Alabama 650 Paddle Race



Breaks records and delights followers

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Meghan Frondorf
and Wallace Bromberg Jr.
Submitted photos

Twenty of the fiercest, most elite paddlers in the world battled stormy elements at the start but finished strong in record time in the third edition of the Great Alabama 650, the world’s longest annual paddle race.

In late September, paddlers muscled their way through the 650-mile course from Weiss Lake in the north to Fort Morgan in the south, which covered the stretches of Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes in between.   

The statewide race has all the components of a great adventure – whitewater, tidewater currents, hikes around nearly a dozen dams – en route to a finish line 650 miles from the start.

Top finishers were:

  • Joe Mann and Paul Cox – 4 days, 17 hours, 2 minutes 
  • Salli O’Donnell – 4 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes
  • West Hansen, 5 days, 19 hours, 9 minutes

The Alabama 650 website featured a live map throughout the race with up-to-the-minute updates on each of the boats’ locations. Facebook and Instagram posts from the field and countless photos, videos and updates came from novice spectators and volunteers along the route during its duration. Hashtag was #AL650.

The map helped spur the interest of spectators all along the course to get a firsthand look at the paddlers coming by. According to Alabama 650 officials, spectators cheered for racers on river banks in Gadsden, Pell City, Wetumpka, Montgomery, Selma, Fairhope and dozens of other points along the way.

The racecourse is the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a 6,000-plus mile, mapped river trail system. The 650 miles at the core of the river trails extends from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Alabama through alligator country to the Gulf of Mexico.

Racers had up to 10 days to finish the race to compete for the top spot in three divisions – Male Solo, Female Solo and Two Person Team.

Portages, where paddlers and their crews put in and take out their boats, were nine dams on the Coosa and Alabama rivers.

Volunteers, along with paddlers’ crews, were stationed at portages, helping with logistics of getting the paddlers through each point.

Logan Martin’s Max Jolley served as portage chief at Logan Martin Dam, coordinating volunteers and keeping the pace moving as paddlers came in throughout a 24-hour period in days 2 and 3 of the race.

The first arrivals were about 6 a.m. on Sunday and the last of the paddlers came in between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday. He said he was amazed at the speed of this year’s race. “They were two to three hours ahead of last year.”

Jolley, who has been kayaking himself for 30 years, (but not on that level, he is quick to point out) has been involved since the inception of the race. “When I saw it, I wanted to get involved.” Now, he’s hooked. “One of the best things is you get to talk to the crew and the paddlers” on everything from weather to boat traffic. “They like coming down Logan Martin,” where people “greet, wave and clap as they go by.”

A view of paddlers from above

O’Donnell, the female solo winner, is a Logan Martin favorite. She has even joined a Facebook group locally, where she talks to fans, and they wish her well or congratulate her. In one post, she talked of stopping a bit for some sleep at the new Lincoln’s Landing.

In an interview with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Outdoor Alabama, Cox, a member of the winning team estimated he and partner Mann managed an hour of sleep at Wetumpka, two at Selma and two as they neared Fort Morgan for the finish.

“That’s what you have to do to be fast,” Cox recounted to Outdoor Alabama. “Sometimes you have to fight off the sleep monsters. There were definitely moments when I wasn’t paddling well. I was trying to stay upright, splashing myself with water. You have to talk to each other and tell stories. My partner, Joe, is a great storyteller, but he finally told me no more stories. That’s when I knew we needed to pull over and get some sleep.”

O’Donnell, now a member of Love Logan Martin Facebook group, posted her report of the race – a lengthy, detailed account – three weeks later on the group’s page:

This is what she had to say about Logan Martin:

“That stretch is one of my favorite sections along the course because not only is it beautiful but normally there is a lot of boat traffic to keep me entertained. This year was totally different, the lake was practically empty due to the weather. I recall 3 or 4 boats on the whole stretch and the skies remained low, gray and wet. Most of all, I missed bantering with the locals, aka the Logan Martians, although a few brave souls hung out on their docks to cheer us on as we passed by!”

She was paddling alongside Hansen as they came into Logan Martin, and they paddled together to the dam. “West and I reached the Logan Martin Dam portage around 10:15 on Sunday morning and after our 45-minute mandatory hold, off we went towards Lay Dam.”

Heading into Fort Morgan two days later, she wrote, “As I approached CheckPoint 3, I began to have issues with my back-up GPS (remember I lost my primary GPS on the morning of Day 2 / Logan Martin Lake). Water spots under the screen appeared and grew until I couldn’t see anything at all. Fortunately, it was during the daylight and I was familiar with the area.

“Unfortunately, I had no watch and without my GPS I had no idea what time it was or how far I had traveled. I rounded the checkpoint and headed west towards a point of land that I eventually passed and then I headed southwest down into the cove thinking I was on the approach to Fort Morgan. The waves were stern quartering and with my surf rudder I was having fun riding across the backs of waves to keep me high in the cove or running with the waves when it was time to dip down towards Fort Morgan.

“I was having a blast until I finally realized I had headed down one cove too early and had to climb back out (later I would realize it was a 5-mile climb) northwesterly to round the real final point of land before turning southwest for the final 5 miles to Fort Morgan.

West Hansen, winner men’s solo, sets new record

“Once I got around that point of land, I took a short break to adjust myself in my boat and get a quick bite to eat. When I looked up, I saw Rod and Bobby about one hundred yards from me! They took off and again I watched them turn into a dot, only a little more than 5 miles to the finish and they beat me by 16 minutes. Dang it, Bobby!!”

O’Donnell’s post gives ‘Logan Martians’ and the rest a first-person glimpse of what it was like on Logan Martin that Sunday – early in the race – and later legs of the journey toward a record finish: 4 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes.

Her physical condition? She wrote:

“Weight loss of less than 1 pound

Blisters on hands but none that opened

No skin rubs

No skin rashes

No aching muscles

Approximately a total of 13 hours of sleep

Tired but content!”

Jennifer Fratzke’s impressions were a little more succinct: “It’s the funnest, coolest, hardest, most awesome race ever.”

Editor’s Note: Next year’s Great Alabama 650 is scheduled for Oct. 1-11. Registration opens Jan. 1 at noon CST.


About the Alabama Scenic River Trail

The Alabama Scenic River Trail is the longest river trail in the United States.

When it was established in 2008, the river trail was comprised of just one 650-mile stretch of contiguous waterways. It extended from Weiss Lake in Northeast Alabama through the Mobile Bay, a waterway so biologically diverse, it is called “America’s Amazon.”

Today, the river trail includes more than 6,000 miles of mapped river trail and 60 boat rental shops exist on its banks to help paddlers tour the state’s vast aquatic resources.

You may learn more at AlabamaScenicRiverTrail.com.

Gadsden’s First Friday



A story of comeback, resurgence, revitalization

Story and photos by Katie Bohannon

After months of cancellation and anticipation, one of the Southeast’s select street parties resurged in The City of Champions – with the free event’s June debut proving bigger and better than ever.

The return of downtown’s beloved First Friday restores a pre-pandemic feeling of fellowship for locals and tourists alike. Meander through downtown at the dawn of each month, and Gadsden will greet you with something special.

