Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

Warmer weather and longer days these two months have the fish on the move from their wintertime homes.

Typically, in March, I still believe the bass are in their pre-spawn mood. They are feeding up and fattening up, preparing to move into their bedding areas to get ready to spawn. Usually, I’ll target most of these fish in 10 feet of water or less this time of year. 

Fish love to stage on points that lead into spawning bays. Also, brush and shallow docks are great places to look for fish making a pit stop before they spawn.

A few lures I reach for would be a bladed jig, square bill crank bait, or a topwater walking bait. If the water is still in the mid-50s,  I’ll reach mainly for the bladed jig and squarebill and cover as much water as possible. I target creeks on the lower end of the lake. Generally, this is where the fish will try and spawn first.

I also like to target windy, if possible. Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I reach for the topwater walking bait. I do this especially on cloudy, windy days. The fish will usually be one to three feet deep on points.

Do not be afraid to throw it mid-day if the conditions are right. This is my favorite technique to catch these fish, especially in April. Usually, if we have our normal weather pattern, you will really start to see the largemouth bass lock on their beds. This is the time get the spinning rods out and get on the finesse gear.

The tried and true wacky rigged senko is an awesome way to get these bedding largemouth bass to commit. Now, I do switch gears when it comes to fishing for spotted bass. Spotted bass tend to spawn in shallow bays and flats in a little deeper water.

An effective way to cover water and efficiently pick these broader areas apart is with a Carolina Rig. I use about a 2-foot leader with a ½  oz. tungsten sinker. One of my favorite baits to use is a Menace Grub from Strike King Lure Company in green pumpkin or chartreuse pepper.

I generally want a smaller bait that way because once you drag it across their bed, they can easily just pick it up and hold on to it longer. This a great way to catch those big ole Coosa River Spotted Bass later on in the month once the fish really start to lock down on bed.  

Neely Henry 

These two months are when Neely Henry can really shine and produce some big fish. Just like Logan Martin, these fish are on the move once the days start getting longer and warmer.

Neely Henry bass 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 areas this time of year. My favorite places to find these fish are creeks mouths and small river pockets.

Neely has a lot of bank grass and wood to offer in these short pockets. These pockets also have a lot of shallow docks that fish like to stage on before they spawn. My three favorite baits to use are a frog, swim jig and stick bait.

In early March, I will fish with the swim jig a lot more than the other two baits because the water temperature is usually still  on the cooler side. Another great way to find fish on Neely Henry this early in the spawn is on rip rap banks. These banks hold heat and tend to hold fish anytime of day.

A squarebill crankbait is usually what I will start with on the rip rap banks. I normally have to play with a number of colors to find the right one! If the bass do not seem to want the crankbait, I’ll slowly fish down the rip rap with a jig – especially if it’s a very slick, calm day.

Just like Logan Martin, you can also catch fish around shallow docks. Typically, the docks in five feet or less tend to be the best. If the fish seem to be active, I’ll start out with a bladed jig. The bladed jig allows me to make more cast in and in turn, I am able to present the bait to more fish.

Just like the rip rap I talked about earlier, sometimes on slick calm days, the jig will outperform any bait on the docks. Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I’ll pick up the frog. The frog and swim jig combo is something I can stick with all day.

Once we get into the month of April, that’s when I will start adding in the stick bait. And just like on Logan Martin, you can’t forget about the trusted senko-type bait. I generally Texas rig the senko on light 5/16 oz. weight. I really reach for 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 is generally pretty dirty water. Just fish slow inside pockets and really pick everything apart. This is the best way to get bit while the fish are really locked on beds.

The bass are in big time transition during these two months, but these months can offer up some of the most rewarding fish catches for the entire year.

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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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

During the winter, fishing on Logan Martin is the best time to catch the biggest bass in the lake.

The water temps usually vary this time of year because Alabama temperatures vary so much. So, the type of technique you have to use to catch these big bass during this time may vary as well.

