This week, Scott Martin discusses spinnerbait trailers, day-one tournament strategies and how to fish Beaver Lake in cool temperatures.
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Q & A with SCOTT MARTIN
Q: When using a top-water plug such as a Sammy or a Spook, what is the best way to tie to the lure onto the line? Do you tie it directly to the lure or do you use a split ring or fast-lock snap? Also, how often do pros tie their lures directly to the line with no intermediary tackle?
- John Howard , Hartwell, Ga.
A: When I use any top-water lure I always like to use a split ring. I believe it gives the bait more action and, in the case of a Zara Spook or Sammy, it will allow the bait to have extreme side-to-side (walk-the-dog) action with the least amount of forward progress. As a result, your bait will stay in the strike zone much longer. As far as using a fast-lock snap, I feel like they are not as reliable when you are around big fish or heavy cover as it may hinder the action of your lure. To answer your final question, I always tie my line directly to my lures except when a split ring may be necessary for more action.
Q: In what situation would I put a trailer on a spinnerbait and why? Should I match the color of the trailer with the skirt? Thanks for your help.
- Jeremiah Russell , Waynesville, N.C.
A: Personally I do not use spinnerbait trailers often. I believe that you will consistently get more bites using just a regular spinnerbait out of the package than dressing it up too much. That being said, on some lakes I have seen that trailers are the most common way to fish the spinnerbait. If I go in this direction, I prefer a white or chartreuse strait double-tail trailer. Specifically, I like to use these trailers when fishing in stained water or if the bass are feeding on larger baits. A trailer will usually give the spinnerbait a larger profile and can sometimes draw much bigger strikes.
Q: I live five miles from Beaver Lake and fish every weekend if the weather is half-way nice. However, I have lots of trouble catching fish early in the year when water temperature is 40-45 degrees? Could you give me suggestions on the best locations (upper, mid, or lower end of lake), depth and what lures to use?
- Keith Bangs , Lowell, Ark.
A: Keith, when fishing a clearwater lake like Beaver early in the year when the water temperatures are cold, I would concentrate on main-lake points with a river channel close by between the mid-lake and dam areas. During this time of year, the fish will suspend in the deeper submerged cedar trees and can be very hard to locate. But if you try these few tactics, you should do well eventually. First get a Matzuo suspending jerk bait in a shad color (or your favorite brand bait in 4-inch size). Then, rig it on 8-pound Seguar carbon pro fluorocarbon line and jerk it down beside or over the submerged trees, pausing (up to 30 seconds) between each jerk. I know this will drive you crazy at first. However, when you start having success it will not feel that long. The next technique to try is a drop-shot near the trees in the 30-50 foot range by locating bait using a quality depth finder such as a Garmin 240. The advantage and importance of a quality depth finder this time of year is the most important tip I can give you. Good Luck. Look me up at Beaver Lake next year during the tournament in 2005.
Q: I have fished tournaments both large and small for many years now. I have been successful in both. However, while preparing for a tournament the night before, I often have trouble deciding where my first run should be, especially if the tournament has 150 or more competitors. My question is this: What determining factors aid an angler in deciding where his first run will be on tournament morning?
- Chris Bell , Valdosta, Ga.
A: Well, this is the decision that usually makes or breaks the tournament for most anglers. Where to start first? For me, I don’t like to move around too much in a tournament so I will usually go to a spot where I can fish all day and really milk it for what its worth. But if I do not have a solid starting point, I will usually fish areas on the first day that might have heavier tournament pressure and save my best spots I believe no one else has found for later on in the tournament.
Also, I will never let the size of just one fish in practice dictate my belief about a spot. Many times when I first started fishing, if I caught a big fish in practice, I would immediately theorize that there must be more big fish there. Unfortunately, this theory would prove to be untrue many times. Now I try to pay attention the number of fish and the average size of them in the area verses dreaming about catching an 8- or 9-pounder that I caught in practice. The truth is you need to start where you believe your best average fish are and then go looking for your big fish later on.
Martin, the reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion, hails from a famous fishing family – he is the son of the legendary Roland Martin. 2012 will mark Martin’s 13th season the FLW Tour, and he will be fishing alongside his father Roland.
Martin finished 11th in the Angler of the Year Race in 2011 (his highest finish since his 5th place in 2006). On his road to his 10th championship appearance he cashed checks at every Tour stop with a 7th-place finish, his only top 10, coming at Lake Chickamauga.
Martin and his wife Suzanne have four children. His favorite body of water is Lake Okeechobee and he loves to use a swimbait, frog and flip the grass. Martin claims one of his most memorable fishing moments was when he caught his first 10-pound bass on Lake Okeechobee with his father at the age of 12. When not fishing for bass, Martin can be found saltwater fishing in the Atlantic
