OUTDOORS – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

Restock Alabama

Working to preserve our lakes and their legacy for generations

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

For anyone who’s ever wet a line on the Coosa, landing a big bass is the dream. The odds for hooking a trophy fish will improve in a few years, thanks to the work of local boat dealers, private businesses and Auburn University in an initiative called Restock Alabama. Some 50,000 Northern Strain largemouth bass have been added to the fish population.

Lee Holmes, whose family has owned Sylacauga Marine for 64 years, spearheaded the initiative.

Restock Alabama began its work three years ago at Sylacauga Marine, where the Holmes family, several avid anglers and Auburn researchers began to talk about how to improve fishing on the river and its companion lakes.

“We really thought we should be working toward making our lakes better,” Holmes said. “We’re not saying that the lakes aren’t good right now, because they are some of the best in the world. We just want to make them better than they are.”

For Holmes and that core group, it was about more than boosting the fish population. It’s about sustainability for future generations.

The Holmes family may have the oldest marine dealership in the South, he said. “We’re all getting older,” said the 63-year-old Holmes. “We’ve all got kids, and we’ve all got . grandkids. “We just want (businesses and the high quality of life on the river) to continue. We just want to run businesses and continue to make money off the Coosa River; tournaments and people just going fishing and having fun catching fish. Just to sustain the Coosa to do what it has done for us over my lifetime.”

Tournament anglers helped lead the Restock Alabama charge.

“As tournament fishermen, we knew we could do better at taking care of our fish, that we could do better sustaining the lake by doing some restocking,” Holmes said.

The anglers and boat dealers teamed up with the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Phil Boozer at America’s First Credit Union to start. America’s First contributed $5,000 in seed money for the five-year Logan Martin Lake restocking project.

“If you do it five (years), our biologist said you make a big difference,” Holmes said. “If you do it one, you don’t know if you’re making much of a difference or not.”

According to its website (restockalabama.com), the organization is a “community-driven nonprofit focusing on restocking bass in Alabama waters. The Coosa is first on the organization’s agenda. But long term, Restock wants to build bass populations in all of the state’s waterways with a long-term goal of creating a statewide network of restoration efforts.

“This isn’t about one business or one person,” according to the website. “This is about the entire community coming together to protect what we love – our waters, our fish and our future.”

Restock Alabama has no paid employees. Every dollar raised goes to the restocking effort. The organization works with certified fisheries and marine biologists to ensure safe and effective fish population building practices.

In year one, the project released 20,000 fish at a cost of about $17,000, all donated by the original core group.

“Nobody has taken one dollar of Restock money and spent it for anything other than a fish,” Holmes said. “That’s all we spend it on. Every dollar buys a fish”

Other boat dealers – the Lumpkin family at Buck’s Island Marine, Ken Hollis at Airport Marine and Steve Navarre at Wetumpka Marine Electronics – joined the Holmes family effort, along with White River Marine Group and every tournament trail in Alabama to support Restock. Now at tournaments on the trails, each team contributes $10 for Restock at every tournament.

For Holmes, it was an easy sell.

“That worked. All those guys wanted to do it. I did not have to argue with a single one. Now, every tournament trail you can think of in Alabama is collecting that $10 per team for Restock at every tournament.”

High school tournament trails soon followed suit, collecting $5 per team. Now, tournament trails from above Birmingham to south of Montgomery contribute to Restock Alabama.

Major boat brands, Ranger, Triton and Nitro have also joined the effort, contributing $10,000. America’s First has continued to make annual contributions. This year, the organization has raised $45,000.

“We doubled our fish that we were able to put into the lake this year, and we’ll do it again next year,” Holmes said. “That got us up from 20,000 fish to 50,000 in year two. Next year, we’ll do 100,000 fish. American Sport Fish and Auburn contributed fish and expertise.

American Sport Fish, a hatchery that provided the minnows, also made a donation, contributing $11,000 worth of free fish, Holmes said. The company’s hatcheries are located in Alabama and Texas and is one of the largest producers of freshwater fish in the Southeast.

“They’re guiding us down the path of what we should be doing,” Holmes said of American Sport Fish and Auburn University. “That’s why we put in Northern Strain Largemouth.”

Unlike Florida Strain Largemouth, the Northern Strain bass grow faster and thrive in colder waters. Reaching a maximum weight of six to 10 pounds, the fish are aggressive and can thrive in a wide range of habitat, making them a good fit for the Coosa and its lakes. Alabama’s rivers and lakes have long been home to the Northern Strain. There are advantages to hatchery-raised fish.

“It has a lot better genetics in it than one you can get out of the lake that was raised at the lake,” Holmes said. “These are raised to be five-star athletes … and to change Logan Martin into a five-star athlete fish lake.”

Restock Alabama has plans for the entire Coosa River.

