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Gotta get to Gadsden

Rolling out the welcome mat

Story by Paul South
Submitted photos

A new campaign celebrating this city’s big-city feel and small town charm is up and running. Its message? “Gotta Get to Gadsden.”

The social media and advertising blitz, funded through a $20,000 grant from the Innovate Alabama Network makes the pitch that the combination of modern technology and Gadsden’s proximity to Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville and Chattanooga make Gadsden an ideal place to work and live.

The genesis of the campaign took root during a City Hall brainstorming session in John Moore’s office. Moore serves as Gadsden’s director of economic development. Gotta Get to Gadsden is a joint effort by the city and the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority.

“We were looking at branding the city, but then we turned it into an industrial development campaign that we could use on a regional basis,” Moore said. “At that point, Tina King wrote the grant application to Innovate Alabama for website development and commercial creation.”

The target audience for the media effort are workers in the Southeast to areas an easy commute from Gadsden.

“Right now, we’re targeting the Southeast region, those people who possibly live in Atlanta, where they’re paying $2,500-$3,000 a month to work from home. We’re asking them to come to Gadsden, where the cost of living is a third of what they would pay in these big cities.”

He added, “We have the amenities of the Coosa River, Noccalula Falls and our cool downtown. That’s what the commercials focus on.”

For now, the social media reach of the campaign will focus on a specific slice of the regional pie. “Right now, we’ll probably target through social media, and we’ll be very specific on age groups and the type of demographics that we target in social media. We’ll be looking at within 200 miles of Gadsden with a higher income. And we’re going to want to have the outdoor enthusiasts.”

Why not? “If you think about it, if we can recruit 200 stay-at-home workers to come to Gadsden, that’s just like landing a plant that employs 200 workers. Our question is, if you could live anywhere, why would you not live here?”

The campaign will have a seasonal bent. Right now, with all the holiday-related events going on in Gadsden, that’s a natural fit. The campaign will re-emerge in the spring, with the Coosa River and recreation taking center stage.

The campaign comes at a time when Gadsden is on the move. “We’re growing. We’re growing fast. But we’re growing in the right way,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. “We’re bringing in the right people.”

Gadsden’s predecessors left Ford and the City Council with a large pool of undesignated funds. “We were able to do a lot of economic projects we started then it was post COVID … and we started breaking ground everywhere and everybody started noticing Gadsden,” Ford said. “We’ve got a river that runs right through. We’ve got the mountains. We’ve got two hospitals. It’s a great economic sector.”

From 8 to 5 every day, “our population triples. People come from places like Rainbow City to work, then they go back home. We’re growing, and we’re not landlocked because we’re trying to annex everywhere we can.”

Gadsden also faces a housing shortage.

“It’s not just low-income housing,” Ford said. “It’s the $500,000-$700,000 homes that would be $1 million to $1.5 million homes in Birmingham. So, we’re working with our real estate people, our homebuilders. I was born and raised here, and I’ve never seen growth like we have now in Gadsden.”

But the Gotta Get To Gadsden campaign isn’t just aimed at remote workers. It also serves as a reminder to folks who already call the city and surrounding areas home, Moore said.

“Sometimes it’s just good to remind people of the good things going on in your city,” he said. “You sometimes have to remind people of how good they really have it.”

He called it “a twofold system where you’re targeting remote workers. But you’re also branding and reminding everyone that Gadsden is a great place to live.”

When Ford took office, people were leaving the city, Moore said. Now, surrounding areas are trying to be annexed in, Moore said.

“It’s crazy,” Moore said.

Ford put it simply. “Life in Gadsden promises a high quality of life. Gadsden is a great place to visit and once you get here, you won’t leave. You’ll love it. People’s quality of life will improve 10 times by moving to Gadsden,” he said

“You gotta get to Gadsden. That’s the most important thing.”

Editor’s Note: For more on Gotta Get to Gadsden, visit its website, GottaGetToGadsden.com

Let the good times roll

Gadsden tops off Chili Cookoff with a Mardi Gras parade

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

There’s a party going on next month in the streets of Gadsden. Call it a cultural fusion, if you will. A newly formed Mardi Gras krewe will be celebrating the end of Carnival season by leading a parade of floats through the downtown area on Feb. 7, shortly after the winners of the annual chili cookoff are announced.

