Feature Story

Russ Snapp and Logan Smith preview Logan Martin Lake

By Jason Duran

The fourth stop for the Alabama Bass Trail heads to Logan Martin Lake.  225 teams are fishing for a lot in this event. The Angler of the Year points race has this event and one more for teams to qualify for the ABT Championship. The top 9 AOY teams will qualify for the BASS team Championship. This week’s lake host is the city of Lincoln. They have developed the facilities at Lincoln Landing to be some of the best tournament facilities in the south. Teams will find a very spacious launch with plenty of parking. The team of Russ Snapp and Logan Simms have had this date circled from the day the schedule was announced because they are excited to see this event come to their home lake. They have approached each event this year to do their best to win, and this is the one event they hope they can put all their experience in to come away with a win. 

When asked about the pattern anglers can typically expect for this time of year, they said, “this time of year we're normally in a full post spawn transitional stage. However, this year the weather has delayed things just a little, so there are few fish left spawning. There are a few fish up shallow guarding fry, and there are a few fishing that area already are headed out deeper to post spawn patterns. This time of year fish are moving and changing more everyday with more fish coming off the spawning areas moving towards deeper water. Teams will find fish this weekend everywhere from 1 foot to 20 feet. The fish are really scattered out.  In this event, teams will bounce around a lot to catch fish. It is possible they could catch a couple in one area then move and locate more in another area. The key will be catching those fish when the opportunity provides.”

“We feel the whole lake will be in play for this event.  Teams going upriver will find that the current will be a major factor. The river is narrow, and teams will find fish by fishing current breaks and eddy. In this area, teams will mostly be targeting spotted bass. Teams that move down the lake into the mid-section of the lake will fish by fishing shallow ledges and grass fishing for the most part. They will mostly find largemouth in this area. This time of year we like to see the grass a little higher than it is currently.  Right now, the grass is just below the surface. The lake reached full pool about two weeks ago, so the grass is just now starting to grow and hold fish. Teams will be targeting fish in this area using topwater including frogs. As teams head farther south down the lake, they will find the lake widens out and gets deeper. Teams will also find that the fish are farther in the transition as they go north. Up in the river, they have already spawned out and are in the full post spawn mode. The fish that are down south are still in the spawn to fry guarding stage. They will also find lots of docks down river that could be a major factor in this event.”

When asked what baits could be productive in this event, they shared that “upriver teams will be using a shaky head to target spotted bass. In the morning, teams might find a shad spawn and top water baits productive during this time. As the day goes on, teams will begin to move farther south to locate fish on the shallow ledges and the docks where they will use jigs and moving baits. The weather will play a factor this weekend too. Predictions are that it will be raining on tournament day which will cause teams to adjust to the conditions.” 

Pre-Tournament Briefing was held via Facebook Live and YouTube on Monday, May 15, 2023, at 6:30 P.M. Launch & Weigh In May 20, 2023 Lincoln Landing 740 Travis Drive Lincoln, AL 35096. Launch will be at safe daylight. All friends and family are welcome to attend this event, bring lawn chairs, and see some of the best bass teams in the country cross the stage. Everyone can watch the live weigh-in and over 4 hours of on-the-water live coverage on the ABT Facebook page, YouTube and the ABT website. 

The sponsors of the 2023 Alabama Bass Trail include: Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports, Alabama Power, America’s First Federal Credit Union, American Trailer Rental Group, BAJIO, Big Bite Baits, Bill Penney Automotive, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser – Bush, Inc., E3 Sports Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Garmin, Jack’s, Lew’s, Mountain Dew, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Power-Pole, Strike King, Sweet Home Alabama, T-H Marine,  Yamaha, YETI Coolers.