Here are a few ways I approach Logan Martin to catch the biggest bass of the year and maybe of a lifetime!

Typically, when you read any article on fishing in the winter, it’s going to include fishing deep most of the time. Not saying you cannot catch bass deep on Logan Martin in the winter, but a lot of my bigger fish come out of shallow water in the winter. This is especially true if the weather is in a warming trend.

Most of the time in the winter, I start on the main river. There are a couple key things 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 may use. Vertical structure allows fish to move up and down easily with the baitfish.

A couple examples of this might be deeper docks or steep riverbanks with rock and laydowns. A few of my favorite baits this time of the year are a flat sided crankbait, spinnerbait and jig.

Usually, I’m going to throw some type of red or crawfish color pattern on the crankbait. 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 bass to react in cold water.

If the water has a little stain to it, a spinnerbait can be deadly on warmer days. Most of the time, the spinnerbait works best slow rolling it on the bottom. I use a ½ ounce spinnerbait with a single Colorado as the blade.

The type of jig I use depends on water color. If the water is dirty, I typically will flip a black and blue jig. If the water is clear, 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.

The new fad is, of course, using forward-facing sonar. You can still catch plenty of fish without it this time of year, however, if you do use forward-facing technology, this is a great time of year to use it as well.

The first key to success on using forward-facing sonar is to find the baitfish. This is usually dependent on water clarity and temperature. You may find the baitfish in creeks or main river.

If the water is colder on the main river, that will usually help me cut down on a lot of time since they will most likely be in the creeks. Most of the time, this bite is better midday to late afternoon as the shad tend to get higher more in the water column. This is not only a great way to catch bass but any other type of fish species such as stripe and crappie.

Of course, my number one bait while using FFS will be some type of minnow bait on a jig head. I’ll also mix in a jerkbait and Alabama rig. You have to let the fish tell you what they want on any given day.

January and February are not the best for catching numbers of fish, but if you bundle up and brave the elements, you could possibly catch some of the biggest fish in the lake.  

Neely Henry 

 Neely Henry historically is one of the better lakes on the Coosa for wintertime fishing. Why? It sets up really well. Neely Henry is full of rip rap banks and vertical bluff walls on the bottom end of the lake. This allows bass to move up and down with ease with changes in the weather and water temp.

Neely Henry also has a lot of docks and flat clay points. These two choices are also great wintertime hot spots.

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 typically will hug the boat fairly tight to the bank and make repeated parallel casts. This allows me to cover more water efficiently and keep my bait in the strike zone longer.

My next bait choice is a jerkbait. A jerkbait can be a real good fish catcher if the water is a little clear. I’ll fish a jerkbait around clay points and deeper docks in creeks.

Another great bait at Neely Henry is a jig. The jig probably ranks up there as one of my favorite baits at Neely Henry. The reason I like the jig is because I can fish it around any type of structure. It doesn’t matter – rock, docks or wood.

If the water is below 60 degrees, a jig will always be my first choice when fishing Neely Henry. Fishing the north end of the lake around the Gadsden region can produce as well.

If they’re generating water, typically the spotted bass will get stacked in around current areas. Much like the bottom end, they like rip rap and docks.

Another place to look is in the smaller creeks where the baitfish tend to try and hide from the current or colder water. Here, the largemouth tend to hide out and feed up during the winter. Largemouth, in my opinion, are more of the “lazier” species of the two, and these smaller creek arms are a perfect place to find them. They might not be far from the river but noticing where the shad or baitfish are will help you find them a lot faster.

Using forward-facing sonar helps a lot with finding them. My baits will stay the same even on the north end of the lake. A jig once again will more than likely be my number one pick to catch the big fish. I tend to catch more numbers on the crankbait and jerkbait as well.

Neely Henry is a great place to catch some big wintertime bass. Get suited up and dress warmly because Neely Henry produces its best quality bass of the year!