An unlikely pairing, perhaps, but both Chili and Mardi Gras share a history of beginnings in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. Steeped in cultural heritage, both are seasoned with spice and community. Chili originated in Texas, but is infused with a blend of Spanish, Native American and Mexican influences. Mardi Gras, with origins in pagan spring festivals, later became known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, and is a unique blend of local influence and tradition.

Plans for the newest Mardi Gras parade began less than a year ago, when a handful of Gadsden residents began laying the groundwork for the first such event for their hometown.

While still small, at roughly a dozen members, the group has made a big impact in their local community already. Their mission is to help others and to bring joy and excitement to those around them. They’ve been living out that mission and promoting their new venture while volunteering around Gadsden with tourism initiatives and with the Salvation Army.

On Feb. 7, beginning at 4 p.m., the Krewe of Rowdy Revelers will certainly bring a smile to parade goers as they guide their Pirates of the Coosa ship down the streets of Gadsden, kicking off the inaugural Mardi Gras parade. “We will have a contest for the best float,” says Deborah Miller, half of the mother/daughter duo behind the krewe. “We are hoping to have 100 entries in the parade, either floats or groups walking. We hope businesses, committees and individuals will get in touch with us, and we’ll get them included.”

Miller’s daughter, Danielle Finch, says the pair have always enjoyed attending Mardi Gras parades in Mobile and hope to bring that level of excitement to Gadsden, along with the resulting infusion of sales for local businesses. “My favorite float was one I saw in Mobile. My husband and I love NASCAR, and this was a NASCAR-themed float,” Finch said. “But I like any kind of float with people who are excited and are throwing things!”

There will, of course, be throws, those traditional necklaces and small items that are the signature of any Mardi Gras parade. “We do want to stress that it’s family friendly,” says Miller. “We’re going for good, clean fun.”

“We’re very excited to have the first krewe of Mardi Gras in Gadsden,” says Kay Moore, director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc., the organization co-hosting the event. “With the parade coming after the chili cookoff, it should keep people downtown to eat and to shop.” Plans are to finish the cookoff and announce the winners at 2 p.m. and start the parade on 7^th Street at 4. I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras parade before,” adds Moore, “so I’m really interested to see how it goes.”

Gadsden’s Chili Cookoff has been a crowd favorite for many years. This is the 18^th year for the spicy shindig on the banks of the Coosa River, which serves as a fundraiser for Downtown Gadsden, Inc. Proceeds from ticket sales are used to fund ongoing downtown improvements. The winner receives the coveted laser-cut chili cookoff trophy. There are cash prizes for first, second and third place and a people’s choice award voted by the crowd.

There wouldn’t even be a chili cookoff if it hadn’t been for the 1893 World’s Fair. A San Antonio food stand there introduced a spicy, saucy dish called chili. Its popularity and variety in recipes inspired the competitive spirit that brought about modern-day chili cookoffs.

When you walk down the streets of Gadsden mid-morning on Feb. 7, the smell of chili and various peppers will be strong, particularly on Broad Street between 4^th and 6^th Streets. “We close the streets for two blocks and set up the chili cookers on the sidewalks,” says Moore. We usually have about 30 teams competing, but we have room for 35.”

Each team is assigned a number and cups with those numbers are filled for the blind tastings by the judges. “I’m the only one who has the key to what number corresponds with what team,” explains Moore. “The judges have no clue whose chili they’re tasting.”

What the judges are looking for is texture, flavor, consistency and aroma. Specifically, the texture of the meat cannot be tough or mushy, but meat should be permeated with flavor and have a good blend of spices. The chili should be a nice balance of hot and mild, and there should be a smooth combination of meat and gravy and not be too thin or too thick. And there should be a pleasant aroma as dictated by the judges.

People tend to be passionate about their chili recipes. Chili is a sensory dish, and its flavor profile is as unique as its list of ingredients. Does the recipe call for beans? Tomato or no tomato? What type of meat is included – ground chuck, brisket, turkey, sausage, chicken or venison?

The teams will start cooking early in the morning, with all recipes available for sampling starting at noon. Tickets for samples are $1 each or 6 for $5. “Spoons up at noon, then people just wander the streets and eat chili,” Moore says. “We usually have about a thousand people attend. It’s a good time.”