“We’re going to do a fish release in conjunction with the City of Gadsden and the Coosa River Team Trail in the fall,” Holmes said. “We’re going to stock Neely Henry again in the fall. We don’t know the number of fish, or the amount of money yet, but we’re going to do a significant stocking there in the fall,” Holmes said.

Lay Lake is benefitting, too. “We’re going to do another one in conjunction with Airport Marine on Lay Lake in the fall. We’re just getting this thing started.”

Restock Alabama is drawing attention statewide. The nonprofit has been contacted by interested parties near the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Huntsville-area lakes.

“This thing is exploding,” Holmes said.

Homes described the anticipated impact of the Restock Alabama effort. “I think it’s going to change the size that fish are weighing in. It may be three to four years before they start showing.”

Holmes hopes that one day, Logan Martin and other Alabama lakes will mirror Lay Lake, long regarded as the best bass fishing lake on the Coosa.

“To this day, Lay Lake is still the premier big fish lake on the Coosa River. It truly is,” Holmes said. “You’ve got to have at least 25 pounds to win a tournament down there. I think you will see Logan Martin go into that category when what we’re doing starts taking effect. It’s also going to give people a better opportunity to just catch fish.”

He added, “At worst, we fed all the fish that were in there – 50,000 minnows the other day – at best 30 to 40 percent of those minnows survive, and we’ve got way bigger numbers of our fish in the future. Either way, you won’t do anything but make it better.”

Beyond trophy fish and bass tournament titles, Restock Alabama is about preserving Alabama lakes and rivers for future generations – a legacy of love of the water and fishing.

Holmes remembers the first fish he ever caught while crappie fishing with his Dad on the Coosa. “I never let go of the pole. I’ve tournament fished all my life. I’ve play-fished all my life. Most of my life, I was on the Coosa River. We just all love the Coosa. My family has made a living on it.

“I just don’t want it to end after I’m gone. I want it here for my son to enjoy and my grandson to enjoy. I want everyone to continue to do what we’ve always done.” l

Editor’s Note: For more information, or to donate to Restock Alabama, visit restockalabama.com.

Lakeside Live

Music festival and more returning to Logan Martin Lake

Story by Paul South
Photos by Strides Media

Tricked-out cars, tasty eats, talented artists, crafts artisans and red-hot local bands return to Lakeside Park this fall for the sixth annual Lakeside Live Musicfest, set for Sept. 19,

The free event that’s a can’t-miss fall festival in the Logan Martin area, also benefits local charities and celebrates veterans and local first responders.

Musicfest Executive Director Casey Cambron is pumped up for another great family-friendly event, which last year drew some 6,000 people, generating about $25,000 for local charities.

“Our goal every year is to donate at least $20,000 to at least one major charity,” Cambron said. “That’s always a goal.”

He added, “We’re going to help as many people as we can. Our goal is to give back to our community where we can have the most impact. We’re going to donate to multiple charities, of course. Last year we donated to nine organizations. Some were charities, some were organizations like (Pell City) Parks and Recreation to help with park upkeep.”

Battle of the Badges a fierce competition

The festival, put on by the nonprofit Five16 Foundation Cambron founded, helps veterans’ groups and child-focused charities as well.

Food and drink, apparel, arts and crafts will be available for sale. Admittance is free, thanks to the generous support of business sponsors, large and small, ranging from Keith Clements and Lakeside Boathouse, Rodney’s Marine and LakeLife 24/7, to committed small businesses like Reba’s Weiner Wagon.

As an aside, Reba’s enters a muscle car in the Lakeside Musicfest car show each year.

“Every time I walked in the door, whether it was a small sponsor or a big sponsor, they were in. The community supports it, and we could not have this show without it,” Cambron said. “All of them tied together makes it great.”

Music for every taste – from country to R&B to rock – will provide the backbeat for the festival. The gates open at 10 a.m.

Popular Birmingham-based band Deputy Five will be the headliner, covering tunes by country legends like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash to Southern rock, like Lynyrd Shynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama.

“We try to have music that hits all the genres that hits home for anybody who comes out,” Cambron said.

As for the festival’s annual car show, some 250 vehicles are expected. Not only does the competition reflect competitors’ pride in their cars and trucks, it also puts community pride on display. The Pell City High School wrestling team helps with logistics of the popular event within an event.

“I’m a car guy. I’ve hosted many, many car shows.” Cambron said. “The car scene really turns out for this event and really, really supports it big. That’s one of the coolest factors of it, seeing a lot of cool cars come out, whether it’s a lifted car or lifted truck, low cars or low trucks to classic cars. It’s all over the place. We raise a lot of money on just the car show side.”

Entry for the car show is $20 per vehicle. It’s a judged show, with 75 or more awards given to winners.