Give it a shot, and you might be surprised at what you might catch while others are inside or deer hunting.

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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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

Finally, cooler weather makes it to East Alabama! Hopefully, the cooler weather will drop the water temps on Logan Martin, and the fish will begin to eat and fatten up for the winter time.

November and December are my favorite months to fish on Logan Martin, and I hope my tips will help you become more successful during this time of the year.

Remember, there are a few things happening during these months. First, the lake should be at winter pool which condenses the fish into a smaller area. However, don’t forget winter pool for Logan Martin now is three feet down unlike previous years when it used to be five feet down.

The new winter pool level has changed the way I’ve fished Logan Martin a little. Some places are not as shallow now with the extra two feet of water and the fish have adapted quickly.

Another thing that happens during these months is the fish are feeding up for the winter months. What that means is that they’re heavily feeding on shad most of the time. Finding suspended fish in the creeks is one my favorite ways to catch them. It’s an easy equation. You find the bait fish, the bass won’t be far behind.

A small damiki rig and deep diving jerk bait are some of my favorite ways to catch them. Also, a square-bill and spinnerbait are a couple of great choices when covering shallow points or channel swing banks.

I mainly focus on the main river with these two baits. Typically, the banks with deeper water nearby are my favorite. During this time of the year, to get a bigger bite, I usually use fishing a jig. This is especially true in the latter part of December when the water temp is below 55. It also helps if the lake has a foot of visibility or less.

These two months on Logan Martin offers anglers a lot of options to catch fish many different ways. The fish are getting fat, and there is less boat traffic, so go enjoy some fish catching action. 

Neely Henry 

 Neely Henry is also a great late fall/early wintertime lake. I mainly focus on the bottom end of the lake during these two months. There are a lot of bluffs, docks, and rip rap in this region of the lake that are some of my favorite places to fish.

Rain totals usually dictate where I spend the majority of my time fishing. If there has been a lot of rain, typically, Alabama Power will be generating water. This is when I will focus on main river points and docks.

A couple of baits I always start out with is either a bladed jig or square-bill crankbait. The current should have the fish setup and ready to bite whatever eases past them. Now, once the water temp gets below 50 degrees, that’s when I will ease my way back into the creeks.

Typically, I want to be in the region of the creek where I feel like most of baitfish action is taking place. What I mean by that is either I’m seeing bait fish on my electronics or maybe a slight degree or two difference in water temperature.

Once I find that, I’ll heavily depend on my forward-facing sonar and pick off bass that are maybe chasing bait in creek channel bends or just off the banks. I’ll use either a damiki rig or jerk bait depending on where the fish are in the water column.

Another way to catch fish once the water temp is 55 degrees or lower are in creek mouths. Typically, I fish the smaller creek mouths with either a square bill crankbait or jerk bait depending on watercolor.

I also choose a bladed jig or spinnerbait. My bait choices really depend on the water color. To find the most productive creek mouths, look for shad. The shad will keep fish there in the same general area until they decide to leave.

Over the years, I have found that the colder mornings are, the more the shad will congregate together in the creek mouths. This is when the bass will feed heavily in the creek mouths. It’s an easy meal for the bass as they fatten up for the winter months.

Keep your lure choices simple and keep moving during these two months and find that special spot where the fish are most active.

The fish can change by the hour or even minute on this particular body of water.

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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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin Lake

As the weather starts cooling off, and we move into the Fall time of year, a lot of changes start to happen on Logan Martin.

One of the main things that happens every year is the Fall turnover. This is where the lake begins to lose oxygen out in deeper water. You can even see the thermocline on your 2D sonar and downscan.

You will begin to see shad starting their migration to the backs of the creeks, and usually the bass will follow. This happens especially once the nights begin to get cooler. On top of this, the winter draw down begins to happen on Logan Martin.