Teams can be added on a space-available basis before Feb. 4. Those wanting to reserve T-shirts will need to sign up two weeks prior to that.

Wander the streets of Gadsden enjoying different chili recipes, then hang out for the parade a few hours later. It’s a full day party, and you’re invited. Let the good times roll, or as the Rowdy Revelers say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Editor’s Note: For more information on the Gadsden Chili Cookoff, contact Kay Moore at kay@downtowngadsden.org. For more information on the Gadsden Mardi Gras Parade, contact Deborah Miller at kreweofrowdyrevelers@gmail.com or deborahmiller72@outlook.com.

Resident Champion

From Logan Martin to the World Series

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

When it comes to Major League Baseball, St. Clair County has made more than a little imprint.

Springville’s Casey Mize, the former No. 1 overall pick in the draft, enjoyed a solid season in 2025 after missing a chunk of last season because of Tommy John surgery. This season, he helped the Detroit Tigers to the playoffs.

Todd Jones, former closing pitcher for the Tigers, was behind the mike as a broadcaster for Detroit. Jones has a home on Logan Martin Lake.

But when it came to activities around the 2025 World Series, there was another St. Clair footprint — specifically, size 2 in girls’ youth. It belongs to 8-year-old CaylacynSanford, who lives on Logan Martin in Pell City. For the second year in a row, she competed in the World Series in the 7-8 Division of Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run competition. She earned the trip to Toronto to see Game 2 of the Series after winning local and regional honors in Atlanta to advance to win an all-expense paid trip to compete and to see the Blue Jays face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Caylacyn Sanford sports her Pell City All Stars jersey

The top five highest scores from all 30 team championships go to the Finals. Therefore, five softball and five baseball players from each age division get an all-expense trip to the World Series to compete in the finals. (40 athletes in all).

The World Series trip isn’t her only 2025 honor. In August, she was one of six players nationally to be named Major League Baseball Play Ball Player of the Month, which earned the opportunity for two more of her family members to attend the World Series.

The Sanfords had a bit of excitement even before traveling to the Fall Classic – a mad dash to the passport office in Atlanta after Toronto won the American League title.

“Thankfully, it all worked out,” her mother, Caycyn said.

Indeed it did. In the Pitch, Hit and Run competition, Caylacyn finished first in hitting, first in running and second overall in her age group,

The MLB Play Ball initiative is the league’s signature program when it comes to youth engagement in baseball and softball. The program promotes physical activity and encourages community and family. The program also helps to grow baseball and softball with events around the world.

“It’s a phenomenal program,” Caycyn said. “It has really helped Caylacyn’s confidence and given her opportunities she would have never been able to have.”

The POTM recipients were chosen based on athletic performance, positive attitude, teamwork, community involvement and embodying the Play Ball spirit. She was also interviewed on the MLB Network.

What makes Caylacyn’s showing all the more impressive is that this is only her second year of youth softball. Last fall, she played on a team with a classic name – Bat Attitude. This fall, she played for a travel team, Shelby Steel. In the spring, it was Aces of Bases.

She began her sports journey competing in cheerleading and gymnastics. But after taking up softball at her Dad Derek’s suggestion, she was hooked.

“We didn’t know how she would be skill-wise,” Caycyn said. “We just thought it would be a fun game for her. She ended up really taking to it and enjoying it. We even stopped cheer and gymnastics. She’s really focused on softball these days.”

And as far as ability, the kid has mad skills with a disciplined swing usually seen in older, more experienced players. It’s a product of daily practice, sometimes on her own.

“It’s definitely a gift that God has given her,” Caycyn said. “It surprised us as her parents, just how quickly she’s picked up the game. The Lord really has blessed her with athletic ability. We were surprised that it was softball (where she excelled) because I never played softball. It’s something different for us. But when she started playing last year, we could see that it was something she was good at and excelled at.”

Derek didn’t play competitive ball either. But he and others have noticed his daughter’s ability to swing the bat.

“People have commented and said, ‘Wow, she’s got a pretty swing,’” he said. Caycyn and Derek have worked with her on her skills. At the World Series, Caylacyn met USA Olympian, Jennie Finch, who also complimented Caylacyn’s swing.