When First Friday blocks off Broad Street, downtown comes alive. Eye-catching antique automobiles, with vibrant colors and bold styles, beckon admirers to weave into the 1950s and out of the 80s with a simple stroll. Eager listeners cluster, tapping their feet where bands perform on street corners, inhaling the sweet aroma of powdered sugar from food vendors or savory scents of freshly cooked meals floating from favorite restaurants.

Children pull apart funnel cakes with sticky fingers, trailing behind parents pushing strollers, waving at familiar faces sitting outside storefronts. Boutiques swell with customers browsing unique merchandise, making note of their next visit. Reflections of laughing friends pass in shop windows as artists gather in the museum, while families reconnect with neighbors and jovial store owners welcome guests by name.

Though First Friday prompts people to reminisce about Gadsden’s “good old days,” its paramount success serves as a reminder that good is far from gone.

COVID-19 brought First Friday to an unprecedented halt in March of 2020, the hiatus proving wise in its mission of maintaining the health and safety of in- and out-of-town residents. As First Friday celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2021, Gadsden celebrates the event’s influence on the city, recalling the spark that ignited tradition.



In the beginning

First Friday began in January of 2006, when East Gadsden native Sylvia Smith cultivated a blueprint to attract visitors to downtown Gadsden to shop and dine. Smith, who owned and operated The Stone Market on Court Street, mirrored Gadsden’s First Friday from a concept her daughter discovered while living in Augusta, Ga.

In downtown Augusta, Smith’s daughter joined crowds of friends and families with their children, visiting art galleries and listening to musicians playing in the street. Smith’s daughter shared that while the event is fun for the community, it also serves a dual purpose – to boost downtown’s worth.

Live entertainment

Smith was no stranger to Gadsden’s value. As a child, she and her sisters frequented downtown Gadsden with their mother, who entertained them with window shopping and walks up and down Broad Street. She treasured fond memories of 10-cents worth of malted milk balls at McClellan’s and registering (and winning) door prizes when stores held promotions.

“Going downtown was a really happy thing we did in my childhood,” said Smith. “That was the way I viewed downtown. I was in Gadsden as a young adult with children when Gadsden died. Downtown was full of empty buildings. Teenagers were driving up and down Broad Street in cruisers, making messes of the storefronts and breaking windows. Businesses were closed. That was the saddest thing, to see that as my hometown. My hope was to see that go away, to see businesses have storefronts with products and lights in the windows – and I’ve gotten to see that.”

Smith planted a seed in her quaint store, inviting artists like Earthborn Pottery’s Tena Payne to provide interactive insight for guests on how she created her designs. With Italian hand-painted dinnerware and wines from small family-owned vineyards across the world, Smith welcomed the public to The Stone Market to promote her vendors, featuring wine tastings and in-house cooking demonstrations.

“That (first) night, my store was completely packed with people,” said Smith. “People came in fur coats and diamond earrings! I was so blown away by what people thought about me doing that. It was funny and rewarding and so cool … I was in awe of the support. I didn’t view First Friday as just for me, ever – not once. It was something citywide I was working for.”

The interest The Stone Market’s First Friday generated for Gadsden soon turned heads. Before long, Smith’s fellow business owners, who shared her drive to rejuvenate the city, gathered for a meeting at The Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. During the meeting, local business owners underwent a training session to discover the best methods of promotion for downtown, brainstorming ideas and forging a toolkit for future events.

In October of 2007, Director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc. Kay Moore joined the coalition of merchants seeking to better their city. As a nonprofit community partnership that fosters the economic development of downtown, DGI’s purpose aligned with First Friday’s mission and laid the foundation for Gadsden’s growth.

Moore partnered with downtown merchants and instrumental figures like Smith and Little Faces Doll Shop’s Terry Jennings, whose endless connections with classic car clubs incorporated the vintage vehicles that would bring First Friday fame – drawing visitors from all over the Southeast from Mississippi to Florida. In June of this year, the Rainbow City Hot Rod Club invited classic car enthusiasts from Tennessee and Georgia to display 550 cars for the summer cruise-in.

“(Since First Friday) we have gone from a 60% occupancy rate to a 90% occupancy rate on Broad Street,” said Moore. “If I have somebody call and ask to rent a space, I don’t really have a space for them to rent. I would attribute the great majority of that to First Friday, because people would come and see Gadsden has a great downtown.”

“First Friday has enabled us to be a bigger part of the community. It has been something that has really helped our restaurants and retail stores to grow. It brought businesses that were looking to expand. And for different people who were wanting to open a small business, First Friday gave them the courage to step out and do it.”

While Broad Street featured few restaurants at the time of First Friday’s inception, Smith echoed Moore’s sentiments of First Friday’s inspirational influence. Today, downtown Gadsden offers guests a plethora of dining options – from pizza at Blackstone Pub & Eatery and pimento cheese burgers at The Rail Public House, seafood at C&J’s Crab Shack to chicken and waffles at Harp & Clover. First Friday goers can satisfy their dessert cravings with ice cream at Scoop Du Jour, indulge in specialty cheesecakes at Gadsden Variety Café or stop by one of the friendly food vendors parked throughout Broad Street.

Food trucks and vendors

Moore’s passion for Gadsden, like Smith, is rooted in a childhood enriched with family visits to downtown, which she described as “the center of the community.” 

Those involved with First Friday’s creation, with their commitment and keen eye for Gadsden’s potential, parallel the incredible community response to the event. First Friday lifted the fog for neighboring municipalities to witness a hidden gem just a few miles away and reminded Gadsden residents of the merit abiding in their hometown.

Year after year, droves of enthusiastic supporters flock to the monthly event, drawn by the festive and cheerful atmosphere that never ceases.

“First Friday is fun for all who come,” said Moore. “People come for several different reasons. For some, it’s just to meet up with friends, wander around and look. Some of them come to listen to the entertainment we have, some of them come to just enjoy themselves and get out. It’s evolved over the years, but it’s one of those things that’s come about to bring people together.”

From crowds standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching July 4th fireworks on the Memorial Bridge to First Friday visitors who fall in love with downtown and decide to make Gadsden their permanent home, the event’s camaraderie and impact on its community prove profound.

Smith, who now lives in Foley, where she owns and operates upscale, American restaurant Local and Company Food + Drink with Ephraim Kadish, attested to First Friday’s realm of influence that drifted as far as the coast. Smith shared that Foley recently selected Gadsden to model after, learning from her hometown methods of improvement for The Forward City.

“Even in Baldwin County now, almost every single day someone comes in the restaurant who heard I’m from Gadsden and tells me a story about someone in their family, a friend or someone they know who is from Gadsden,” said Smith. “And I know them a lot of times. It’s amazing the connection. I always say, Gadsden raised some of the best people in the world. They may leave for other opportunities, but they come back.”

As First Friday continues to evolve, the event represents more than a mere incentive to rekindle a city’s spot on a map. First Friday illustrates a lasting legacy fashioned among residents committed to sparking a positive change, welcoming visitors near and far to experience an event as worthwhile as its people.