Last year the water level only dropped three feet compared to the usual five in prior years. This time of the year can be a very tough time to fish, but hopefully these tips can help you kind of get a jump start to find fish quick.

Typically, I fish predominately in shallow water. When I say shallow, I mean anywhere from 10 feet or less of water. I’m usually looking for docks, brush and grass for my three main pieces of cover on Logan Martin.

I will try to start in the grass, especially in the earlier part of September. First rod I’m going to reach for is a frog. The frog, in my opinion, is probably one of the best ways to get your better than average bite this time of year. Another good option would be a buzz bait.

Once the sun starts to get up, I’ll kind of shift my focus to the docks and brush. There are a couple of rods I reach for this time of year when fishing docks and brush. When the water temperature is still in the 75-degree plus mark, I’m usually reaching for the neko rig. The fish are still pretty finicky this time of year. This is a great option for getting these fish to bite when they’re not in the biting mood.

Once that water temp gets under 75, that’s when I’ll reach for the jig. The jig is a very versatile bait this time of year. You can fish it around brush and docks. I might even flip it in grass and lay downs as well.

The early Fall time of year can be some of the toughest times to fish on Logan Martin, but it can be the most rewarding if you figure them out. Keep it simple, and you will find success. 

Neely Henry Lake

September and October can be a quite interesting two months on Neely Henry Lake. The fish are starting to feed up for the winter and especially after the first few cool nights we have.

I really like to focus on docks and grass just like Logan Martin. Typically, I’ll focus on the back half of the creeks this time of year. You also want to make sure there are baitfish in the area.

Most of the time the baitfish will be up near the surface of the water column. So, make sure you keep an eye out for schoolers this time of the year as well.

The Fall turnover is usually right around the corner or is already happening at this point. What that means is the oxygen levels in deeper water are beginning to get very low. The shallow water tends to have a lot more bass activity due to food and oxygen levels. This is why the baitfish tend to be near the surface.

When fishing the docks I will typically start on the shallower docks. When I say shallow docks, I’m talking any docks five feet or less. Don’t be afraid to try deeper docks as well. The deeper docks will sometimes get overlooked by a lot of fishermen.

This allows fish to use every bit of the water column if they choose to. They can either stay shallow or move deeper if they please. A few baits I like to try in these areas are either the neko rig or jig. These two baits give me options throughout about every depth.

If it is cloudy and windy, I tend to reach for the buzzbait and cover a lot of water. If it’s more of a slick calm sunny day, I like to pitch and flip the jig around wood and docks.

Lastly, another great place to try and find a bigger bite is in the grass. The frog early in the morning is great way to get a bigger than average bite.

Once the sun gets high, don’t be afraid to flip the jig as well. You will not get many bites typically doing these techniques, but the ones that do bite will be better than average.

One last tip on grass: Do not be afraid to fish super shallow this time of year. Sometimes the fish on Neely Henry get so shallow you can almost see their fins, and the bigger fish will sometimes be in just inches of water. Give these tips a try and keep your fishing simple this time of year. The Fall time is all about trying to find activity. Fish tend to move around a lot, but don’t let that fool you. Keeping your bait selection simple and covering water is the name of the game in the fall.

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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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin Lake

Logan Martin can be a tricky lake during the months of July and August. However, these two months are still great times to fish if you know where to look.

Specifically talking about July, there are still plenty of offshore fish to be found. Fish may be in offshore brush piles or actual schools.

If you find schools of fish, they tend to move around a lot this time of year, so you may have to play chase with them! You must keep an open mind and use your electronics to stay on them.

The schools may move from where you previously found them, but they will usually stay within eyesight of where they were. Once I’ve found a school, I will typically try to catch the active ones first. Usually, the biggest in the school will eat first.

My first bait of choice always is a deep diving crankbait. The reason the crankbait is always a good first choice is it allows you to get back into a school more quickly if the fish choose to bite.