Caylacyn’s success is no surprise to her Dad. “We kind of had a feeling she’d have a knack for it,” he said. And of her back-to-back trips to the World Series? “It’s a pretty unheard-of success for a 7- and 8-year-old to do it twice.”

Diamonds and dolls

When it comes to sports, the softball diamond may be this 8-year-old’s best friend, but Caylacyn is still every bit a little girl, who loves playing with Barbie dolls and Lego blocks and her little sisters, Kenlee and Kellesa. She’s known to put her favorite toys – her “stuffies” she calls them – on the fence by her team’s dugout during games, all while she’s turning double plays and hitting grand slams.

Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch grabs a selfie with Caylacyn. She was All American and Collegiate World Series winner at Arizona

And it’s important to note, Caylacyn experienced a more lasting victory in 2025 – one of an eternal nature. She came to faith in Christ. The family attends Northside Fellowship.

As Crash Davis, the fictional character played by Kevin Costner, noted in the movie, Bull Durham, baseball is a simple game. “You throw the ball; you catch the ball. You hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.”

Caylacyn seems to have a similar understanding of softball and why she fell in love with the game. “It’s competitive. You get to play with your friends, and you hit,” she said.

For Caycyn and Derek, all of this World Series stuff may have come as a surprise. “What are the odds?,” Caycyn asks. But they want folks to know something more about their daughter.

“We’re just proud, especially of her being humble and her being coachable,” Derek said. “That’s something all of her coaches say about her. We’re super proud that she’s willing to learn while still being humble,” he added.

“She’s a good kid,” Caycyn said. “Softball is just something she does for fun. It doesn’t define who she is. We’re thankful that God has given her this ability. But as her parents, we find more joy in seeing her picking up her teammates when somebody makes a bad play or strikes out. She’s one of the first ones out there to encourage them. She tries her best. But it’s something from within. Being a leader. Being a good friend.”

She added, “She’s more than softball.”

Christmas on the Coosa

Gadsden turns riverside park into winter wonderland

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Folks in Gadsden are crazy about Christmas, and it shows. All you had to do is look no further than the city’s Riverside Park during the holiday season to see yet another way Gadsden rolls out the red carpet for residents and visitors alike.

A 60-by-100-foot ice skating rink, bright lights, fire pits and Alabama’s tallest Christmas tree towering 78 feet tall made this Christmas season merry and bright, not to mention taking the celebration to the next level with food trucks, live music and a breathtaking view of the river.

A newly constructed observation deck allows visitors to watch the skaters and to view the river. The tree was lit on Thanksgiving Eve. You could say the city earned a nickname as North Pole South.

“It’s a very intimate setting,” Janet Tarrance, the city’s director of special events, said. “It gives you the Christmas feel overlooking the Coosa out there that’s absolutely beautiful.”

This year’s festivities unwrapped a new gift for revelers, ice bumper cars. The iconic amusement park ride gave riders a chance to work out holiday frustrations. Twelve electrically powered cars scooted around the ice for a stocking full of fun fender benders.

The cars have four wheels and two joysticks for steering. “They are really a lot of fun,” Tarrance said. “Going across that ice feels a lot faster than it actually is. People really enjoyed it. It seems like there were more adults enjoying (the cars) than the kids.”

Ice skating is in its third year. Initially, the rink was a synthetic surface, but now, skaters can slide and glide elegantly on real ice. Ice skating began on Nov. 28 and continued until Dec. 23. The bumper cars returned and will be available until Jan. 10.

“When we started the skating, Mayor (Craig) Ford said it was like skating on cardboard. Now we have real ice,” Tarrance said.

Bumper car admission is $10 per person for a 10-minute ride. Skating admission is $12 during the week, $15 on weekends. Ice skates are included. Bumper car riders must be at least 42 inches tall and weigh no more than 300 pounds.

“Not everybody can ice skate, but most everybody can do bumper cars,” she said, “They’re super fun.”

Perfect complements

When you think about ice rinks and frosty air, thoughts inevitably turn to hot chocolate, cider and coffee. Local vendors offered a variety of festive food and drink. 3 Crow Coffee served a variety of coffee drinks. DonutNV (cq) cooked up gourmet donuts and folks were even able to watch the sweet, round treats being made.