“I think I knew that First Friday could become what it is today,” said Smith. “That the people who live in Gadsden and surrounding cities would start coming back, like when I was a child and walked up and down the streets with those beautiful buildings and went into shops where people knew you by name. Gadsden is a gorgeous city – the river runs through it, and the people there are so generous and friendly. It’s truly a hometown feeling to be there.”

Remember When: Neely Henry Dam ushered in new era for Coosa River region



Story by Leigh Pritchett
Photos courtesy of Edna Daffron, Margaret Green, Buck Humphries
(from the Scarboro Collection), Alabama Power

Many times in her life, Ellen Hare had heard that a dam would be built on the Coosa River near Ragland.

“I have heard that all my life,” she said in the 1950s to family members.

“Big Mama,” as she was called, wanted to see that dam. “She loved to think about things like that and picture it in her mind,” said Jerry Sue Brannon of Ragland, Hare’s 84-year-old granddaughter.

Later, though, Big Mama resigned herself to the likelihood it would not happen in her lifetime, according to Brannon. “She said, ‘I just won’t live to see that.’”

Crane work during construction

Indeed, she did not. Hare died in the early 1960s, which was also when construction was starting on H. Neely Henry Dam. The dam went into operation in 1966.

“The first time we crossed the dam,” Brannon recalls, “we said, ‘Big Mama, we’re crossing the dam you didn’t think would be here!’”

Big Mama had been right. Talk about developing the Coosa River had spanned her entire life. The beginning of those discussions date to 1870, according to the publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects.

“Many surveys of the Coosa River had been authorized by Congress beginning with a recommendation in the 1870s for 34 locks and dams, with later recommendations in 1892, 1904, 1909, 1931, 1943, 1947, 1952 and 1953 for varying numbers of dams,” the publication reveals. “The last study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers recommended eight dams.”

The river, before the dam was constructed, was “free-flowing,” said Gene Phifer of Riddles Bend in Etowah County.

“It was shallow, but it was swift” and in constant motion, said Ohatchee’s Lewis “Buck” Humphries.

Beth Evans-Smith of Ashville was a little girl when Alabama Power undertook land negotiations to prepare for Neely Henry Dam and the lake it would form. She remembers going to an Alabama Power office with her dad and granddad during negotiations. The Evans family lived three miles from where the dam would be built.

After negotiations were finalized, landowners had two years to get their property ready for the reservoir that would result, Evans-Smith said. Her parents and grandparents had to relocate several structures on their Greensport farm to higher ground, get rid of some cattle and complete other building projects.

“I remember it was chaotic and stressful,” said Evans-Smith.

Leading up to and during the dam’s construction, travel in the area could be a challenge. A road between Greensport and Ragland was closed, and its bridges and culverts deconstructed because it eventually would be under Neely Henry Lake, said Evans-Smith.

There was also an effort by some area residents – among them Brannon’s husband, Charlie (now deceased), Margaret Green of Ashville and Junior Dover (now deceased) of Ohatchee – and archaeologists to find and preserve as many artifacts as possible. Some archaeological activities focused on the Lock 1 area where Green and her parents lived.

“When I was a little girl living at Lock 1, I can remember going to what my father called ‘the bottoms.’ This was land that lay beside the river bank,” said Green, who has researched the Greensport area history and chronicled steamboat travel on the Coosa. “… It was not unusual to find arrowheads down on the bottom land. As we picked up these arrowheads, my father would tell me stories of how my grandfather used to plow that land, and human bones or pieces of broken pottery would be turned to the surface. I think it must have been such a common occurrence every spring when the fields were plowed, and no one thought about the significance. In the early 1960s before Neely Henry Dam was built, and the bottom land was flooded, a team of graduate students from the University of Alabama’s archaeology department came to the area and unearthed several Indian skeletons.”

Runner, lock 3 Dam

Humphries said his brother-in-law, Norman Henderson, helped to build the dam. While moving dirt with equipment at the upper end of Wood Island (above Lock 3 on the St. Clair side), Henderson also uncovered graves of Native Americans.

“(Wood Island) was actually a huge trading post (for Native Americans) at one time,” said Humphries, whose knowledge of the Coosa River and the area’s history is extensive. The site had also been a natural ford.

Wood Island, part of the Ten Island series, had been a settlement for Creek Indians, notes Natasha Reshetnikova, in the March 23, 2013, article A magnet for civilization, exploration, conflict on Alabama Power’s Alabama NewsCenter website. Ten Island also held strategic significance in the Creek War and Civil War and was in proximity to Fort Strother, built in 1813.

Like any other massive project, the dam’s construction piqued curiosity and people wanted to see what was happening at the site.

Joan Ford of Ragland and friends would go past the barricades and sneak up for a close look at the work and the huge machinery. “We had a front-row seat,” she said.

Her husband Jack reminisced about seeing large encirclements that were being pumped dry of water for drilling to be done.

And of course, there were stories to share about what was seen, heard or experienced.

Mike Goodson, in History Revisited posted Sept. 27, 2009, on The Gadsden Times’ website, relates a fish tale that circulated. “The divers who worked on … the Neely-Henry Dam at Ohatchee surfaced with stories about giant catfish as large as a man on the murky bottom of the Coosa River.”

Preparing for the lake’s arrival

While the dam was being built, a teenaged Kenneth Swafford undertook a building project of his own, anticipating the fun that would ensue when Lake Gadsden (on the Coosa) deepened.

“I was building a homemade, pontoon boat,” said Swafford, who lives in Rainbow City. “I was just 14 or 15, building my own boat.” The vessel sported a 9.5-horse power motor and pontoons of 55-gallon drums lined with resin.

Boats were an infrequent sight on the Coosa at that time, and when they did appear, they were usually fishing boats, Swafford said. His pleasure boat would surely be a novelty.

Launches and marinas also were few, which limited access to the river, said Steven Baswell, mayor of Ohatchee.

When the dam went into service, what a time of excitement that was.

Phifer, then 18, and his dad went to see – by boat – the dam in operation when it was only a few days old. They found themselves among others watching with great interest from the water.

“That was very memorable,” Phifer said. “That was very fascinating.”

This new dam and the lake it created quickly transformed the landscape, changing communities, travel and the way people regarded the river.

 Those who witnessed this metamorphosis said property owners subdivided their land and sold lots for riverfront homes. Property values increased. Marinas, launches, docks and piers were built. Businesses in the vicinity added bait and tackle to their inventory. The river became a popular destination for recreation. Before long, fishing tournaments were being held, drawing anglers from other areas.

The number of boats on the river was ever increasing. “Nowadays, it’s just covered up with boats,” said Phifer.

Added Swafford, “They’re out there night and day, winter and summer.”

With the dam in service, the Coosa River’s level rose. The water became clearer, and fish grew larger in size and number, said Phifer.

He attributed the increase in size and number of fish to two factors. One is that Alabama Power had left some trees that, when covered by water, offered a great habitat for fish. (The trees became a hazard to people and water vessels, an issue that later had to be addressed.) The other is that the nutrients from recently submerged parcels of land seemed to have a positive effect on the fish.

