It’s a sight! At times, when you pull into a school the sonar screen will blackout because they are so thick. You may see two or three acres of them schooling on top. “It’s an absolutely awesome time to catch stripers,” reports Parramore, “as they are traveling in huge schools. Parramore says it’s also when the lake receives the most fishing pressure. Winterīeginning in mid- to late December and ending in late February, winter is the best time of the year to catch large numbers of striped bass. Here’s how Parramore deals with the changing temperatures and seasons to find and catch striped bass. Of course, thermal refuges are not a problem in winter, but will position stripes as the water warms. Unlike impoundments on the Coosa River, which are highly fertile, sunlight cannot penetrate nearly as deep, so they do not have oxygen at those lower levels.” “In clear water, sunlight can penetrate much deeper, therefore oxygen is available at lower levels. “Cool water with adequate oxygen is critical for striped bass,” explained Greene. Since stripes can no longer reproduce, the state stocks about three fish per acre in Martin.Ĭhris Greene, District IV fisheries supervisor, says the lake is unique as it provides striped bass with important thermal refuges formed from a combination of deep and infertile water. In fact, I consider Lake Martin the best striper lake in the state.”īefore dams stopped the migration of striped bass from the Gulf, this species spawned in the unimpeded current of the Tallapoosa River. I was stunned! It’s a target rich environment with no fishing pressure. “I decided to go down there and check it out,” said Parramore. Parramore cut his teeth guiding part-time for 10 years on Smith Lake, then four years ago, he quit his job to guide full-time on Martin. As for size, last year, we caught 145 fish weighing between 25 and 40 pounds.”
We could have caught more, but I ran out of bait.
Last year, we (clients) averaged more than 25 fish per trip, with one trip producing 54 stripers. “Not only is it an awesome lake for producing numbers of fish, but it also produces unbelievable numbers of trophy fish. “Martin’s striped bass fishery is incredible,” he explained. Parramore, who is also an accomplished wildlife biologist, is quick to add that he’s not being overconfident. When anglers ask guide Jim Parramore for the best times to catch striped bass on Lake Martin, his reply is always the same, “The best month is between now and this time next year.” Martin’s fishery has changed, but Parramore’s techniques will still put fish in your boat. Parramore has since retired from guiding. I posted it for anglers wanting to use Jim Parramore’s valuable information on finding and catching striped bass on Lake Martin. The planer board is a solid and viable tactic for kayak Anglers and give you another option when chasing your prey of choice with live bait.Author’s note: This article was published in 2008. One tip though be sure that you are not moving too fast, as this will pull your bait up in the water column instead of allowing your bait to be where the fish are. This technique will work in any application where you are trolling live bait.- salt or fresh water.
WATER BUGZ PLANER BOARDS FREE
When they are deeper I move slower and use split shot about a foot up from the hook on my free line. I use my planer boards year around just change my techniques up as the situation changes. It will just hover in that spot with the current holding it there. Just anchor above and out from a weed bed or other bank feature that you want to fish, deploy your planner board and let out line until you have the bait positioned where you want it. You can even use planer boards when anchored in current. This way you do not run over fish in shallow water with your kayak and spook them. One of the great things about using a planer board is, when the striped bass are close to the bank in shallower water you can cruise out away from the bank with your kayak and pull your bait pretty close to the bank. Once you get your planer board deployed you can now deploy another line behind your yak or use the other planer board to spread your bait out even further. So if you are placing the rod in a holder on the right side of your yak you will use the board marked right. once your board is clipped in you just let out more line until you have the desired distance from your kayak.Įach board is marked right or left and will correspond to that side of your yak. Just remember the yellow clip is closest to your rod tip. (this works best if your kayak is in forward motion while you are stripping line so as not to get any tangles) Then I clip my line to the yellow clip. then I bait up and let out about 40 to 80 foot of line behind the yak. To use these planer boards I just place the line in the snap swivel above my swivel between my main line and my leader.
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