Attalla’s Chill Spot served its lolly waffles, a deep-fried cake-like dessert with different toppings. And pizza cones were crafted from pizza dough filled with sauce and toppings.

Funkee Franks (cq) tempted hungry visitors with gourmet hot dogs, smashburgers and Cajun fries.

For folks wanting something stronger to fight off the winter chill, they could visit Frosty’s, a city run bar that offered Christmas cocktails, beer, wine and shots.

Celebrating the holidays by Neely Henry Lake

Rounding out the offerings was plenty of swag – sweatshirts, gloves and toboggans available for purchase.

Maintaining an ice rink has had its share of challenges, given an unseasonably warm Alabama November, but crews have worked tirelessly to maintain the rink, Tarrance said. Music was piped in, but on special nights, live music and Santa Claus entertained the crowds

Folks from all around – Etowah County, Anniston, Birmingham, Huntsville and from as far away as Tennessee and Georgia flocked to the city to enjoy the holiday fun.

“It’s another way to attract tourism and bring people to Gadsden, to do the ice skating, to do the bumper cars, to go to Noccalula,” Tarrance said. “We have a lot of things happening in Gadsden. We’re growing and it’s exciting to see. Everybody’s energy is just full force. It’s hard not to get excited.”

Skating and bumper cars aren’t just activities. The attractions are a place for making holiday magic, Tarrance said.

“Really and truly, if you want to make some fun memories that have a big city feel in a small, classy, little town, you need to come to Gadsden, because we are full of Christmas spirit and we have a lot of things that bigger cities have, but we are considered a smaller city.”

Tarrance added, “If you haven’t been to Gadsden, you will fall in love with it. It is a magical city, especially during Christmas. I think it’s absolutely wonderful, what we have done.”

Tarrance tells the story of a Birmingham Mom with a disability who came to the rink on a November Sunday with her eight children. The woman was in a wheelchair, but her heart’s desire was to ride in the bumper cars with her kids.

“My employees were able to help her get into a car and make memories with her kids,” Tarrance said. “She wouldn’t have been able to get on the ice otherwise. But my employees wanted to make sure she could do that … Those kids won’t forget that.”

There is a lyric from a popular Christmas tune that calls Christmas, “the time of year when the world falls in love.”

Think about that Birmingham mother, her children and the helping hands and hearts of Gadsden city employees.

That’s love.

And at the end of the day, love is what Christmas is all about, even with a bumper car.

This must be the place for fly fishing

Keeping Black Creek stocked with trout is key

Story by Paul South
Submitted and staff photos

Something fishy will be going on at Alabama’s most picturesque waterfall on Black Creek.

New residents – $10,000 worth of future feisty and flavorful trophy size rainbow trout – will make the creek their home.

The restocking is expected to take place in mid-January. That’s great news for the growing number of fly anglers who flock to the stream every trout season. There’s no need for a long trip to the Appalachians or to the Rockies to catch the legendary fish. Rainbows are right here at home.

The annual event is a joint collaboration between the City of Gadsden, Noccalula Falls Park, the Rainbow Fly Fishing Club and Greater Gadsden Tourism. A grant championed by State Rep. Craig Lipscomb, (R-Gadsden) – a fly fisherman himself – funded the restocking effort, which began in 2020.

“When I was first elected, I was fishing in the Appalachians and realized that my hometown of Gadsden had a very similar climate, insect life and water conditions which would likely support trout,” Lipscomb said.

Lipscomb’s legislation provided grant funding to stock the stream below the falls with a few thousand Rainbow trout. He calls the ongoing effort, now in its sixth year, “a tremendous success.”

The trout provide another revenue stream for tourism in Gadsden and the surrounding area for anglers and their families, who visit local hotels and motels, shops, restaurants and other attractions at Noccalula Falls State Park and beyond.

“It’s become an exciting, one-of-a-kind fly-fishing opportunity for people who love fly fishing and want an experience that is rather unique,” Lipscomb said. “Noccalula Falls provides an incredible backdrop due to its enormity, and you have several miles of fishing downstream from there.”

Lipscomb added, “More so, you have all the camping and recreational activities at the falls to create a well-rounded trip that the entire family can enjoy.”

