Lake Martin
An Alabama Power reservoir on the Tallapoosa River near Alexander City in central Alabama. Its clear water is known for numbers of Alabama bass, a stocked striped bass fishery, and big crappie and shellcracker.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Alabama Bass
Abundant but mostly small. Fish rocky points, humps and ledges with finesse worms and jigs; they school up in colder months.
Striped Bass
Open-water fish that follow shad. Topwater and jigs in cool water; live shad fished deep (50 to 80 ft) in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Fewer than Alabama bass but trophies show up each year. Work brush piles, log jams and cover in the backs of coves.
Crappie
Big fish around blow-downs and stumps in spring, best up the lake near Wind Creek State Park and Elkahatchee Creek. Live minnows work.
Redear Sunfish
Shellcracker are abundant and can get large. Redworms on the bottom in shallow coves in late spring.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Wind Creek State ParkFeeAlabama State Parks. $5 launch fee, marina with live bait, fuel, boat rentals, 210 ft fishing pierDirections ↗
- Kowaliga Public Boat RampFreeADCNR ramp off AL 63 in Elmore County. Free, open year-round, newly expanded parkingDirections ↗
- Pace's Point (Pleasure Point)PublicADCNR ramp on the east side of the lake. About 50 trailer spacesDirections ↗
- Madwind Creek (Windy Point)PublicADCNR ramp. One lane, dock, lightedDirections ↗
- Smith LandingPublicADCNR ramp on Sandy CreekDirections ↗
- Young's Landing (D.A.R.E. Park)PublicADCNR ramp at D.A.R.E. ParkDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass Lake Martin: no more than 2 over 22 in; no culling stripers Jun 15 to Oct 15 | See Alabama rules book ↗ | 15 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- 4325 AL-128, Alexander City(256) 329-0845Directions ↗
- Lake Martin Bait and TackleNearby6752 US-280, Alexander City(256) 329-9107Directions ↗
Local tips
- Summer brings clear water, heat and heavy boat traffic, so many anglers fish at night.
- Spring and fall are the most productive seasons; winter is one of the state's best times for bass here.
- Stripers make a spring run up the Tallapoosa, Hillabee Creek and Sandy Creek shoals.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Alabama lakes
Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula) Pickwick Lake Weiss Lake Lewis Smith Lake (Smith Lake) William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir (Millers Ferry) Wilson Lake Logan Martin Lake Woodruff Reservoir (Jones Bluff) All Alabama lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.