For Denise Olivastri, a member of the Foundation’s board of directors, it’s more than a fun event, it’s a celebration of giving back to the community, supporting local causes in Pell City and across St. Clair County.

“This is more than just a music festival,” she said. “Giving back feels great, because it connects us to something larger than ourselves, and we couldn’t achieve our mission and vision without our generous sponsors, donors, vendors and all (the people) that attend and support us every year.”

And in America’s 250^th year of independence, the festival represents the spirit of Pell City and St. Clair County, Cambron said. A big part of the festival, the annual “Battle of the Badges,” a good-natured competition between police and firefighters, helps build bonds with the community, Cambron said. “Usually in town, most people don’t get to know our police and fire department. It’s usually in a stressful situation. It’s fun to get to know our police and firefighters,” he said. “The people get to know first responders in a positive light.”

To celebrate the nation’s birthday at the same time makes it even more spcial. “As a group, we love our community so much. Two-fifty is a cool number for what we do. We love to support our police and fire departments. We love to support our veterans in the area, whether it’s a big year like this one or not. We really cherish what we have here.”

For Cambron, who’s hosted successful car shows across America, the festival says something about the magic of St. Clair County.

“I myself have been a lot more involved in our community with Chamber (of Commerce) events, with Rotary events, and I’ve started to see that Pell City and St. Clair County are unlike anywhere I’ve ever been,” he said. “Nothing has been as successful as the way I’ve done things in Pell City. I think that’s because in Pell City, there’s a different atmosphere. There’s a larger love for community here than I’ve ever seen anywhere else.”

Cambron defines the tremendous response. “Every year, we hope to have a good turnout, and every year we do. It doesn’t surprise us. It humbles us.”

The mission of Lakeside Musicfest and the Five16 Foundation is simply, “to shine a light in the world,” Cambron said.

The event brings “energy, excitement and hometown pride to Pell City and St. Clair County.” Referencing the mission, Olivastri added, “Events like ours shine a positive light in our city, in addition to generating tourism and encouraging economic activity. It’s a wonderful feeling to see the impact it has.”

Pedaling & paddling

Gadsden gives you more ways to enjoy Neely Henry Lake

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Most days from his house on Neely Henry Lake, while sipping his morning coffee and reading his devotion, Dave Tumlin takes even more comfort in a familiar sight, his neighbors kayaking the glassy calm waters.

Later in the day when four pedal boats at Gadsden’s Coosa Landing – built in the likenesses of a duck, a dragon and two swans – are ready for passengers, Julie Tucker gets ready to smile.

On Neely Henry, there’s a new kayak launch at Coosa Landing, where pedal boats are already wildly popular, giving residents and visitors two more ways to chart a course for fun on the water.

Here’s a gander at each:

A New Kayak and Canoe Launch

For Tumlin, president of the Neely Henry Lake Association, it’s always wonderful at the lake.”

It’s even better when more people are provided with access like the new kayak/canoe launch that includes a new dock. The launch, built in partnership with the City of Gadsden and funded by a grant from the Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) 2025 Waterway Enhancement Program, opened May 4. The ASRT sponsors the Great Alabama 650, America’s longest paddle boat race.

The new Neely Henry launch is the second kayak launch spearheaded by the NHLA. The first was built in 2024 in Rainbow City, a project also funded by a grant from the ASRT.

The launch is located at Coosa Landing, on the east Gadsden side of the Broad Street Bridge.

“There’s a big launching area there,” Tumlin said. “There are a lot of fishing tournaments that work out of that area, as well as people who just want to get out on the lake.”

The site also includes signage that includes QR codes that provide directions, as well as information about ASRT, localities and the NHLA. QR code users also have the opportunity to respond to a short survey and provide feedback.

“It’s really neat to be able to have that convenience now,” Tumlin said.

The NHLA got an unexpected blessing. When the supplier for construction materials learned the association was a non-profit, he gave a discount. The NHLA turned the unexpected windfall over to the City of Gadsden to help offset costs of the new dock at the launch, Tumlin said.

The new launch – and the pedal boats – give residents and visitors an opportunity to take to the water, something they otherwise might not be able to do, Tumlin said. The launch has a lift, making it easier to access the lake for people with disabilities or other mobility challenges.

“Kayaking is a growing sport,” Tumlin said. “The more people you can get out on this water, the better it is. It’s neat to see the paddling sports. It’s eco-friendly. It’s quiet … You’re so close to the water, the shoreline, if you want to be. You’re totally connected.”

Tumlin, a pontoon boat owner whose family has been part of the Neely Henry community since the 1960s, believes the new launch strikes a balance between protecting the environment while at the same time allowing greater access to the lake.

“It’s important to have people out there,” he said. “If you can’t afford a pontoon or any of that other (motorized watercraft), you can do this in a different way that’s less impactful. I love my pontoon … But it’s nice to shut that thing down and just float and get one with (nature). By paddling, that’s a much, much better way to do that.”

