NEWS

Lake Martin Preview with B.J. Barnett and Myles Palmer

2018 Alabama Bass Trail Lake Martin Preview
with B.J. Barnett and Myles Palmer
by Dan O’Sullivan

March 23, 2018 – Decatur, Ala. – This weekend marks the second event on the Alabama Bass Trail’s 2018 Southern Division schedule on Lake Martin in Alexander City. Lake Martin had the national spotlight focused on it in February when the Bassmaster Elite Series stop was won by Takahiro Omori.

Lake Martin has produced some fireworks in the past as an ABT stop, and thanks to the weather trends and the condition of the lake, it is likely to happen again this weekend. The team of B.J. Barnett and Myles Palmer are one of those teams that expect to see some of those fireworks. “It should be a really good tournament,” the pair reported. “The weather has been warming, the water has been clearing and the fish should be biting.”

They reported that the largemouth bite has steadily improved as the conditions have. “It’s probably going to take 20 pounds to win this week, and it will probably be all largemouth,” they reported. “Someone is going to find a bunch of largemouth, or they will happen across five good ones that will make a big difference; it should be a good day.”

They reported that the options for anglers would be wide open as far as techniques go. “The fish will bite anything from the surface to the bottom,” they reported. “Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swim jigs and Flippin’ will all be a factor, as will other things. Pretty much everyone will be able to fish to their strengths and will have success doing it.”

“The upper end is still a little dirty, and the bottom end is clearing nicely,” they said. “There’ll be a little something for everyone at Lake Martin this week.”

The second event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division season at Lake Martin happens March 24 out of Alexander City, Ala. The mandatory pre-tournament registration and angler information meeting happens on Friday March 23 at the Central Alabama Community College’s Betty Carol Graham Technology Center located at 1675 Cherokee Rd. in Alexander City, AL 35010 with registration happening from 5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. and the pre-tournament meeting beginning at 6:30 P.M. Takeoff and weigh-in occur at Wind Creek State Park at 4325 AL-128 Alexander City, AL 35010.

The sponsors of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Toyota, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Buffalo Rock, Jack’s, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Alabama Power Company, Trapper Tackle, Lew’s Fishing, AFTCO, YETI, and E3 Apparel.

For information about Alabama Bass Trail and for complete tournament standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.