Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
Logan Martin in the winter can be your best chance to catch the biggest ones in the lake. Last February, I caught my personal best bass on Logan Martin. It was a once of a lifetime fish for Logan Martin, but during these two months, this could easily happen for anyone.
The water temps usually vary this time of year, but here are a few ways I approach to catch fish during this time on Logan Martin. Water temps can vary from as low as 48 degrees to as high as 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
Typically, when you read any article on fishing in the winter, it’s going to include fishing deep most of the time. I’m not saying you cannot catch fish deep on Logan Martin in the winter, but usually, a lot of my bigger fish come out of shallow water – even in the winter – especially if the weather is on a warming trend and the water temps are in around that 55-degree mark.
I’m still going to start around the main river areas. There’s a couple ofthings I look for in order to feel like I’m fishing the most productive waters. First, there must be some type of baitfish in the area. Second, I’m looking for more vertical structure this time of year.
The baitfish change daily on what part of the water column they might be in. Vertical structure allows fish to move up and down easily with them. A couple examples of this might be deeper docks or steep river banks with rock and laydowns.
A few of my favorite bait choices would be a flat-sided crank bait, spinnerbait and jig. I’m going to throw some type of red or crawfish color pattern on the crank bait. This is one of the better baits to use if the water is colder than 60 degrees. The flat-sided crankbait is a great way to get those fish to react in cold water.
If the water has a little stain to it, a spinnerbait can be a killer on warmer days. The spinnerbait works best slow rolling it on the bottom, and I’ll use a 1/2oz spinnerbait with a single Colorado as the blade.
With the jig, it really depends on water color. If it’s dirty, I will flip a black and blue jig. If it is a little clearer water, I’ll stick with the more natural colors, like green pumpkin. A jig is a great way to get really big bites this time of year.
Another way to target fish in these winter months is in the creeks. Same as the main river, I’m looking for baitfish. If I do not see baitfish on my electronics, I usually will not fish in a particular area long.
Bass are heavy on shad this time of year. Their metabolism is slower. That’s why the bass get very fat and lazy. Slow rolling a single swimbait like a Rage Swimmer 3.75-inch is great way to get bit. Another is using a damiki rig, which is just small minnow type bait on a jig head.
Using forward facing sonar helps with this lure. If you don’t have it, you can still catch fish without it. Just make long cast across points in the creeks and slowly bring them back to the boat. Make sure to wear proper clothing and get out there on even those coldest days of the year.
It just might reward you a fish of a lifetime!
Neely Henry
Neely Henry historically is one of the better lakes on the Coosa River for winter time fishing. It is because it is set up really well for winter time fishing.
Neely Henry is full of rip rap banks and vertical bluff walls in certain sections of the lake. This allows bass to really pull up and down with ease according to the weather and water temp.
It also has a lot of docks and flat clay points which are another wintertime hot spot.
On the rip rap, I’ll first reach for a square bill crank bait. I keep colors fairly simple. Either I’ll throw a red or some sort of shad pattern.
Boat positioning is a big key to success with the crankbait as well. I will hug the boat fairly tight and make parallel cast with the bank. This allows me to cover more water efficiently and keep my bait in the strike zone longer.
The next bait would be a jerkbait. A jerkbait can be killer if the water is a little clear. I’ll fish it around clay points and deeper docks in creeks.
Lastly, the jig can probably be one of my favorites for Neely Henry. The reason I like the jig is because I can fish it around a lot of things, such as around rock, docks, or lay down trees.
If the water is below 60 degrees a jig will always be in the back of my mind when fishing Neely Henry. Creeks are some of the places I check first. This really depends on how cold the water is.
Most of the time the creeks can be three to four degrees warmer than the main river. This warmer water will most of the time attract the baitfish, which in turn, the bass will follow.
If the water is up around that 60-degree mark, I’ll focus on the main river, especially if the current is on.
Just fish the conditions whenever you’re on the water this winter. Stay around the baitfish and warmer water, and you will find success on Neely Henry!
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.