If the school doesn’t seem to want to bite, or maybe there’s a lack of current in the system, I will reach for either a flutter spoon or a hair jig. These two baits are a little more subtle than the crankbait and will trigger bites if the fish are not as active.

Transitioning into the month of August, for me, brush piles and docks start to play a major role in catching bass. Once the schools start to break up after being pressured all summer long from being fished on hard, these fish will usually branch off and start getting in brush more heavily.

My favorite depth to target these fish is in anywhere from 10 to 15 feet of water. A couple of baits you might want to try are a crankbait or a finesse jig. Traditionally, I let the fish tell me what they want.

If you have a low pressure day (during the week), usually they’ll be more in the mood to chase the crankbait down and eat. On the other hand, the jig is a lot better option if it is slick calm, sunny and a lot of boat traffic.

Give these tips a try during the hottest part of the year, and you might find the dog days of summer are not so bad after all.

Neely Henry Lake

Neely Henry has always been a good summertime lake in years past for me. Anglers can catch fish from a foot of water all the way out to 20 feet of water.

My better than average size fish will come shallow, especially early in the morning. I will usually target the area from the Highway 77 bridge section down.

Early in the morning, I will always start with either a hollow body frog or swim jig, trying to cover as much water as possible. This allows me to pick off those active fish in the lower light.

I will either look for willow grass or seawalls on the main river to start with. If there is plentiful cloud cover, I will stay shallow either a lot longer or all day if the fish are still showing activity.

If the sun does decide to show up, that’s when I’ll move a little deeper. Typically, in July, there will still be schools of fish to be found. These schools can be found on roadbeds, long points and ledges.

Generally, my first cast in these schools – just like Logan Martin – will be a crankbait. Once the school shuts down, I will play cleanup with either a jig or a drop shot.

Once August rolls around, I will still have the same morning routine as July. The only difference is that I will start mixing in a lot more dock fishing. The reason being, much like Logan Martin, the schools break up from either pressure or maybe even lack of oxygen out deep if there hasn’t been any rain.

I will keep my bait selection pretty simple. I start out with either a finesse jig or Texas rigged senko. These two baits will get a bite no matter what the conditions might be.

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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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin Lake

Logan Martin’s water levels will be changing during the months of May and June, and in turn, the patterns of bass will change during these months as well.

Early in the month of May, you can still see bass on beds and also catch fish out deep. Typically, in May, bass will be very spread out and in very different phases of the spawn. However, for the majority of the time in May, your better fish are still going to be shallow.

The water on Logan Martin is just starting to rise and get to summer pool. Typically the fish will follow this water up and stay shallow during May. There are a couple of key baits I like to use in order to catch fish while they’re in their post spawn funk.

First bait I’m going to reach for early, especially in the morning, is a swim jig. What I like about the swim jig is that it is very versatile. This bait is great around almost any kind of shallow structure, such as docks, trees and grass.

The swim jig allows me to cover water fast and efficiently in order to capitalize on the daylight bite. Once the sun finally starts to get up, I’ll start casting to isolated structure with a wacky rigged worm. This is a great way to just get bites and get those post spawn fish to bite.

I usually target really shallow docks with this bait, along with casting to what bedding fish might be left.

Once we start getting into the month of June, the water temps will begin to rise, and the shallows will begin to slowly lose oxygen, especially if there is lack of rain. The fish will start schooling up on the end of long points and humps – anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of water. I also like to target brush piles in this depth.

My favorite bait to target these fish are a deep-diving crankbait and drop shot rig. Some of the biggest offshore fish I catch all year will come on the crank bait most of the time. The crankbait is an awesome way to really fire up a school of bass and get more fish to bite in the school.

The drop shot seems to excel a lot more in brush piles because it is more of a reaction type bite if you drop it right in the brush pile. I feel like the drop shot is always my best chance to get bit in the brush pile no matter what size of fish might be in the pile. These fish are typically more lethargic since they’re usually pretty beat up from the spawn.

