Elite

A look at Lake Martin

Elites should find prespawn bite heating up after chilly event on Lake Guntersville.

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Captions by
Mike Suchan
After a frigid event on Lake Guntersville, the 101 pros should find the fishing heating up on Lake Martin for the Lippert Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin, Thursday through Sunday.
From Guntersville’s Goose Pond Landing in Scottsboro, the series heads about three hours due south to Alexander City, where temperatures should begin moving bass into prespawn staging areas. Spotted bass are the predominant species, but kicker largemouth will prove key in an angler’s success on Martin.
Lake Martin, an impoundment on the Tallapoosa River, boasts 44,000 acres and 750 miles of shoreline. The lake has hosted 10 pro level B.A.S.S. tournaments, including the February 2018 Elite won by Takahiro Omori with 59 pounds, 8 ounces.
Wind Creek State Park on the north end of Martin serves as tournament central, with daily launches at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins at 3 p.m. The expo opens Saturday and Sunday at noon. All B.A.S.S. events are free to attend.
The Elites were greeted with mild temperatures on Monday’s first day of practice, appreciated after icy mornings at Big G. Temperatures will rise into the 60s during competition, with rain forecast on Championship Sunday.
The most recent Bassmaster event on Martin was the October 2024 Open, where the top nine finishers in Elite Qualifier points graduated to the top circuit in B.A.S.S. That group included 2025 Elite winners Paul Marks, Tucker Smith and Classic champion Easton Fothergill.
Bobby Bakewell won that three-day Open with 35-15, earning a berth to the 2025 Classic. Bakewell threw a buzzbait to rally on the final day with 13-12, including a 4-10 largemouth that took Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors.
Cody Meyer, who finished fifth in that Open, fishes a seawall like the one Bakewell keyed on for his victory. Spotted bass dominate Martin, and largemouth kickers can be difficult to find, said Lucas Lindsay, an Opens angler from Auburn, Ala.
The Elites will be allowed to use forward-facing sonar this week, which should make an offshore bite more prevalent. Spotted bass mostly pursue threadfin shad although Martin does have a small population of blueback herring that could factor in, Lindsay said.
“Historically, Lake Martin has been a relatively tough fishery,” Lindsay said. “You have a ton of spotted bass and your kicker is going to be a largemouth most of the time. There will be a push to prespawn staging areas. Catching a 4-pounder each day will be paramount, and getting above 12 and 13 pounds will be incredibly important.”
Martin is lined with docks, cover Lindsay believes the Elites will ply. “Big fish live shallow year-round,” he said. “That is where you will find your better largemouth and even some bigger spotted bass.”
Along with swimbaits, Lindsay said Neko-rigged worms, shaky heads and jigs will be common baits on the decks of those who make the Top 10. “I think there will be guys who catch some that they will be looking at, not necessarily on the bed, but roaming down the bank,” Lindsay said.
The full field of 101 anglers compete the first two days with the Top 50 advancing to Semifinal Saturday and the Top 10 moving on the Championship Sunday in what should be a tight battle for the blue trophy and $100,000 first-place prize. 
Bassmaster LIVE will be available starting on Bassmaster.com and Roku Thursday and Friday. FS1 will host weekend morning sessions from 8-11 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 4 p.m. ET. 

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