“It really changed this river system when it was put online in 1966. … It was a totally different ecosystem,” said Phifer, who is knowledgeable about the Coosa River environs. He later worked for Alabama Power and, with company support, began in 1999 what would become the Renew Our Rivers cleanup project.

The fact that the river’s water was no longer free-flowing meant anglers had to adjust to stillwater fishing.

“It changed fishing so much that my dad quit fishing (commercially) because he had to go fishing in still water and didn’t know it as well,” said Humphries.

As for travel, Alabama 144 traversed the dam and provided constant access between Ragland and Ohatchee, unlike the ferry services on which people had to depend previously, Baswell said.

This advantage increased traffic into and out of Ragland, said Ford, who served a term as the town’s mayor.

Although its primary function was as a hydroelectric power plant, the dam also became an attraction, a museum and a classroom all in one.

Evans-Smith said some relics found in the vicinity during construction were put on display at the dam for a while.

Ford, who was an educator for three decades, took years of students on field trips to the dam. “Going down under the dam was exciting for them.”

Jerry Sue Brannon got to go into the operations room with husband Charlie, an Alabama Power employee, to watch the dam produce what Charlie called “good, cheap electricity.”

Regarding the Ten Island series, Wood Island had been incorporated into the dam and all the remaining islands, except the top of Rock Island, were covered with lake water, states the Reshetnikova article.

Alabama Power now maintains Ten Island Park, an outlet for swimming, pier and bank fishing, boat launching, hiking, birding and picnicking.

“It ended up, it was the best thing because it generates a lot of energy,” Humphries said of the dam.

Though much history is concealed underneath the lake, one nugget revealed itself in 2007, affording Humphries a rare find.

While walking on Janney Mountain on the Calhoun County side of Lock 3 during drought conditions that had lowered the water level, Humphries spotted three fish weirs that Native Americans had used to trap fish.

So excited he was to see that bit of history before him that he immediately got the camera his wife used for photographing weddings and documented his find … in drizzling rain!

Additional assistance with this article provided by Penny Owens (Town of Ragland); Will Mackey (The Chamber, Gadsden-Etowah County); Hugh Stump (Greater Gadsden Area Tourism); and Karin Cosper (Town of Ohatchee).



Watson said, “the large concrete structure with the fisherman is the north half of dam 5, looking back at Talladega County. This did not go across to St. Clair, only part of the way.”

More about the fifth dam

Photos submitted from Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson
By the time construction commenced on H. Neely Henry Dam in the early 1960s, the quest to improve navigation on the Coosa River was nearing its 100-year mark.

During the first 48 of those years, some projects were completed to make the Coosa River navigable south of Greensport in St. Clair County. In a previous edition of LakeLife 24/7®, an article stated that three locks and the dam for a fourth lock were constructed before Congress stopped appropriating funds for the project.

However, information has been received since, showing more work actually was done.

The publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects, states: “Under various Congressional authorizations, six government projects had been completed on the Coosa River by 1918. They consisted of the lock portions of Locks 1, 2 and 3 completed in 1890, Lock 4 and dam completed in 1914, Mayo’s Bar completed in 1915, and dam only No. 5 in 1918. Their continued operation was not justified, so in 1920, the Chief of Engineers reported to the Secretary of War his opinion that the whole existing project should be abandoned due to lack of commercial use.”

Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson took photos in 1963 before Neely Henry Dam was built to record what it was like before the lake was created.

Islands in our streams



Some might call it a universal orientation. If you’re a newcomer or visitor to the lake boating with a seasoned lake dweller, you have likely been on a tour of the most notable islands of Logan Martin Lake.

And if you have, you know that island hopping on Logan Martin is as educational as it is fun, compelling you to do likewise for the next newcomer to the lake.

Come along on our own version of the tour:

Island hopping on Logan Martin

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by David Smith

PIRATE ISLAND

Perhaps the most well known of the islands is Pirate Island. That’s probably because the tiny island owned by Jim and Laurie Regan of Pell City have been welcoming guests for years.

On weekends and holidays, it is surrounded by boats that anchor nearby. The island is as inviting as an old friend. The tropical scene is complete with beach, palm trees, pirate flag, fire pit, hammock and a treasure chest full of goodies for the kids. Its shallow waters in the immediate vicinity make it ideal for boaters to cool off on a hot, summer day. And you can’t miss the gangs of children wading through the water to get to the island … and the treasure chest.

The chest is full of colorful Mardi Gras beads and other treasures for kids to find on their island paradise, and Jim has been known to sprinkle gold coins around the water’s edge for the kids to ‘discover.’ Shrieks of pure joy are sure to follow.

Laurie bought the island for Jim as a birthday present, and they have been ‘hosting’ guests ever since.

Don’t let its size – 75 feet by 50 feet – fool you. It’s the biggest attraction on the lake.

BIG BIRD OR HERON ISLAND

Big Bird Island

It goes by Big Bird Island and sometimes, Heron Island, aptly named for its inhabitants. Just down from Pirate Island,

treetops above, shoreline below and branches all in between are filled with Great Blue Herons, little Green Herons and Snowy Egrets.

Circle the island a little closer, and you might mistake the cacophony of squawking sounds as audio from Jurassic Park. But don’t worry, according to AllAboutBirds.org, the website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it’s understandable. Great Blue Herons are “the most vocal on breeding grounds, where they greet their partners with squawking roh-roh-rohs in a landing call when arriving at the nest.”

Snowy Egrets are beautiful, graceful, small and white. They aren’t all that rare, although the species was threatened in the 19th century when they were slaughtered for their plumes. When they became protected, they grew in great numbers and are now extremely common.

If they are there, you’ll find little Green Herons at the edge of the water, crouching to surprise a fish, All About Birds explains. Their “daggerlike bill” is used to “snatch” them. For bait, they use twigs and insects.

Some days, it can mirror a busy airport with birds soaring all around – coming in for a landing or taking off.

GOAT ISLAND

Goat Island

It’s easy to guess how Goat Island got its name. It, too, was named for the island’s inhabitants. The island lies just off the main channel in front of a row of homes in the Pine Harbor and Riviere Estates area.

Years ago, residents placed goats out there to keep the island clean naturally and maintain an aesthetic view of the water without overgrowth blocking the scenery. That’s how they earn their keep.

It’s a landmark around these parts and a popular  destination point for newcomers and old timers alike.

SCHOOL BUS ISLAND

School Bus Island

Within view of Logan Martin Dam lies an island 150 feet long and 50 feet wide saved from ruin by a band of lake ‘do-gooders’ and Alabama Power Co.

On a map, it’s called Grissom Island. On the water, longtime locals call it by the moniker, School Bus Island, because an abandoned school bus was left behind on the visible strip of land when the lake was created in 1965. The school bus isn’t there anymore, having been lost in a flood,  but the name stuck.

David Smith, who lives nearby, noticed that year after year, the island was gradually disappearing. Erosion was taking its toll, so he contacted Alabama Power Company’s Shoreline Management team to see what could be done. Dock builder Fred Casey of Tradesman Co., also a community-minded soul, offered help.