The annual restocking effort has landed a big catch on social media. Some 838,000 views were hooked on Facebook alone in 2025. More than 100 day permits and 91 seasonal permits were purchased by fly anglers last year, said Tina Morrison, executive director of Greater Gadsden Area Tourism. The city gets a big economic bounce from trout fishing. The falls are located three miles from downtown.

“Just from the permits, that’s about $7,000 that goes back into Noccolula Falls Park,” Morrison said.

The city is also committed to growing the sport. Earlier this year, two fly fishing clinics for kids were conducted at the falls sponsored by Rainbow City Auction and Fly Shop. The shop, co-owned by Frank Roden, provided each participant with a free fly rod.

Fly angler Frank Roden shares expertise with new generation

Roden, an Orvis certified fly instructor, is perhaps Alabama’s biggest evangelist for the sport. Known as “the guy with the tie,” whose fishing attire always includes a necktie, helped with the annual restocking.

Roden has been part of the restocking effort since the beginning. Drought conditions have hindered the fish in some ways. But there has been natural spawning going on. And fish – about nine inches long – enter the stream and can grow as long as 22 inches, he said. The fish that are part of the restocking weigh about a pound when they enter Black Creek.

If you think that the buzz about fly fishing at Noccalula Falls is just an exaggerated fish tale, consider this: Representatives from Gadsden had a booth at the East Tennessee Fishing Show in Knoxville, one of the South’s largest such events.

“We go up there and have a booth to talk about fly and bass fishing. We have a banner that says, ‘Bass or Fly Fishing, Why Not Both?’.”

The booth drew a multitude of visitors. “People would come up and say, ‘We had no idea you could fly fish there, or anywhere in Alabama.’”

Roden saw the positive response coming.

“We anticipated this, that we would have a lot of response and a lot of good fish,” he said. “People are coming from all around. They’re coming from Illinois. They’re coming from Florida. They’re coming from Texas. They’re coming from Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. We’re getting a lot of people and a lot of tourism associated with the fish. And that tourism is bringing a lot to the city.”

But fly fishing is only part of the story at Noccalula Falls Park and Campground.

“ There’s so much to do there,” Morrison said. “You can really bring your whole family, stay in an RV or a cabin. The campground is all brand new. Everything is beautiful, gorgeous, and new. And with the fly fishing, we’ve got miniature golf and a new train that has a wheelchair accessible seat on it. You’ve got hiking trails and an animal barn that has so many animals it doesn’t seem fair to call it a petting zoo. And there are always special events.”

She added, “You could plan your whole vacation and find plenty to do, just at Noccalula Falls, even if you didn’t set foot in any of the other things we have to do.”

Lipscomb offered a word of advice to his fellow fly fishers about Noccalula Falls.

“If you haven’t been there,” Lipscomb said, “then you are really missing out.”

WANT TO FISH THE FALLS?

Trout fishing is open from Oct. 15 through June 30. Catch and release is in effect until April 1. Harvesting is allowed from April 1 through June, with anglers allowed to keep up to five fish.

NOTE: Residents and non-residents must have a valid Alabama fishing license is required, as well as either a day or seasonal permit to fish at Noccalula Falls A state license can be purchased at Coosa Landing, 200 Lake Street in Gadsden, or online.

Day or seasonal trout passes can be purchased at the Noccalula Falls Park office near the Kiwanis Pavillion. Costs are $10 for a day pass, $35 for a seasonal pass. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fishing should be done with fly rods only. Limit one line and one pole per angler. Barbless hooks and artificial bait are allowed. Fishing is allowed between dawn and dusk and no fishing is allowed in the pool below the falls. Catch-and-release is required until April 1. This is a new policy. During the harvest season, a maximum of five fish is allowed.

Catchin’ the Coosa January 2026

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, in my opinion.

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. I’m 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 of 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 of examples of this might be deeper docks or steep river banks with rock and laydowns.

A few of my favorite baits this time of the year are a flat-sided crankbait, a spinnerbait and jig. I usually 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. Usually, the spinnerbait works best slow rolling it on the bottom. I generally use a ½ oz. spinnerbait with a single Colorado as the blade.

The type of jig I use depends on water color. If the water is dirty, I 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, of course, is 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 with 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 usually will 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 not only is 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.