A pedal-powered menagerie at Coosa Landing

These ladies are from Ireland and chose to top in Coosa Landing to ride the pedal boats

For the second summer, Coosa Landing is featuring a mini-menagerie of animal-themed pedal boats. For Julie Tucker, administrative supervisor at Gadsden’s growing entertainment district, the small fleet is another source of fun for locals and visitors alike.

“The (boats) are on the same side slough as the kayak lift,” Tucker said. “It’s $20 an hour for the first hour and $15 for each additional hour,” Tucker said. Each boat seats five, but two pedal. Life jackets are required and are provided on site. The boats are available from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. At least one passenger must be 18 or older.

Weather plays a role in pedal boat availability. Winds have to be less than 10 miles per hour. There can be no lightning, thunder or storms in the area.

The boats may be moved to a side slough – on some fishing tournament Saturdays, if the event of an especially large competition. “So far, that hasn’t happened, Tucker said.

The boats were extremely popular in their first year. But powering the boats is “a lot of work,” Tucker said.

“I can’t tell you how many calls we get every day about the pedal boats,” she said. “They are a safe thing to do. We’ve never had one to turn over. For the most part, we have a lot of respect. When a (motorized craft) sees a pedal boat, they try to move away from them and leave them alone. They know it’s just a family having fun.”

The boats have rightly earned rave reviews.

“People see them; they love them. People will see them when they’re driving down the road and come in and say, ‘Hey, what have I gotta do?’ They’ll have fun.”

The pedal boats fit neatly into Gadsden’s plan to turn the city into a fun destination.

“The thing I’ve noticed about Mayor Ford is that he loves to see families have fun,” Tucker said. “He loves to bring in opportunities for families to have fun. He’s all about giving Gadsden something to do. You know, it’s exercise.”

She added, “People love to see these boats going up and down the lake and for Gadsden to have fun things going on.”

Children love the pedal boats. In fact, Tucker’s grandkids are big fans.

“There’s not a kid that comes through here that doesn’t want to ride the pedal boats,” Tucker said.

Tucker’s reward comes in the form of big, toothy grins, the same ones sparked by the ice rink, bumper cars and Christmas tree during Gadsden’s season, or the Lantern Festival at Noccalula Falls, for example.

“It’s almost like a Six Flags ride,” Tucker said. “(Pedal boat passengers) are tired. They’re hot. But they’re smiling. It’s something about being out on the water. It makes everything in your life seem a little bit less severe. That’s something I’ve noticed. There’s something about the water.”

Editor’s Note: For more information about Gadsden’s pedal boats, call 256-549-4677.

For more information about the Neely Henry Lake Association, visit neelyhenrylake.org, or call 256-368-5200.

Coosa River Ramble

A fun day and a better future for our beloved river

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Bob Crisp

As each stroke of the paddle in the first ever Coosa River Ramble brought racers closer to the finish line, it pushed the Coosa River closer to a better future.

It was more than a race. It was a celebration of the Coosa River and the people working to keep it clean, healthy and thriving.

“It benefits our mission to protect the Coosa River and the communities that rely on it,” said Director of Community Engagement Abby Brown.

Logan Martin Lake and Lakeside Park became the destination point for about 60 racers from around the state and out-of-state for this new event to raise funds for Coosa Riverkeeper and its environmental efforts.

Kayakers and paddleboarders took to the waters just beyond the park’s beach, and it drew a cheering crowd of onlookers, fans and family. There were vendors and food trucks and prizes to give away. “It was a great time,” Brown said. “Tons of families came with the racers.”

Of course, it was June in Alabama, so “it was very, very hot, but a beautiful day,” she noted. In addition to cheering sections from the shoreline, residents cheered from docks up and down the race route.

The 24K course took paddlers to Coosa Island Marina and Towboat US and back, quite a trek racers were able to complete in about two hours. Winners captured titles in the 24K, 10K and 5K categories. The 5K and 10K versions were off the main channel near Lakeside Park. A 3K and 5K “fun float” used the same course without the pressure of competition.

The response to this inaugural event was “fantastic,” Brown said, noting that first responder volunteers and volunteers from Honda strengthened the community’s impressive show of support.

Butts to Go donated and served barbecue and trimmings for the racers and volunteers. Gift card prizes came from Dock’s and Daily Bagel. Sponsors and donors not only made the event possible, they helped make it a success story – financially and environmentally.

“We are so thankful for the community engagement,” Brown said. “We hope to continue to engage the paddler community again very soon.”

As part of its priorities, Coosa Riverkeeper patrols five lakes and dozens of creeks to identify and document pollution – and beauty – and keep abreast of what is going on in the river system.

It educates the public about the value of the Coosa River to its community, economy and environment.