According to Alabama News Center, Casey and company installed 225 tons of riprap, and the shoreline management team stabilized the island. In addition, they created a beach area and left a small inlet so boaters could anchor nearby. And by 4th of July 2018, the lake community celebrated saving the island along with the country’s birthday.  

THE CLIFFS OR THE ROCKS

The Cliffs

It’s not exactly an island. It’s more of a massive point on the main channel near Lincoln Harbor, but it’s a gathering spot and attraction all in one. Some call it The Cliffs. Others call it The Rocks. No matter what you call it, it’s one of Logan Martin’s many attractions. Its ledges are a traditional jumping off spot for the more daring while boaters gather down below to watch.



Buck’s Island

History, fun define islands on Neely Henry

Story and photos by Graham Hadley

Submitted photos

When the waters rose along the Coosa River behind Neely Henry Dam, they created a beautiful winding lake dotted with numerous islands.

Ranging from small marshy patches of grass just poking out of the water to wooded tracts large enough to build on, these islands help define lakelife on Neely Henry and are used for everything from duck hunting to residential waterfront neighborhoods that resemble seaside resort communities.

David Partridge, who is one of the owners of Ski World in Gadsden and who grew up on the river, knows many of the islands, most of which are owned by Alabama Power and generally not open for public use, he said. Most of the remaining islands, with a few notable exceptions are in private hands and are also not available to the public except during special events.

But that does not mean the Alabama Power islands don’t get used – there are rules, he said. The areas around many are shallow and good for fishing, especially bowfishing. And the larger wooded ones are great spots for duck hunting – with the caveat that you cannot set foot on dry land.

“You can tie up to a log or stand in the water along the shore. But the minute you set foot on dry land, you are considered to be trespassing. At least that is the way the game warden explained it to me,” he said.

Partridge is especially fond of one, tiny island near the boathouse he uses. “My favorite island is about as big as my boat and has just one tree on it,” he said, noting that, after a day on the lake, he knows he is close to his dock when he spots it on the east side of the lake near Keeling Bend.

KEELING ISLAND

Keeling Island

Now not much more than a raised mound of grass, Keeling Island splits the  channel near Meadowood Road and Clokey Drive. Partridge said the island used to have a ridge of timber down the middle, but it was clear cut.

Now barely out of the water, the island poses a potential navigation hazard, especially to people new to the lake.

A large sand bar extends south from the island.

WHORTON BEND

Whorton Bend

By far one of the largest islands on the river, Whorton Bend on the west side of the Coosa is owned by local families and accessed by privately maintained bridges. Parts of the island are landscaped and mowed.

According to the Clokey Family, which owns some of the island and adjoining shoreline property, this island is where Hernando de Soto crossed the Coosa. The island has been used by the community for the Haunted Halloween event for area children. This is a private island and not open for public use, though the south side of the bend used to be a popular anchoring and socializing spot in the 1980s and 1990s, Partridge said.

He does recommend the shallows on the other side of the end of the bend for bowfishing.

Immediately across the lake from the south tip of the island in Glencoe is a cliff in a former rock quarry. People used to jump from the rocks into the lake before a large private residence was built on the top of the cliff.

FIREMAN’S ISLAND

Fireman’s Island

Also located on the east shore near Whorton Bend is Fireman’s Island. Partridge said the property is said to be owned by a group of first responders who use it as a recreational getaway.

The island has a large, covered pavilion and lights, and like most of the other islands, is not open to the public.

PARTY ISLAND

Party Island

Further south from Bucks Island is one of the few islands that sees regular public use. Partridge said the island is referred to as Party Island, located on the east side of the Coosa in Southside.

The area is a popular anchorage and social gathering spot, especially on weekends.

Like most of the islands on the lake, it is not officially named on charts. But on weekends and holidays, travelling south from the Highway 77 bridges and Bucks Island, it is hard to miss the gathering of recreational watercraft.

BUCK’S ISLAND

Buck’s Island

One of the most notable islands on Neely Henry is Buck’s Island in Southside on the east bank, just south of the Alabama 77 bridges.

The property was originally the location of Buck’s Island  Marina – where they housed and serviced boats. The land, both on the shore and the accompanying island, is covered with bright beach-style homes, complete with a red and white lighthouse.

A prominent sign in the inlet next to the lighthouse lets people know they have arrived at Buck’s Island and kindly reminds people it is a no-wake zone.

The marina business was relocated to 4500 Alabama 77, Southside, and continues to do a thriving business in all things related to the water, from kayaks to boats to apparel.

TEN ISLAND PARK

Ten Island Park

Not islands any more, but still worth mentioning is Ten Islands Park, on the west side of Neely Henry, just north of the dam.

The historical park is named for a Civil War skirmish – commemorated with a historical marker. The park is accessed by road or water and is part of the Alabama Birding Trails. There is a sand beach, pavilions and observation platform and more.


Partridge again pointed out that though the islands along the Coosa River and Neely Henry Lake are numerous, almost all are either owned by Alabama Power or in private hands and are not generally open to public use.

However, those areas are especially good for fishing, bowfishing and duck hunting, but he recommends checking with the local game warden and Alabama Power before setting foot on any of the islands to be sure you are not trespassing or breaking any other local or state laws.

And a good chart of the lake is a must – some of the islands are barely visible above the water and can pose serious avigation hazards. Because Neely Henry is an artificial lake, water depths, especially near islands, can change drastically in just a short distance.

Fly fishing on the Coosa



All Frank Roden needs is a tie, a fly fish rod and a creek

Story by Paul South
Photos by Wallace Bromberg, Jr.

“Fly fishing is to fishing as ballet is to walking.”

– Howell Raines

“Once you’re a fly fisherman, you’re always a fly fisherman.”

– Frank Roden

From the trout streams of the Great Smoky Mountains to the waters fittingly known as Frank’s Slide at Crow’s Nest Pass in Alberta, Canada, and from Flaming Gorge, Utah, to the tarpon runs in the warm waters of the Florida Gulf Stream, Frank Roden has a trademark.

In the fly-fishing family, he’s “the guy with the tie,” a Windsor-knotted nod to a simpler, more elegant time when fly fishermen dressed to fish like a deacon off to church and before the abomination of “business casual.”

The tie story began when Roden, a 66-year-old Rainbow City auctioneer, furniture salesman and fly-fishing instructor for the iconic Orvis brand, was stalking brown trout in a Smoky Mountain stream. While helping an older angler who struggled to tie a fly on his line, Roden struck up a conversation.

“I miss the days when people used to really dress for fly fishing to the extent of some of us wearing ties,” the older man said.

 “I didn’t grow up in those days,” Roden replied. ‘But you know, that’s not going to come back unless we start.’ So I started putting a tie on every time I go trout fishing, and he does the same thing. People have gotten to now where, they say. ‘You must be Frank. We’ve heard about you’, and your tie.

