by Capt. David Hare
Lake Level 484.14 (full pool 490.00), Surface Temps 58*- 64*, Water Clarity- Clear With the lake levels dropping daily until it reaches winter pool levels of approximately 480.00(10 feet down ) I am constantly having to change fishing areas and the way I approach stripers.
I am often asked by my clients if stripers are easily spooked by fishermen? My answer has always been that when stripers are in deep water that sometimes it actually helps to make a little noise to get their curiosity up to check out what’s going on and hopefully make them strike one of our live baits. However, to me it’s just the opposite when they are in the shallow water. I make my approach with my outboard engine off, running my trolling motor at lower speeds and when I can I actually let the winds and or currents just carry my boat and or baits to where I think the fish are. So yes, in shallow waters you can spook these monsters (trophy stripers) away if you are not being as quiet as you can at least when you are approaching them.
Nothing is more frustrating to me than being in a hot spot in shallow water catching fish and another boater come thru running their big engines even at idle speeds stirring up mud and debris off the bottom. If you run up on this while you’re out on the water please avoid the other fishermen as much as you can. If it is happening to you as you are fishing, just kindly ask them to please come thru your area with their trolling motor.
Winter time fishing can be very productive here on Lake Martin as far as numbers and size of fish you can catch. When I do find the fish I do not give up on them I continue putting my live baits in front of them usually with a slow moving approach on a planer board or if they are deep (say over 22 ft) I just put out my drop lines and do the sit and wait game. Another thing I do a lot of is fishing creeks and the river channel early then move on the lake during the day then back to the creeks and river toward the late afternoons.
If you’re lucky enough to see some eagles and or gulls in your fishing spots then I personally would not give up on that area until they do. I promise they know more than us and can see more than us even with today’s electronics!
I always keep my membership to Tow Boat-US up to date. You never know when you might need them, not to mention the peace of mind you will have knowing that help 24/7 is only a phone call away. If you stay on the water very much then it is a known fact that sooner or later you will need some help and some days you might not even see another fellow boater. Believe me, my membership has paid for itself a hundred times over during the years. Until next time, be safe, dress warm and dry and catch a big one for me!
Capt. David Hare
Alex City Guide Service
256-401-3089
davidbhare@yahoo.com
www.alexcityguideservice.com