Traditionally, 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 winter time fishing. Why? It sets up really well for wintertime fishing.

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 favorites 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 Neely around the Gadsden region of the lake 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 in order 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. During the winter, get suited up and dress warmly because Neely Henry produces its best quality bass of the year!

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

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.

Thank you, 2025

As we begin a new year and all the rush of busy holidays come to an end, the Coosa Riverkeeper team wants to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated in events, volunteered during cleanups, or donated to protect the Coosa in 2025.

Our work is made possible by the folks like you, who live, work, and recreate on the river! We hope to continue inspiring your family and the next generation through educational programs like our workshops, free fishing clinics, and school visits, which reached over 675 kids in 2025. For some children in communities of greatest need, a free fishing clinic is their first time at the water’s edge. This first exposure to nature can be life-changing.

On that note, we also began the very first of our Angler Advocacy Focus Groups! In 2025, we hosted 4 of these groups, collecting information that will help our team better serve communities with fishing resources. Attendees shared honest feedback about their fishing priorities, the challenges they’re seeing on the water, and ways we can make our program even more useful.

Our field team has patrolled the watershed more than 85 times this year and released 15 weeks of Swim Guide data to the public, protecting 5,000 square miles of the river and the communities who rely on the river as the abundant resource that it is.

We also celebrated two exciting anniversaries in 2025: our 15th year as an organization, plus 10 years of our Swim Guide water quality testing program. (That’s 10 years of helping families recreate safely on the Coosa, all summer long.) Although this is just a glimpse of 2025’s achievements and events, we are excited to bring more opportunities to the folks of the Coosa in the new year!

Want to join us as we protect, restore, and promote the Coosa? Visit CoosaRiver.org/Events to sign up today or check us out on Facebook & Instagram!

Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper
For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.

Another successful Boo Bash

A day of Halloween fun on Logan Martin Lake

Ever seen creativity afloat? If you made it to Boo Bash on Logan Martin 2025, you couldn’t miss it.

From boats dressed as Pac Man, Creepy Castle and Ghostbusters, creative juices were flowing like Logan Martin Dam when the spillway gates are open.

Not to be outdone, docks were in full Halloween regalia with the likes of Pine Harbor Urgent Care, a not-so comforting medical theme of saws, knives, blood and bones.

Little Dock of Horrors was a double deck of ghoulish goblins, ghosts, and grimacing ghouls. And Fear the Pier had boats and revelers approaching with trepidation.

And Boo Slough made sure everyone got to enjoy the day. No dock? No boat? No problem. Logan Martin Lake Protection Association and Pell City Parks and Recreation hosted fun, inflatables and giveaways at Lakeside Park, easily accessible by vehicle, boat or on foot.

Now in its fourth year, Boo Bash has grown into a full-scale movement, bringing the entire lake community together in a festive seasonal celebration. And its proceeds go to a worthy cause – LMLPA’s safety program.

Think dock-to-dock trick-or-treating is just for kids? Think again. It’s hard to tell which age group has the most fun. There’s plenty of treats for adults and pooches, too.

Capped off with an after party at presenting sponsor, The Tiki Hut, Boo Bash gets bigger and better every year thanks to the two simple words that began it all – “What if?” The brainchild of Kelli Lasseter and Sonya Hubbard and bolstered by a growing army of volunteers, Boo Bash has now become a Logan Martin tradition.

And the Logan Martin community thanks all involved on an idea well done. See you next year!

Logan Martin Lake pollinator plots

Birds, bees and planting seeds to help the planet

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

This is a story about the birds and the bees.

Parents, don’t panic. This is still a family-friendly magazine, safe for children. In fact, this story is about an Alabama Power initiative that makes the planet better for our kids and grandkids and brings colorful, fragrant beauty to Logan Martin and other Alabama lakes.

It takes a variety of flowers to serve the needs of pollinators

In 2018, the utility began its pollinator plot program at nine sites around Alabama. Two pollinator-friendly plots are located in Double Cove Park at Logan Martin near the dam. The program is part of The Preserves, 65 public recreational sites along the state’s shorelines.

Each half-acre plot was built in the wake of a decline in pollinator populations, notably bees. But a variety of wildlife, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, lizards and bats are pollinators that plants depend on to survive and thrive.