Frank Roden, ready
for a day on the water

“To me, it adds not only the opportunity to stop and talk to somebody because they’re inquisitive. I ran into a fella who said, ‘You’re the best dressed fisherman out here.’ It just opens the door up to conversations and getting to meet people. And you might run into people and end up having dinner together.”

And that leads to the hearing and telling of some outrageous fish stories.

“Some, if they caught as many fish as they said they did, it’d sink the boat,” Roden says.

Roden’s own fly-fishing tale began for him at 13 in some unlikely places – in front of the flicker of a television screen and in a combination Conoco gas station and tackle shop on Highway 77 in Southside.

Roden’s father owned a body and fender shop, where Roden worked on weekends. At lunchtime each Saturday, his Dad would let him run home to watch the ABC outdoor show, American Sportsman. A particular episode featured legendary broadcaster Curt Gowdy fly fishing with an icon of the sport, Lee Wulff.

“That summer, I found a fly-fishing rod. A local shop had a rack full of them. I was having to work to earn my money, and it took me most of the summer to earn the money for the rod and reel.”

Until he had enough money, Roden would go to the service station and watch the rod, tucked among other tackle on the rack, making sure no one bought his coveted fly rod. At one point, he asked his dad for a loan to buy the rod. That is where he learned a life lesson.

“Pop said, ‘You don’t spend it ’til you earn it.’

“I kept working that summer and finally got enough money for my fly rod. I went to the shop and pulled out my wadded-up dollar bills and change, laid them on the counter, I didn’t even know what sales tax was. I just knew how much was marked on the rod.”

 Roden remembers only the first name of the man behind the counter – James.

“James said, ‘You took my last rod, you might as well take this’ and put a net on the counter. I was trying to whisper, so that nobody else would overhear that I was broke. I wouldn’t take it. He convinced me to take it. Then he reached and pulled a card of flies off the wall. And laid those down and did the same thing.

“Every Saturday afternoon after that, I’d run up to his shop, take a broom and sweep or run errands, whatever he needed. The afternoon after I got my rod, I went to the lake near home, and I caught 18 bream in an afternoon, and I was hooked ever since.”

Fly fishing is in the midst of something of a revival on the waters of Neely Henry and Logan Martin and the streams of Etowah and St. Clair counties. Places like Big Canoe Creek, Black Creek, Cold Creek upstream and Big Wills Creek. The City of Gadsden has created a winter trout fishery in Black Creek at Noccalula Falls Park, and the city is even promoting fly fishing as part of a tourism push.

He calls Neely Henry and its companion streams “a wonderful venue for fly fishing.”

“There’s a number of streams from the Leesburg Dam to the Ohatchee Dam in the Neely Henry Reservoir. All of these creeks that you run into are good for fly fishing. They all should be explored.”

He had particular praise for the City of Gadsden and its efforts.

“Boy has that been good. It’s been great. We should give them a lot of credit for what they’re doing and for putting the winter trout fishery in.” Greater Gadsden Area Tourism has done a lot to promote the fly fishing here.”

He added a few tips: “On the Coosa River system, what I do, is I look for familiar structure. I will ease along the shoreline and look for fish bedding along the shorelines. I look for busting fish out on the water, nervous water or funneling birds that come down. I’m hunting these fish as much as I’m fishing.”

Roden is like an angling detective probing for clues that will lead him to his catch.

“I’ll tell you what the names of the streams are, but I won’t tell you what rock to stand on. If I tell you what rock to stand on, the mystery is solved.”

Roden is one of the local fly-fishing revival’s chief evangelists. For him, fly fishing is more than a sport.

Fly rod display at his shop

“It’s more than fishing. It becomes a way of life. This is something that’s going to travel with you throughout life. You may lay that rod down. Twenty years from now, somebody may mention fly fishing and you’ll say, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m a fly fisherman.’ Once you are a fly fisherman, you’re always a fly fisherman.”

It’s a sport that demands patience. Like game hunting, fly fishers have to stalk their prey, matching artificial wet and dry flies to local insects that are food for the fish. As Roden puts it, “You have to match the hatch.” Too, it’s about the cast, the drift, the current, hooking the fish properly and on and on. It is a deliberate sport, where ample patience is as important as an accurate cast.

And then there are the stories. Fish stories, it seems, are as old as Jonah in the Old Testament, tales told on back porches and at dinner tables. Frank Roden loves it all.

 “I get carried away listening to ’m because most of them have enough truth in them to sound real.”

In one of his stories from a trip to Canada, Roden was in the zone, catching fish regularly. Nearby, two other anglers struggled, with little to show for their efforts. Ever the sportsman, Roden swapped places with his new acquaintances.

He began where he left off, still catching fish. When his friends asked his secret, Roden had a simple response.

“It may be the tie, guys. I don’t know.”

Editor’s Note: For fly fishing instruction or more information on fly fishing locally, visit the Rainbow City Auction and Fly Shop Facebook page, the Rainbow Fly Fishing Club Facebook page, email rauction@gmail.com or call Frank Roden at 256-490-5450.

Little Bridge Marina and Barbecue returns

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Graham Hadley

When fire swept through Little Bridge Marina and Barbecue in October 2020, folks thought the place would go out of business. They didn’t count on the ingenuity of owners Craig Inzer and Curt Vezertzis, who simply renovated the building next door and started over. They ended up with a place that’s bigger, brighter and has great views of the marina. In other words, they pulled a phoenix out of the ashes.

“It was a total loss,” says Inzer of their fire-ravaged former space. “Now we’ve been in business since April 10 in the new building, which really has a totally different feel and vibe. We have 75 seats in-house instead of 30 and outdoor seating with shade. It’s all glass, so we have one of the best views on Neely Henry.”

Little Bridge Barbecue and Marina were born in 2014 when Inzer and Vezertzis, who grew up together, purchased Rainbow Marina and the old Bait Shack, at the corner of Wharton Bend Road and Highway 77, along with some land across the street. Their intention was to do a little bit of work and lease the buildings. They knew it would be a good investment because there wasn’t much commercial waterfront property left on Neely Henry.

“Curt and I grew up on the river,” Inzer says. “We’ve known each other forever.” Something interesting happened while they were renovating the existing buildings, however. People kept coming by and banging on the doors wanting ice, food, drinks and gas. “We decided if all these people needed these things, maybe there’s a need for a marina store here,” Inzer says.

Tie up your boat and walk on in

Just in time for the 2014 Riverfest, they filled up the gas tanks and started Little Bridge Marina, which quickly evolved from a hole-in-the-wall to a full-blown marina and barbecue restaurant. “From that point on we covered all the boating needs and were a seven-days-a-week barbecue place, too,” Inzer says. They were geared toward river traffic at first, but soon realized that a lot of folks who had been there before them couldn’t make it year-round because river traffic drops off in the fall. “We knew the food was what was gonna carry us through the winter,” Inzer says.

Business was booming for five years, then COVID-19 came along. They changed and adapted, going to curbside pickup, and had “enormous” boating traffic because people found they could be on the water during the pandemic instead of being hemmed up together at home. Then, the fire hit, and the business partners were back to square one.