Give these techniques a try and you will find success during these months on Logan Martin. 

Neely Henry Lake

Neely Henry is a shallow fisherman’s paradise during the months of May and June. On top of that, a few deep fish will start showing up as well.

Typically, during these months, you will still catch your better fish shallow. I love to fish around shallow grass in the mid-lake region with a swim jig and frog. I usually keep my eyes peeled for bream beds as well.

Another great way to catch fish on Neely Henry is super shallow docks. When I say shallow docks, I’m talking any docks five feet deep or less of water.

I let the weather tell me what I need to throw around them. If it’s in and out clouds I like to throw more of a moving bait like a bladed jig or squarebill crankbait. If it’s slick calm and sunny, I will pick up some type of Texas rigged worm and drag it on the bottom around the docks.

Now, moving into the month of June, some fish will make their move out to deeper water. Most of the time on Neely, I’ll find fish in that mid-range depth around the 10 to 15-foot mark.

Most of the time, you will find these fish off the end of long points or in brush piles. I will use my electronics in order to find these fish as well. I will keep my bait selection simple if I’m wanting to figure out fast if the fish are doing this pattern.

One of my favorite baits to pick up first is a football jig. The football jig is a very versatile bait for offshore angling. I like to either keep it close to the bottom or if I’m wanting to cover water fast, I’ll just swim it close to the bottom.

Another great option if things are tough is a drop shot. A drop shot will produce bites when nothing else will.

Keep an open mind this time of year and don’t be afraid to try something new. It might surprise you how good the fish can really bite on Neely Henry even when the fish might be in in their post spawn funk.

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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

Days are getting longer, and bass are on the move. Warmer and longer days these two months have the fish on the move from their wintertime homes.

Typically, in March, I still believe the bass are in their pre-spawn mood. They are feeding up and fattening up, preparing to move into their bedding areas to get ready to spawn. Usually, I’ll target most of these fish in 10 feet of water or less this time of year. 

Fish love to stage on points that lead into spawning bays. Also, brush and shallow docks are great places to look for fish making a pitstop before they spawn. A few lures I typically reach for would be a bladed jig, square bill crank bait, or a topwater walking bait.

If the water is still in the mid-50s, I’ll reach mainly for the bladed jig and squarebill and cover as much water as possible. I mainly target creeks on the lower end of the lake. Generally, this is where the fish will try and spawn first.

I also like to target windy banks if possible. Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I will reach for the topwater walking bait. I do this especially on cloudy, windy days. The fish will usually be one- to three-feet deep on points.

Do not be afraid to throw it midday if the conditions are right. This is my favorite technique to catch these fish, especially in April. If we have our normal weather pattern, you will really start to see the largemouth bass lock on their beds. This is the time get the spinning rods out and get on the finesse gear.

The tried-and-true wacky rigged Senko is an awesome way to get these bedding largemouth bass to commit. Now, I do switch gears when it comes to fishing for spotted bass. Spotted bass tend to spawn in shallow bays and flats in a little deeper water.

An awesome way to cover water and efficiently pick these broader areas apart is with a Carolina Rig. Typically, I use about a 2-foot leader with a ½ oz. tungsten sinker.

One of my favorite baits to use is a Menace Grub from Strike King Lure Company in green pumpkin or chartreuse pepper. I typically want a smaller bait. That way, once you drag it across their bed, they can easily just pick it up and hold on to it longer. This a great way to catch those big ole Coosa River Spotted Bass later on in the month once the fish really start to lock down on bed. 

Neely Henry 

These two months are when Neely Henry can really shine and produce some big fish. Just like Logan Martin, these fish are on the move once the days start getting longer and warmer.

Neely Henry bass 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 areas this time of year.

My favorite places to find these fish are creeks mouths and small river pockets. Neely has a lot of bank grass and wood to offer in these short pockets. These pockets also have a lot of shallow docks that fish like to stage on before the spawn.