Coosa Riverkeeper is a strong advocate for the river and the “thousands of families who rely on it for fun, food, and property value,” it maintains. “A river has a head and a mouth, but it does not have a voice to speak for itself in our classrooms, courtrooms, and town halls.”

That’s Coosa Riverkeeper’s job.

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Coosa Riverkeeper, go to: CoosaRiverkeeper.org.

East Alabama Boat Show

Another year of success for event at Quintard Mall

Story and photos
by Graham Hadley

The East Alabama Boat show notched another successful year as boat dealers filled the Quintard Mall parking lot in Oxford with row after row of a huge variety of watercraft – from WaveRunners to large performance luxury tritoons.

Vanessa and Clyde Keel from Lincoln try out a personal watercraft

The event, sponsored by AmFirst, was held April 10-12, and featured boats from Poor House Branch Marina, Sylacauga Marine and Wedowee Marine, and vendors like Oxford’s Tackle Box.

Organizer Thomas Shelton, who worked with the City of Oxford to make it all happen, credits the success of the boat show to a combination of great location combined with what the boat dealers bring to the table.

“The mall is the perfect location, at the intersection of two highways, plenty room for the boats and parking,” he said. “We try to pick a place for these events that generates traffic for the local businesses. And the mall has all the amenities – restrooms and the food court, plus the arcade and movie theater and other shops. From a family perspective, it made perfect sense. It makes the show a more inclusive event.

“And the folks at Quintard Mall are great to work with. They were very welcoming and really care about their tenants and do what they can to generate traffic for the mall.”

Shelton said, because they have almost no overhead, it is a very affordable show for the boat dealers, vendors and sponsors. “Almost everything they put into the show goes into marketing it. It’s a very effective way to market and a good way for the sponsor and the dealers to get their money’s worth.”

Oxford’s Tackle Box was on hand to show off fishing gear

The show is limited to three dealers with the idea that they bring lots of boats – fishing, ski and wake, pontoons and tritoons, and personal watercraft. Shelton said that works out well because it means those few dealers get all the customer traffic and are much more likely to make sales.

“Because we are so affordable a show, the dealers, for all their work, only have to make a few sales for the event to be profitable for them.”

Shelton, who has a local Alfa insurance agency in Oxford, consults on the boat show and to bring more fishing tournaments to Calhoun County and surrounding areas. He taps into his love of fishing and the water and his experience as a competitive fisherman to help attract the events to the region.

“I am a presenting sponsor for the Alabama Bass Trail, Fishers of Men, Sylacauga Marine Trail and others. In fact, my daughter and I are going to be on the ABT fishing tournament tomorrow on Neely Henry.”

Bringing in big dealers from across the region – Poor House in Talladega County, Wedowee Marine and Sylacauga Marine – is a win-win for the mall and Calhoun County.

Something for everyone: bass boats, wake boats and pontoons

“The show was well attended. The dealers said they were happy with sales, and it drew not only local visitors, but people from Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Auburn and parts of Georgia,” said Cher Dulaney, tourism director for the Calhoun County Area Chamber and Visitors Center.

“It brings traffic to the mall and other businesses and highlights that, with all the renovations, the mall is becoming a lifestyle center for the community. Having something regional in reach going on in the parking lot is great for that.

“Its part of the big picture – attracting more and more people to the area.”

With the latest successful show under his belt, Shelton said he is already looking to next year.

“As long as there is interest, we will continue to host the show here. And we have had a lot of interest.”

Logan Martin Lakefest

Boats, fireworks, music and more

It’s hard to top the year before 16 years in a row, but Logan Martin LakeFest organizers just seem to find a way to do it, year after year.

From its signature in-water boat show to a spectacular fireworks display to stages full of headliner bands and discovered new talent, LakeFest presented by AmFirst keeps it fresh and new each year.

From dozens of lake lifestyle vendors to a palate pleasing lineup of food trucks to the Mates and Mateys Parade and games and rides for the kids, Lakeside Park is transformed into a fun-filled paradise.

Set for May 8-10, the weekend is packed with all kinds of activities designed to lure lake and land lovers alike.

On Sunday, May 10, there will even be free Mimosas for Moms – a special treat for Mother’s Day.

Want to go? Admission is free, and prizes are given away all weekend. You’re eligible just by dropping your ticket into the drawing box. Grand prizes are announced Sunday afternoon.

Proceeds from sponsorships and vendor booth rentals help support Logan Martin LakeFest Charities, a nonprofit organization contributing to other nonprofits around the community.