“We owned the building next door, which was a former motorcycle, Jet Ski and four-wheeler shop,” Inzer says. “That’s where our bar and grill was. So instead of trying to rebuild on the existing spot, we renovated that other building and were able to move in and be open for business April 10 of 2021.”

Inzer says the old building was more “hole-in-the-wallish,” with two doors, one window and dim lighting. Seating was family-style with whoever happened to be present at three big tables that accommodated eight diners each. The new place is an open, airy space, holds more people and displays the menu on a big-screen television set. It has views of the marina and the two bridges (Little Bridge and Big Bridge) that connect Southside and Rainbow City, not to mention the bikini-clad boaters who tie up at the pier.

“We have barbecue and daily lunch specials, but we’re known for our smoked turkey,” Inzer says. “We serve ribs and homemade desserts, and we sell beer and wine. Down the road, we hope to have bar drinks back.”

Lunch specials are roasted chicken and meatloaf on Mondays, turkey and dressing on Tuesdays, smoked ham on Wednesdays, roasted chicken on Thursdays and smoked brisket on Fridays. Sides for the specials vary from squash casserole to broccoli casserole and baked sweet potato casserole.

They also serve salads, wraps, stuffed potatoes, smoked sausage, traditional nachos and those with pork or chicken piled on top. They have the traditional barbecue sides of baked beans, potato salad and slaw, along with mac-and-cheese, pasta salad, greens and chips.

Desserts include a rotation of peanut butter pie, strawberry pie, banana pudding and fudge pie.

Vezertzis’ mother works there and uses some homemade recipes from her family cookbooks, such as those for chicken salad, pimento cheese, the casseroles and desserts. “We’re here every day, we cook, we clean, we cater, we bus tables, we deliver,” Inzer says. “We’re open 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays, all year.”

 Being on the river gives Little Bridge a different atmosphere than most restaurants. “Having people come in from two different doors makes it kinda different,” Inzer says. “You can come down from church in your Sunday best clothes and have someone in a swimsuit sitting right beside you. Families come off their boats, having been tubing or whatever. People know us and know who is making their food. We get a lot of repeat customers.”

Sgt. Brandon Guffey and Capt. Clay Johnson of the Southside Police Department are regulars at the place. “It’s a lot better now,” Guffey says, meaning since it re-opened after the fire. “There was no view there (next door), and he has
improved the place a lot.” Johnson agrees.

“I like the atmosphere in here. It’s stress-free, being on the water.” Southside City Councilman John Hatley has a similar opinion. “You can’t beat this view,” he says.

Outside on the dock, Imogene Clay and her husband, Ryburn are relaxing under a canopy, watching the boat traffic. Residents of nearby Buck’s Island, they boat over to Little River Bridge every weekend and sometimes during the week. “We used to get gas here, and we’ll be glad when they get it back,” Imogene says. “They have delicious food, too. I had a Greek salad this week that was really good.”

The owners purchased new gas pumps in February, and as of the middle of May, they were still awaiting delivery. “It will be a card-reader system,” Inzer says. “I’m hoping by June it will be up and running. We’re the only family-owned restaurant on Neely Henry Lake, and we’ll be the only seven-day-a-week place you can get gas on Neely Henry once we get the pumps going.”

Through the pandemic and the fire, Inzer and Vezertzis kept six or seven employees on the payroll, helping with the remodeling. “It’s kinda cool,” Inzer says. “I have some employees who have been with me from the very beginning. We’re like a family. We knew we needed them, and they hung in there with us.”

Once the gas pumps are back, the entertainment side of their business will be revived. “We had live music Thursday-Saturday nights,” Inzer says. “It was in a separate building, but now it will be in the same place as the restaurant. We want it to be where you can come up and hang out with the guys or come in with the kids and listen to music.”

Bassmaster Elite Series

Landing big returns for Neely Henry Region

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by David Smith and submitted photos

When it comes to defining success stories, Greater Gadsden Tourism Executive Director Hugh Stump can sum it up in a  four-letter word – bass.

With the Whataburger Bassmasters Elite Series now in the history books as Neely Henry’s first, Stump is all smiles. And why not? “It was a phenomenal success. No question about it,” he said.

The report from Bassmasters is that on the web, live and video streaming, the Elite Series on Neely Henry was “the most watched ever,” including Guntersville, which has hosted four Elite Series and is six times as large an area and has a higher profile reputation. “It really blew us away,” Stump said.

Because of a spring flood on the lake, it delayed opening day by a day, so the weigh-in was on Monday rather than Sunday, but Stump said the extra day did not seem to deter participation. “We had 1,500 people at the weigh-in on a workday,” he said. “It took everyone by storm. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

The City of Gadsden partnered with Tourism to make it happen, with both entities investing a sizable financial stake. “The return was well worth it,” Stump said, noting that fishing from Coosa Landing already has a $10 million annual economic impact on the region, and that does not include fishing

tournaments from other ramps in the area. “We can’t do it without the city’s help.” From the financial investment to logistics and labor, the city was a perfect complement in the partnership and is poised to reel in the benefits.

A good regional tournament, he explained, brings in about $100,000 to $250,000 per weekend. With the national exposure the Elite brought to Neely Henry – television, social media, live streaming and web traffic – Neely Henry is on the map.

The anglers especially “loved the Coosa spotted bass. They said it was a 1.5-pound fish that fought like an 8 pounder. They called it the fight of their bass lives. They liked that everything was close by – shopping lodging, restaurants within miles of the ramp,” which bodes well for return visits.

The $100,000 prize offered plenty of incentive for the pros to want to come back, too.

“Hotels, businesses and restaurants did great,” Stump noted. “It hit all the check marks. It brought people in, got national TV and social media attention. More than 5 million minutes of video was viewed on Bassmasters Live.

Catching fish on Neely Henry is the name of the game. Now we’re known for catching fish.”

The Elite Series was able to “highlight Neely Henry to a national audience, and that was our intent,” Stump said. “We’re getting the word out that there’s good fishing here.” A lot of local anglers tuned in, too. The winning catch was 16.5 pounds, the same as everyday anglers.

While the Elite Series was a first for Neely Henry, its partnership with BASS is not. For the past few years, Stump and Tourism have been working with BASS, and Neely Henry was able to land a Bassmasters Open, which brought in 172 boats and 300 anglers. “It’s the second to top tier of the BASS line of tournaments. The Elite is the top.” 

The Open had other advantages besides the numbers it lured to the area. With the Open, there is no ‘off limits’ time as in the Elite. Anglers came in 10 days before the tournament and spent the week here, pumping additional money into the  economy.

The future continues to look good for Neely Henry and the impact of bass fishing. Just ask Wes Logan of Springville, the Elite Series winner who has fished the lake since he was 5. He already thought the fishing on Neely Henry was good. After pocketing his winnings, he now has 100,000 more reasons to know it’s true.

Wake Surfing



Up-and-coming sport making a splash on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes

Story and Photos by Graham Hadley

Want to catch the perfect wave, but don’t have time to go to a beach with decent breaks?

Look no farther than the Coosa River.

For the past few years, surfing enthusiasts have been taking to the water behind specially designed ski boats that allow them to literally surf on the lakes.