That spread of pollen doesn’t just help flowers to blossom, it impacts the food supply. Each plot is seeded with a custom blend of native seeds specific to each site – a recipe of annuals, biannuals and perennials. Each plot commonly includes milkweed species, black-eyed Susans and goldenrod. The seed mix is created following a soil analysis at Auburn University.

The company partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service in developing the pollinator sites.

“Our goal was to establish pollinator friendly sites at each Alabama Power public recreation site capable of development,” said Garret Parker, Alabama Power team leader on Shoreline Recreation and Compliance.

Goals for the program include:

Enhancing existing recreation sites.
Protecting the scenic, recreational and environmental aspects of each site.
Encouraging stakeholders to enjoy, learn and grow a deeper appreciation of Alabama’s ecology and natural landscape.

The plots have to be redone every five years, Parker said. It generally takes about three months to re-do the plots.

“The wildflowers come back every year, but over time you get a lot of invasive weeds and grasses and sometimes even trees,” Parker said. “They slowly start to get into the plots and out-compete the native wildflowers.”

In late fall, employees plant a wildflower seed mixture that by next spring and summer will be a cornucopia of beauty, color and fragrance – bergamot, black-eyed Susans, blue false indigo, butterfly milkweed, purple cornflower and others.

Fighting off the threats

In the past quarter century, pollinator populations and their habitats have drastically declined, thanks to a number of factors, including pesticides, pollution, pests, pathogens and changes in land use, such as increasing human development, according to the Pollinator Partnership. It is an organization that collaborates with farmers, gardeners, land managers, scientists and industry to improve pollinator populations.

Double Cove Park is home to two Pollinator Plots

Climate change also plays a key role, according to the partnership. The increased temperatures have damaged habitat and the food supply for pollinators, as has extreme drought and an increase in the number of weather-related disasters.

Here are a few examples of how pollinator populations have declined:

Several species of native bumblebees, including the common bumblebee, the western bumblebee and the Rusty Patched bumblebee, have experienced a decline in population. Researchers have seen a decline in the geographic range of the species.
The number of managed beehives in the United States has declined from 5 million in the 1940s to 2.68 million in 2023, according to USDA statistics.
The monarch butterfly population loss has increased from between 35 to 49 percent to 58 percent.

Along with the pollinator plots, the utility has worked with universities like Auburn, researchers, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to grow the pollinator population, Parker said.

“Alabama Power coordinated with the Auburn University Bee Lab and the Electric Power Research Institute to conduct a multi-year research study on ways to protect pollinator friendly plant species when conducting required vegetation management on utility rights of way,” Parker said. We also work with state and federal partners and NGOs to protect specific species such as the white fringeless orchid.”

Among the NGOs partnering with Alabama Power is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The company also supports the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Alabama Audubon Society and their efforts to establish wildlife and pollinator friendly vegetation.

An example of the partnerships is between the power company and Auburn University’s Bee Laboratory. The university uses “citizen science” by encouraging public participation in the National Colony Loss & Management Survey. It’s a “boots on the ground” effort to monitor bee population.

The utility is among a number of partners with Auburn, including the University of Maryland and the USDA.

This past summer, the utility worked with the Pollinator Partnership to sponsor its annual Pollinator Week, a celebration of the birds and bees, butterflies and other animals that go crazy over Alabama wildflowers. Humans like the picturesque plots too.

Why is the program important? “By prioritizing environmental stewardship,” Parker said, “we’re safeguarding resources and opportunities for future generations.”

Editor’s Note: Community members can find a pollinator plot to host a counting event near them by downloading the free Shorelines mobile app or visiting apcshorelines.com.

Catchin’ the Coosa November 2025

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

Logan Martin

opefully, the cooler weather will drop the water temps on Logan Martin, and the fish will begin to eat up and fatten up for the wintertime.

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 use to be five feet down.

The new winter pool level has changed the way I’ve fished Logan 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 baitfish, the bass won’t be far behind. A small damiki rig and deep diving jerkbait 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 am 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 offer 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 great late fall/early winter 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 baits I always start out with are 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 back into the creeks.

Usually, 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 jerkbait, 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. I fish the smaller creek mouths with either a squarebill crankbait or jerk bait depending on water color.

Another great choice is 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.