LakeFest Day 1
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Vendor Setup
2 p.m.: LakeFest open to the public, Live Music, Vendors, Boat Test Drives
Soon after dark (estimated around 8 P.M.): FIREWORKS show honoring veterans from the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home
9 p.m.: LakeFest closes for the evening

LakeFest Day 2
7 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Vendor Setup
10 a.m.: LakeFest Day 2 Open! Live Music, Vendors, Boat Test Drives
9 p.m.: Lakefest closes for the evening

LakeFest Day 3
12 p.m.: LakeFest Day 3 Open!
12 p.m.: FREE Mimosas for Mom and special gift courtesy A.m.First.
3 p.m.: Giveaway winners announced, Live Music!
5 p.m.: LakeFest ends

Oh Sherri Island Pub

New dining by the water options for Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Lake residents often claim that if you live on Logan Martin, you’re lucky enough. Now residents and visitors alike can claim the luck of the Irish, too, as they celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new eatery pub establishment on Coosa Island.

In the location of the former Porky Pirates BBQ and Lakeside Grill, Oh Sherri Island Pub opened its doors just over a month ago. It is the second Oh Sherri location for owners Joel and Diana Wallace, whose original Moody location has been open for four years. A third location is set to open in Ohatchee in the next few weeks.

Blending the traditions of Irish cuisine and libations with the culture of the lakeside community, the new pub establishment will feature community-centered events, live Irish music and dance, and a variety of music by local artists from different genres.

Play games with friends while you wait for your food

“We will have essentially the same menu as our original location but will add a couple of specials for the lake, like shrimp, oysters or crab boil. And we’ll do Shepherd’s Pie, pulled pork sliders and Chicago or New York style hotdogs for boaters who want to get in and out fast,” says Joel. “We also plan to have a steam table with a hot bar where we can get you out quick, if that’s what you want.”

But the real beauty of a traditional Irish pub, the Wallaces say, is the no-rush atmosphere. “We want an atmosphere that if you want to you can just hang out,” says Joel.

Diana, a professor and director of first-year engineering curriculum at UAB, adds that they want their pub to be a place where you come to “decelerate from your day, meet new people, and go back to human interactions. Some restaurants want you to come in, eat, and go. We want you to spend time here.”

Maybe not everyone will know your name, but the Moody location regulars know they are welcome to stay, swap stories, relax and make new friends. New friendships created in the four years that location has been in business have resulted in four couples getting married after meeting each other there.

While that isn’t the model the Wallaces are necessarily going for, it speaks to their emphasis on relationship building through community and conversation.

The pub, which is accessible by water, offers a family-friendly atmosphere during the day and early evening, encouraging friends and families to play board games and cards around the table. Later evening hours are all about relaxing and enjoying the music with friends old and new. “It’s a place where you can come and relax and enjoy each other’s company,” says Joel.

The Wallaces are leasing the Coosa Island property from Matthew Kronen, who also owns the docks. The docks, which can accommodate 21 boats, are in the final stages of being completely rebuilt.

Owners Joel and Diana Wallace on deck at Oh Sherri’s

“We’ve fabricated the steel frames, added new wood and new posts,” says Kronen. “We’ve probably over-engineered it. But it should be ready well before the water comes up.” They’ve also simplified the docking process by removing the large boats and yachts that had previously been moored at the docks.

The Wallaces have renovated the inside, removed the oversized picnic tables and exchanged them for smaller, more intimate and flexible table arrangements. With a small army of volunteers and staff, they’ve redone the walls, seating areas and ceilings, making it feel warmer and more intimate. “We had a lot of help from a lot of people,” Joel said, adding that the goal was to create an authentic Irish pub feel.

Opening an Irish pub was the dream Joel’s dad, Frank Wallace, shared with him. Growing up in Chicago, Joel was close to his father and shared a love of sports, particularly the Chicago Bears. Having lost a sister when she was three years old and before he was born, Joel grew up hearing stories about Sherri, never having known her. When father and son talked about opening a pub, the plan was always to call it Oh Sherri (a nod to her impetuous behavior to which her parents would frequently respond with an exasperated “Oh, Sherri…”)

After coaching men’s soccer for 30 years, Joel opened the Moody pub and named it for his sister. “We’ve always believed that Sherri was our guardian angel,” Joel says. “Her picture will be on the wall of each of our locations.”

Because of his coaching background, Joel admits to running his businesses like a sports team. “We want to be organized and disciplined,” he says. “If things don’t go just right, you adjust as necessary and do the best you can. Honestly, it’s about just being really organized and being honest.”

Joel and Diana have a lot of practice being organized, as a blended family of 12. They have 10 children between them, with four grandchildren under the age of 6. “Speaking of family, we want to be a family-friendly, respectful place,” Joel says. “We know we’ll have to adjust our closing times for the lake. We put family first.”

The Ohatchee pub will be half a mile from Neely Henry dam at the corner of Highway 144 and Highway 77 at the former River Grill location. All three locations will be running St. Patrick’s Day specials throughout March.

