Lake Martin

[Swede]

A good friend fished last weekend's ABA tourney on Lake Martin.  It was cold 27 degrees at launch and it took people extra time to get boats readied, compartments open, etc all due to ice and cold.  He picked up one small keeper spot on a shakey head near wind creek early.  He fished steep rock banks from wind creek north until about 11 and still only had the one keeper.  He did lose one that would have kept and caught a few short fish.  Then he moved up to a creek above hwy 280 and caught one on a C-rig and then 2 more flipping a paca craw in shallow brush.  Lost another keeper at the boat on a chatter bait.  Missed a couple of other fish that he didn't see on a variety of baits.  The only common denominator was color – watermelon or pumpkin.  All in all not a terrible day.  His total was just over 5 pounds with 4 fish.  9 places were paid - another friend fished south and caught everything on shakey head/ finesse.  It took a little over 13 pounds to win.  Winner had only 4 fish – 6lber and 3 more descent ones.  There were about 60 people with around 50 boats.  Most people had at least a fish or two, but a few blanked.  Water was 49-51 degrees where he was at and it stayed sunny until about 1:30.  From what he heard, the bite dropped off after it clouded up.  He thinks he finished up in the middle of the pack.