga based manufacturer has spent many years fishing Logan Martin, and he shared what he expects the lake to produce.

“It would not surprise me to see someone with well over 20 pounds, and they could be spotted bass, largemouth or a mixed bag,” he said.  “The fish are in all stages of the spawn, so I would expect them to be in the shallows and on transition spots to 10 feet deep.”

Davis said that Logan Martin has only recently began rising.  “It’s still eight inches from full pool and slowly rising,” he said.  “The water temperatures have been in the 60’s in the morning, topping out at 72 or 73 degrees in the afternoon.”

With those kinds of conditions, Davis said that anglers could expect to open the tacklebox.  “There are a lot of options available to them,” he said.  “Topwater baits could be excellent in the morning, then swim jigs, vibrating jigs, crankbaits and even Carolina Rigs could produce.  If it were me, I’d have on a bream colored Bill Lowen swim jig and a Shaky Head with a green pumpkin, Aaron’s Magic, Bama Bug or Bold Bluegill Shaky Worm.

“I really think it could be a heavyweight deal, it could be a lot of fun for the field,” he said.  “There certainly will be a bunch of 18 to 20-pound bags weighed in.”

The fourth stop of Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division begins May 8 with mandatory event check-in being held Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00PM at Celebrations – Registration and Meeting at
3005 Martin Street S, in Pell City, AL and tournament takeoff and weigh-ins taking place Saturday at Pell City Park located at 2801 Stemley Bridge Road, in Cropwell, AL.

The sponsors of the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail include: Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Alabama Power Company, Buffalo Rock, Inc., Jet-Pep, Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Frogg Toggs, Inc., HydroWaveTM, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Boat U.S., LEER, Vicious Fishing, E3 Sports, Inc., Costa Del Mar, Frogg Toggs, Inc., Power-Pole,  Window World and Yeti Coolers.