A noted Irish Proverb says, “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.” This month, or any month for that matter, we can all be lucky enough to support the new pub on the lake. You can follow them on Facebook at Ohsherriislandpub.a lot of other folks, learn who they are and who their businesses are. If they haven’t been here before, come check us out. If they have, come back and see what’s new this year.”

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show 2026

Lake’s biggest party returns for 16th year

Story by Paul South
Submitted photos

What may be the biggest lake party in Alabama returns for its 16^th edition Mother’s Day weekend.

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show will once again generate funds for charity, while at the same time cooking up a greater sense of community. Over the years, the festival has raised some $500,000 for good causes across St. Clair County.

LakeFest is set for May 8-10 at Pell City’s Lakeside Park. And while there will be some new wrinkles for festival goers this year, the family friendly recipe remains the same – hot live music, tasty food and drink, sleek new boats and a variety of vendors.

Bass boats, personal watercraft, ATVs and more on display

A patriotic spirit flows through the event annually, particularly in this, America’s 250^th year. A Friday night fireworks display will honor veterans from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home.

“Me and the other event producers are just blessed,” said Lakefest Director Eric Housh. “The support we get from the (Pell City) Fire Department, Police Department and the city itself and our wonderful core group of sponsors and other businesses in the community, I won’t say it’s easy to pull off, but it’s not as a difficult as it used to be.”

In cities and towns across the country, festivals come and go. But there’s a secret sauce that’s kept LakeFest rocking for nearly two decades.

“I think from the start, our mission and our purpose was to bring the community together and do something good for the community,” Housh said. “I think once you have a purpose that all your sponsors and everybody affiliated with the event can really buy into, it kind of serves as your North Star.”

As it has been from day one, Lakefest admission is free. For Housh, the event serves as the unofficial kickoff of the summer, prime time on Logan Martin.

“People come out, and they’ve got their lake houses ready. They’ve got their boats ready,” he said. “They’re ready to engage with some vendors and boat dealers and maybe spend a little money and get ready for the summer season.”

For years now, Lakefest has been drawing huge crowds to Logan Martin

Dozens of vendors are expected, including artists and sellers of home goods, apparel, home services and more, tailored to the lake lifestyle. A small fleet of gourmet food trucks are part of the festivities with offerings from popular spots like Moody’s Carpenetti’s New York Style Pizza, Down South BBQ and local taco trucks.

Snacks like fresh boiled peanuts, lemonade and D&W Kettle Corn are just part of the food lineup.

Throughout the festival’s history, the community has always come first. And it has responded. Some 50-60,000 people turned out for last year’s event.

“The community has always been our focus, “ Housh said. “I think that serves us well. Our crowds have always been fantastic and increase every year. We try to do something new and different to keep crowds coming back every year.”

Housh praised the small army of volunteers, led by Judy Carr, Justin Hogeland and Kasey Flurry.

“We’ve just got a good team of folks that have done the event so much,” Housh said. “We know what to look out for. We know how to do different things to keep the public coming back and keep them happy.”

This year, Moms at the festival will get a special Mother’s Day treat – a Sunday mimosa.

The event kicks off on Friday, May 8 at 2 p.m., and continues until 9 that night. The fireworks show will be the culmination of the opening night. Fun resumes Saturday. Gates open at 10 and the festival lasts until 9 p.m. On Mother’s Day, festival hours are from noon until 5 p.m.

A drone’s eye view of festivities at Logan Martin Lakeside Park in Pell City

A Saturday feature is a children’s parade sponsored by Visit St. Clair, where kids dressed as mermaids and pirates can join the fun. Face painting and other fun are in store, too. The “Mermaids and Mateys” parade, patterned after New Orleans’ famous second line jazz parades, is co-sponsored by Coosa Riverkeeper. It will also provide environmental education for the kids.

Live music is a Lakefest tradition, but the lineup of bands – and some other surprises this year – were still being worked out at this writing.

“We’re still kind of cooking that up for this year,” Housh said. “You’ll see some familiar faces this year and probably some new acts as well.”

Lakefest began as a community fundraiser. Back then, the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association was raising funds for a wetlands boardwalk. The LMLPA asked local businessmen Jerry Woods, Lee Holmes, Joe Paul Abbott and Fred Casey if they could help. The men came up with the idea for Lakefest and asked Housh, then a member of the LMLPA board, to help.

“I had some event exposure,” Housh said. “I wouldn’t call it expertise at all. I’d done events before, so they brought me in and let me run with it.”

That inaugural event covered what was needed for the boardwalk and the rest is history.

The first couple of years were held at Horizons, downriver from where the event is now. The festival moved to its current location a couple of years later. Because it was in the Pell City limits, local police and fire were able to pitch in. That made a huge difference.

“That just kicked it into another gear,” Housh said.

