Located 40 miles northeast of Montgomery on the Tallapoosa River, Lake Martin’;s 39,000 acres supports a large population of spotted bass. Its deep, clear, infertile water and rocky structure provide an environment favorable for spotted bass.

Hopefully, when you read this, we will have moved beyond last year’;s drought, and Lake Martin is beginning to refill to full pool in its normal cycle, which is controlled by Alabama Power Company.

Keel said winter draw downs provide spots with clean gravel for spawning and at the same time create a silt line about 15 feet below the surface at full pool.

“Fishing is better when the lake is up or within 5 feet of full pool,” Keel explained. “When they drop the water, rain run-off washes silt from the exposed surface. The view from an underwater camera is unreal. A rocky point looks beautiful, but when you reach a depth of 15 feet there’;s nothing but sand.”

Points are important to Keel. They provide his winning pattern in March.

“Lake Martin has hundreds and hundreds of these long -- they are not easy to recognize -- flat tapering points that just get slightly deeper and deeper,” he said. “When you reach the end of the point, it drops off into a creek or river channel.”

Keel recommended fishing points on the lower section of the lake. His favorite areas are Little Kowaliga and Parker creeks and the smaller creeks that feed them.

“In March,” the angler advised, “look for secondary points. The spots stage on the dropoffs and spawn on top of the points. At the beginning of the month they are usually staging. The depth varies because you never know what the water level is going to be in March.

“But as soon as the water rises, look for fish on top of the points.”

Keel arrives ready to fish with his rods sporting Carolina- and Texas-rigged lizards. He also uses 3/8- to 1/2-ounce spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits.

“The only time I use the Carolina rig,” he admitted, “is when it’;s too windy to fish a Texas rig. You can also kill them on a spinnerbait with small willow leaf blades when it’;s windy.”

Keel works each point searching for spawning fish on top and staging fish on the drop.

“In March,” he said, “fish the point from the top down to the drop. Keep the boat off the drop in 15 feet of water so you can cast to the top of the point.

“If you are not familiar with the lake, take the time to learn the lake in winter when the water level is down. You can learn more by riding around when the water is down, than you’;ll ever learn in practice.”