So within this season, he tracks the fish based upon prespawn, spawn and post-spawn behavior. SpringĮven though striped bass no longer spawn in the Tallapoosa, Parramore says the urge to reproduce influences their behavior. The other end receives either a 1/0 or 2/0 Daiichi circle hook. Parramore makes a downline by attaching a two-ounce trolling sinker to his main line, which is 20-pound-test Trilene Big Game, then ties a three foot leader of 20- or 25-pound-test fluorocarbon to the sinker. The guide lowers the bait so it swims a few feet above the stripers. As soon as fish appear on his screen, he kills the motor and puts out four- to five-inch shad on downlines. Without help from his feathered spotters, Parramore relies on his sonar. If you do, though, you may catch a monster.” It’s hard to leave a school to work the edge. “Nearly every time we caught a fish over 30 pounds last winter,” said Parramore, “it was due to a strong wind blowing us out of a big school of fish. If you want to catch big fish, Parramore says you’ll find them holding on the outer edges of the school. Winter is one of only two times during the year when artificial lures produce on Martin. Cast the lure into the school, let it sink for five seconds and then reel slowly for a straight-line retrieve. To catch stripers busting the surface, Parramore recommends a ½-ounce bucktail jig with a curly tail grub. They will give the fish away every time.” If successful, he will return and alert the others. While resting on a sandbar, the gulls will send out a scout to search for shad. “The gulls feed on shad the strippers are pushing to the top,” said Parramore. But it’s the birds that provide visual excitement. When using the latter, he searches around islands and on the edges of gravel and sandbars from Madwind Creek all the way through the narrows to Wind Creek. Parramore finds schoolies, fish weighing 10 to 14 pounds, by either watching seagulls or his sonar. There’s power in numbers it’s just their nature in winter.” “The fish congregate in these huge schools to feed on large schools of shad. 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. Author’s note: This article was published in 2008.
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