Gadsden City High School student Jackson Sparks says different boards ride differently.

This is not the old tow-behind surfing from the 1970s and 80s – there is no towing involved.

The boats are built so they throw enormous wakes, similar to the waves you see at the ocean. Some boats achieve this through filling special tanks in the hull with water. Others have large, heavy water bags put in the back.

This causes the boat to “plough” through the water instead of riding up on plane and making those wave-like wakes.

Unlike regular tow-behind water sports like skiing or wake boarding, once a surfer gets up out of the water and starts carving the wake – usually only feet from the back of the boat, they drop the rope and are moving along solely by riding the wave, just like in the ocean.

The boards look something like a cross between a wake board and a scaled-down traditional surf board and are light and easy to handle.

Because of the shape of the board and the dynamics of riding the wake, it is much easier to get up and going on a wake surfer than on skis or wake boards, said David Partridge, one of the owners of Ski World in Gadsden.

He was also quick to point out that wake surfing is much easier on the body that some of the other tow-behind water sports largely because the boat is going so slow, maybe 9 mph, ploughing through the water to generate the wave.

“We get people out here of all ages, teens all the way up to older people. It is really easy to do and a lot of fun,” he said. “Wake surfing is an all-age thing.”

You start out in the water a couple of yards behind the tow boat with a short but otherwise traditional ski rope, laying back in the water with the board sideways and your feet braced on the pad. As the boat starts, you literally pop out of the water and immediately try to find the sweet spot on the wake.

As the boat speeds up, the wake becomes much more wave like. The rider starts letting the momentum riding down the face of the wake carry them along, just like a traditional wave at the beach. Once they hit that spot, they drop the rope and are surfing the perfect wave. And unlike the beach, where the waves eventually peter out – you can ride a boat-generated wave as long as you can stay up.

Ski World co-owner David Partridge talks to boat driver Austin Young about how the boat rides to create the wavelike wake.

You don’t ever have to have surfed a real wave to take up wake surfing – it has an easy learning curve, Partridge said. The big trick to getting up on the board and staying on the board – there are no bindings like with skis or wakeboards – is not to drag your rear-end in the water.

Dragging in the water like that is a “hard no” said Austin Young, who was driving the boat for the wake surfing demonstration, with Jackson Sparks showing off his skills on two different boards, one designed more for speed and the other with mobility in mind (like regular surfboards, the number of fins and length have a lot to do with that).

Young’s boat used the internal ballast system, pumping in water from the lake to make the boat heavy enough to generate a wave. He was also quick to show off his Star Trek looking gauges at the helm, which gave him every piece of information he needed to run the boat and give his rider a great wave to surf.

Wipeout: All good rides must come to an end.

Partridge, whose shop sells ski supplies but not boats, said watercraft like that can easily top $200,000, though less expensive options are available that use the heavy external ballast bags you lay down in the aft boat cabin instead of internal systems.

Partridge, Young and Sparks agreed that while wake surfing is easy and a great water sport for all ages, safety is still paramount. You need a proper boat rigged with the right gear, safety ski vests, enough people to drive and spot, and to follow not only lake boating laws, but to show common courtesy to other boaters and property owners – especially since the surf boats are throwing wakes with heights measured in feet.

Check out our story from Discover The Essence of St. Clair about the wakeboarding judge and his wife on Logan Martin, complete with video.

Catching the Coosa

By Zeke Gossett

On Logan Martin

Getting into the dead heat of summer can cause some challenges when it comes to trying to catch a bass on Logan Martin Lake.

During the month of July, you can still find some bass out deep, but as we move into the month of August, do not look over the shallow bite.

As we move through the month of July and into August the water can be its hottest it has been all year. This is when the transition starts from fish moving from out deep back to the shallows due to lack of oxygen.

To start out in the mornings, I will generally use a squarebill crank bait around docks and rip rap. I’m generally trying to cause a reaction strike from fish that might not want to eat, and a squarebill does a good job at this.

As the day progresses, I will look for shade. This shade can be either from docks or overhanging trees. Usually around the docks, I prefer some type of finesse jig or shaky head.

For the overhanging trees I go with a hollow body frog. This time of year, some fish can be sitting a lot shallower than you think. It will be tough but when you get a bite, it’ll be more than likely a better fish.

On Neely Henry

Neely Henry is going to fish similararly to Logan Martin this time of year. One main difference is that I would target more water willows in the morning with the frog.

Sometimes, this bite can last all day if the conditions are right. The squarebill can still come in handy when passing by some riprap or an isolated stump in the water.

Once the sun comes up, I like to target shallow brush in and around piers with the finesse jig and shaky head. These fish can be sitting anywhere between a foot to seven-feet deep.

Lastly, keep an eye out for schooling fish this time of year. A lot of bait balls will start cruising the surface of the water column, and you can pick these fish off with a small swimbait. I like to keep this swimbait on a spinning rod with small braid in order to make a long cast to fish that might come up way out from the boat.

Keeping it simple is important to having success this time of year. It will be tough, but try some of these techniques and you will find some success.

Catching the Coosa



By Zeke Gossett

On Logan Martin

The months of May and June can be some of the most fun on catching numbers of fish on Logan Martin Lake.

The fish are typically coming off bed and are starting their transition to offshore places, such as deep points, brush piles and roadbeds.

Another trophy

Fish tend to school together on these places and can get in bunches of as many as 50 or 60.

My first choice when the fish pull out to deeper water will be a deep-diving crankbait or swimbait. Around the brush piles, I tend to use some type of soft plastic bait such as a Texas rigged worm or a football jig.

Also, in early May, you can catch the tail end of the shad spawn, which is when water temperatures rise into the upper 60s to low 70s and during the full moon in April and May.

The shad spawn is usually best first thing in the morning around seawalls or grass. You will see the shad flicking on top and rolling on the structure they’re around.

My first two baits I will pick up are either a white buzz bait or white spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades. This bite ends very quickly once the sun comes up but can be some of the most fun if the fish are feeding at that time.



On Neely Henry

Neely Henry Lake has a lot shallower water vegetation compared to Logan Martin. In the months of May and June, I tend to fish a lot shallower on this lake. Fish will most likely be off bed by this time and looking for an easy meal.

The shad spawn has a big impact on this lake as well. The shad tend to spawn on the grass in this lake more.

The two baits I use for the shad spawn on Neely Henry will be a white swim jig or white frog. This bite happens quick but can be super productive for a good morning bite.

Once that bite has gone away, I tend to target these same areas where the shad spawn was that morning. I will slow my presentation way down and go more finesse.

If the conditions are slick calm with no wind, I will target docks near to these areas. My first bait of choice will be a wacky rigged stick bait in a green pumpkin color.

If the wind is still blowing or it is cloudy, I will stay with the white swim jig. Once we get later on into June, the better fish still tend to be shallow. I will flip grass with either a jig or a Texas rigged creature bait.

There are some places fish tend to group up offshore, but this bite has a small window. I would target brush piles in front of piers with a shaky head in order to catch the deeper fish.

Editor’s Note:

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.