Not only is it the largest festival on the lake. Lakefest may be the biggest in-water boat show in the state, if not the Southeast, Housh said.

“As far as pure attendance, I don’t know if there’s a bigger event on the lake in Alabama.”

Despite the large numbers, the festival doesn’t feel crowded.

“Even though it may seem a bit overwhelming, it doesn’t seem crowded at all,” Housh said.

Has the success of the festival been a surprise?

“If you had asked me 16 years ago if I thought I would be doing it in 16 years, I probably would have said no,” Housh said. “I would have thought this is something we would do for four or five years, raise a little money and let the event run its course. But early on, seeing the response of the community, local businesses and entrepreneurs and the city leaders, it became clear to us that this was an event that people valued and wanted to see succeed,”

Housh refuses to take credit for the event’s success. “The success of Lakefest is completely attributable to the buy-in in this community and by the folks that have been our sponsors for the last 16 years.”

The festival’s ability to bring the community together is important, said St. Clair Tourism Coordinator Blair Goodgame. Also, the festival highlights the lake lifestyle.

“Anything where we are able to do to gather our community together is huge,” Goodgame said. “The volunteers, businesses, civic groups, families, when all of those people are coming together, it really shows how special the area is and how special Pell City is.”

She added, (the festival) is one that people just rally around. It creates a shared sense of pride which is what we always want in tourism. We want our locals to tell others where they are and how proud they are about it.”

The proceeds go to helping local charities in Pell City and St. Clair County

Housh and his team earned high marks.

“They do a fantastic job promoting the event,” Goodgame said. “They make sure it’s promoted beyond St. Clair County. What they’ve been able to give back to the community and to local charities is outstanding.”

The attendance and backing combined with the positive feedback affirm that the work is worth it. The nonprofit event benefits charities in the area.

“That’s incredibly rewarding,” Housh said. “When we cut checks, a lot of the charities we help don’t know they’re getting the money. It’s really a blessing to be able to bless those that are giving so much back to our community.”

For Housh, one word best describes the importance of Lakefest: Community.

“A lot of folks will move all around their whole life and never really find a really good supportive community. In the 16 years, we’ve never had a (negative) incident out there. You think about it: We’re running 50,000 people in and out of a confined space, and the public’s never acted up. We’ve never had to arrest anybody or escort anybody out, or had any safety issues. It’s just a really great community.”

What does he love best about LakeFest? “I love throwing the biggest party on the lake. I love supporting local charities. I love showing some love to our veterans. And as sadistic as this sounds, I love the grind of putting this thing together every year and having the satisfaction of seeing this happen.

“If I had to boil it down to one thing, it’s just this community and what it means to me and what it means to everybody who lives here.”

For newcomers to Lakefest, Housh made a point. It’s about community.

“This is a safe, free, family friendly event. It’s basically the more the merrier. If you go out there, you’re going to see the best people in our community. Our vendors have the best art and clothes and house stuff, and there are folks representing home services,” Housh said.

“If you come out, you’re going to meet a lot of other folks, learn who they are and who their businesses are. If they haven’t been here before, come check us out. If they have, come back and see what’s new this year.”

Keeping the Coosa clean

Logan Martin Lake Protection Association effort slated for April this year

When Logan Martin Lake Protection Association first formed in the 1980s, its mission was to protect the lake through advocacy during the so-called “water wars” with Georgia.

That state was trying to divert water upstream to a burgeoning Atlanta population before it crossed the line into Alabama and made it into the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake.

Today, protection is still at the heart of its mission, but it has evolved well beyond the advocacy role.

Young volunteers get in on the cleanup action

From water testing to preserving wetlands to installing lighted buoys, LMLPA brings together a lake community to protect, promote and preserve this place they call home.

One of LMLPA’s major initiatives is an annual partnership with Renew Our Rivers and Alabama Power Co. to clean up the lake and keep it clean. The 2026 clean-up is set for April 11-18, when volunteers will head to the lake to clean up their shorelines in an organized effort.

On April 11 and April 18, LMLPA volunteers will be handing out bags, gloves and a free T-shirt from 8 a.m. to noon at six locations – Blue Eye Creek, Clear Creek Harbor, Lakeside Park, Woods Surfside Marina, Coosa Island Marina and Riverside Landing. Dumpsters will be located at those sites for deposits throughout the clean-up period.

“We’ve gotten really good response,” said LMLPA President Neal Stephenson. Tracking the success, he noted that 11 tons were collected two years ago. In 2025? It was 20 tons as more volunteers joined the effort.

He encouraged lake residents to participate in LMLPA, suggesting it as a means of supporting efforts to improve the lake and connect with others.

Upcoming is a member social slated for April 9 at 6 p.m. at St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church in Pell City. The public is invited.

Editor’s Note: For more on LMLPA or to join, go to lmlpa.org.

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.