My three favorite baits to use are a frog, swim jig and stick bait. Typically, in early March, I will fish with the swim jig a lot more than the other two baits because the water temperature is usually still on the cooler side.

Another great way to find fish on Neely Henry this early in the spawn is on rip rap banks. These banks hold heat and tend to hold fish any time of day. A squarebill crankbait is usually what I will start with on the rip rap banks.

I normally have to play with a number of colors to find the right one! If the bass do not seem to want the crankbait, I’ll slowly fish down the rip rap with a jig, especially if it’s a very slick, calm day.

Just like Logan Martin you can also catch fish around shallow docks. Typically, the docks in five foot or less tend to be the best. If the fish seem to be active, I’ll start out with a bladed jig. The bladed jig allows me to make more cast in and in turn, I am able to present the bait to more fish.

Just like the rip rap talked about earlier, sometimes on slick calm days, the jig will outperform any bait on the docks. Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I’ll pick up the frog. The frog and swim jig combo is something I can stick with all day.

Once we get into the month of April, that’s when I will start adding in the stick bait. And just like on Logan Martin, you can’t forget about the trusted Senko type bait.

I generally Texas rig the Senko on light 5/16 oz. weight. I really reach for 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 is generally pretty dirty water. Just fish slow inside pockets and really pick everything apart. This is the best way to get bit while the fish are really locked on beds.

The bass are in big time transition during these two months, however, these months can offer up some of the most rewarding fish catches for the entire year

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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

Finally, cooler weather has dropped the water temps on Logan Martin, and the fish are beginning to fatten up for the winter. The months of November and December can be some of the best times to fish and are two of my favorite months to fish on Logan Martin.

There are a few things happening during these months on Logan Martin. First, the lake should be at winter pool. Winter pool for Logan Martin now is three feet lower than summer pool, unlike previous years when it used to be five feet lower.

The new winter pool has changed a little on how I now fish Logan Martin from previous years. Some places are not as shallow now with the extra two feet of water, and the fish have adapted quickly.

Another thing that happens during these months is the fish are feeding up for the winter months. What that means is that they are heavily feeding on shad most of the time.

Finding suspended fish in the creeks is one my favorite ways to catch them. It’s an easy equation. Go find the baitfish, and the bass will not be far behind. A small damiki rig and deep diving jerkbait are some of my favorite ways to find them.

Also a square-bill and spinnerbait are a couple of great choices when wanting to cover some shallow points or channel swing banks. I will mainly focus on the main river with these two baits and typically look for the banks with deeper water nearby.

Now, one of my favorite ways to get a bigger bite is with a big pig and jig. This is especially true in the latter part of December when the water temp is below 55. It also helps a lot if the lake has one foot of visibility or less.

During these two months on Logan Martin, anglers have a lot of options to catch fish with a ton of techniques available. The fish are getting fat and there is less boat traffic, so go enjoy some fish-catching action. 

Neely Henry

Neely Henry is a great late fall/early wintertime of year lake. I mainly focus on the bottom end of the lake during these two months.

There are a lot of bluffs, docks and rip rap in this region of the lake. Where I spend most of my time during these two months fishing is relative to how much rain we receive. If there has been a lot of rain, Alabama Power will run more current in the system. This is when I will focus on main river points and docks.

A couple of baits I always start out with is either a bladed jig or square-bill crankbait. The current should have the fish set up and ready to bite whatever eases past them.

Now, once the water temp gets below 50 degrees, that’s when I will ease my way into the creeks. Typically, I want to be in the region of the creek where I feel like most of action is. What I mean by that is either I’m seeing bait fish on my electronics or maybe a slight degree or two difference in water temp.

Once I find these scenarios, I will be heavily dependent on my forward-facing sonar and pick off bass that are maybe chasing bait in channel bends of the creek or just off the banks.

