Photo by Ron Sinfelt

When anglers ask guide Jim Parramore about the best time of year for catching striped bass at Martin Lake, his reply's always the same: between right now and this time next year.

Parramore, who's also an accomplished wildlife biologist, is quick to add that he's not overstating the case. "Martin's striped bass fishery is incredible," he proclaimed. "Not only is it an awesome lake for producing numbers of fish, but it also produces unbelievable numbers of trophy fish. Last year we averaged more than 25 fish per trip, with one trip producing 54 stripers: That's in winter. We could have caught more, but I ran out of bait. As for size, last year we caught 145 fish weighing between 25 and 40 pounds."

Parramore cut his teeth guiding part-time for 10 years at northwest Alabama's Smith Lake. Four years ago, he quit his job to guide full-time at Martin Lake.

"I decided to go down there and check it out," Parramore said. "I was stunned! It's a target-rich environment with no fishing pressure. In fact, I consider Martin Lake the best striper lake in the state."

Before dams stopped the migration of striped bass from the Gulf, the species spawned in the unimpeded current of the Tallapoosa River. Since stripes can no longer reproduce, the state annually stocks about three fish per acre in Martin's 40,000 acres of water in Coosa, Elmore and Tallapoosa counties.

Chris Greene, District IV fisheries supervisor, offered that the lake is unique, as it provides striped bass with critical thermal refuges formed by a combination of deep and infertile water.

"Cool water with adequate oxygen is critical for striped bass," Greene explained. "In clear water, sunlight can penetrate much deeper; therefore, oxygen is available at lower levels. 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."

Of course, thermal refuges aren't an issue in the winter -- but they do come into play as the water warms. Here's how Parramore deals with the changing temperatures and seasons to find and catch striped bass.

WINTER
Beginning in mid-to-late December and ending in late February, winter is the most profitable time of year for catching large numbers of striped bass. According to Parramore, it's also when the lake gets the most fishing pressure. But don't let that stop you.

"It's an absolutely awesome time to catch stripers," Parramore reported, "as they are traveling in huge schools. You may see 2 or 3 acres of them schooling on top. It's a sight! At times, when you pull into a school the sonar screen will black out because they are so thick.