Pro fishing tips with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
The months of March and April are my two favorite months to fish on Logan Martin. Warmer and longer days during these months have the fish on the move from their wintertime living quarters to their spawning areas.
Typically, in March, the fish are mainly in their pre-spawn mood. The fish are feeding and fattening up, preparing to move up to spawn.
Usually, I will target fish in 10 feet of water or less this time of year. Bass on Logan Martin love to stage on points that lead into spawning bays. Also brush and shallow docks are great places to search for fish making a pit stop before they spawn.
A few lures I normally reach for would be a bladed jig, square bill crankbait and topwater walking baits. If the water temperature is still in the mid-50s, I’ll mainly fish with the bladed jig and squarebill, and I will cover as much water as possible.
Traditionally, I target creeks on the lower end of the lake. Generally, this is where the fish will try to spawn first. I also like to target windy banks with these baits, if possible.
Once the water temperature reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I will start fishing the topwater walking baits, especially on cloudy, windy days. The fish will usually be in one to three feet of water on points and ready to eat!
Do not be afraid to throw it mid-day if the conditions are right. Topwater baits is my favorite technique to catch these fish, especially in April. The bladed jig and square bill still work great during this month as well.
Make sure to cover water until you find active fish. I usually don’t stay in one area too long if I am not seeing baitfish or some form of activity. If I do not see activity, I will move around until I do.
Try these techniques out because this can be the some of the best fishing days of the year.
Neely Henry
The months of March and April can also be the best two months to get out on Neely Henry to fish. Just like Logan Martin, the fish are on the move to start spawning once the days start getting longer and warmer.
The fish love to live shallow this time of year. My approach is a little different, though, on this lake. I typically like to target mid-lake this time of year. My favorite places to find these fish are creeks mouths and small river pockets.
Neely Henry has a lot of bank grass and wood for an angler to target in these short pockets. Also, there are numerous shallow docks that fish like to stage on before the spawn.
My three baits I usually start with is a frog, swim jig and a Senko style bait. Typically, in early March, I’ll fish with the swim jig a lot more than the other two baits.
Once the water temperature reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I’ll pick up the frog. The frog and swim jig combination is a combo that I will fish with all day.
Once April rolls around, I’ll pick up Senko style baits. I generally Texas rig the Senko-type baits on light 5/16 oz. weight. I really fish this bait when I feel like the fish are in full blown spawning mood.
I’ll pitch this bait around stumps and docks or wherever I feel like a fish might be spawning. You might not be able to physically see the fish since Neely Henry’s water isn’t clear. Just fish very slow inside pockets and really pick everything apart.
Try these techniques on Neely Henry in March and April, and you might catch your biggest fish of the year during these two months!
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