I’ll use either a damiki rig or jerkbait depending on where the fish are in the water column. Keep your lure choices simple and keep moving during these two months. The fish can change by the hour or even every few minutes!

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.

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

As we start to enter the fall time of year on Logan Martin, there are a lot of things beginning to happen.

One of the main things going on and happens every year is the fall water turnover. This is where the lake begins to lose oxygen out in deeper water and the lake turns over. You can even see the thermocline line on your 2D sonar and downscan.

During the turnover, you will begin to see shad starting their migration to the backs of the creeks, and usually the bass will follow. This is especially true once the nights begin to get cooler.

Another thing that begins to happen is the winter drawdown of the lake. Last year, the water level only dropped three feet compared to the usual five in prior years. This can be a very tough time of year to fish, but hopefully these tips can help you get a jump start to find fish quick.

Typically, I’m going to fish in shallow water during this time of the year. When I say shallow, I mean anywhere from 10 feet or less of water. I’m usually looking for docks, brush and grass in this depth.

I will try to start in the grass, especially in the earlier part of September. First bait I am going to reach for is a frog. The frog, in my opinion, is probably one of the best ways to get your better than average bite this time of year.

Another good option would be a buzz bait. Both baits can be fished fast and cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. Once the sun starts to get up, I will shift my focus to the docks and brush.

There are a couple of rods I reach for this time of year when fishing docks and brush. Usually, when the water temperature is still in the 75 degree-plus mark, I will fish a neko rig. The fish are still usually pretty finicky this time of year. The Neko rig is a great option for getting those finicky fish to bite when they’re not in the biting mood.

Once the water temperature gets under 75, that’s when I’ll reach for the jig. The jig is a very versatile bait this time of year. You can fish it around brush and docks. I might even flip it in grass and lay downs as well.

The early fall time of year can be some of the toughest times to fish on Logan Martin, but it can be the most rewarding if you figure them out. Keep it simple this time of year, and you will find success. 

Neely Henry

On Neely Henry, these two months can be an interesting two months for those of us that fish Neely Henry. The fish are starting to feed up for the winter, and this is especially true after the first few cool nights we have.

I really like to focus on docks and grass just like at Logan Martin. Typically, I’ll focus on the back half of the creeks this time of year. You also want to make sure there are baitfish in the area. Most of the time the baitfish will be up near the surface of the water column. Make sure you keep an eye for schoolers as well.

The fall turnover is usually right around the corner or is already happening at this point. What that means is the oxygen levels in deeper water are beginning to get very low. That is the reason the shallow water tends to have a lot more bass activity due to food and oxygen levels. It also is why the baitfish tend to be near the surface as well.

When fishing docks I will typically start on the shallower docks. When I say shallow docks, I’m talking any docks five feet or less.

Don’t be afraid to try deeper docks as well. The deeper docks will sometimes get overlooked by a lot of fishermen. This allows fish to use every bit of the water column if they choose to. They can either stay shallow or move deeper if they please.

A few baits I like to try in these areas are either the neko rig or jig. These two baits give me options throughout about every depth. If it is cloudy and windy I tend to reach for the buzzbait and cover a lot of water.

If it’s more of a slick calm, sunny day, I like to pitch and flip the jig around wood and docks.

Lastly, another great place to try and find a bigger bite is in the grass. Throwing a frog early in the morning is a great way to get a bigger than average bite.

Once the sun gets high, don’t be afraid to flip the jig in the grass as well. Typically, you will not get many bites using these techniques, but the ones that do bite will usually be better than average.

One important point about fishing grass on Neely Henry this time of the year, don’t be scared to fish extremely shallow. The bigger fish will sometimes be in just inches of water.

Give these tips a try and keep your fishing simple this time of year. The fall time is all about trying to find activity. Fish tend to move around a lot, but don’t let that fool you. Keep your bait selection simple and keep covering water and you will find success. 

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.