Probably 30 years ago (it had to be very late 80's) I saw a "9-1/2 lb" largemouth caught on Martin. I had gone camping with a buddy and his parents, there were two elderly couples staying in an RV next to us (had a bass boat tied up to a dock), and each day the two old guys would go fishing and come back about mid morning. One day they came in and hollered for us to "come here", so we walked down there and they opened the livewell to show us that fish. All I remember is it looked like an alligator wedged in that livewell and they said they caught it on a buzzbait. Granted, they might've just been guessing at the weight, or even big-eyed that joker, but in my memory it sure looked every bit of 9-1/2 to me.

It would be a lot more than 50lbs they would set records if they hit it right

I grew up on Martin till I was 17. I caught the 7# when I was 12 fishing a worm from my three seater jet ski. You should have seen those bass fishermen in the boats when I drove by holding that fish up. It was caught in sturdivant creek right across from wind creek. We had a lake house in the very back for 20 years.

My dads uncle caught a 12.75 largemouth there moons ago. He still has it mounted out in the garage

Shoot there’s plenty of big fish in Martin. I usually fish around kowaliga and catching 3# plus bass is the norm. It fishes a lot different than what you’d expect from just about every other lake. Throw the banks and shallow structure and you’ll catch more 1# bass than you could eat.

Is there a public landing left on the Coosa county side, like in the Equality area? I used to put in long ago at Adcox marina, but it was sold and converted to houses. I don't know of any place to put in on the lower end that doesn't involve driving a long way.

Check with real island marina. They may let you launch your boat @ their ramp. Also kowlaiga @ hwy63 bridge isnt too far from there

Thanks, Real island would be pretty close to the area I wanted to go. I didn't think they had a public ramp. The ramp on 63 is good, but it's an extra 10 miles of driving. I was trying to avoid that. I think that Parker creek marina has a $5 ramp, but the road going to it used to be terrible.

I snorkeled around a dock there one time and saw some huge largemouths under it in the shade.

Yep. The road would be better if it were gravel, at least they could grade it.

David

My dad and I used to catch them like crazy this time of year on Martin. We would launch at Reel Island and never fire up the big motor, just hitting points with crank baits. Schooled up fish seemed to like the rocky structure around 14 feet of water as I recall. I vividly remember that over a half dozen crank baits ( deep wee R’s and such) that had all the paint knocked off by the end of the day...good times!

Could anyone offer up some advice on colors to throw? Going tomorrow for the first time in a while.

Watermelon candy trick worm on a shakeyhead should get you plenty of action.

David