TIME TO HIT THE TRAILS

Nature's Way trails, built and maintained by Alabama Power, offer an idyllic experience at Lake Martin

AAs the heat wave abates in the weeks ahead, a walk in the woods holds great appeal, and Lake Martin offers more than 150 miles of options. From the footpath-only CRATA trails to Wind Creek State Park and Russell Forest, each of the area’s hiking, biking or horse trails shares its own spectacular beauty, wildlife and geographical features. It’s not unheard of to run up on a roosting bald eagle along the cliffside of the Deadening Trail; to happen across a rare bottomland wildflower on the return hike from Smith Mountain Fire Tower; or to hear a turkey call when strolling the Big Way through Russell Forest. And now, Lake Martin Tourism rewards hikers who complete mileage on 10 or more local trails. Earn a Lake Martin Hiking Challenge patch upon logging miles and sending your trail record to the tourism office. Visit explorelakemartin.com for the hiking challenge details; then, strap on your boots, grab a staff and hit one of these delightful trails.

CRATA Trails

Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails Association boasts 26 miles along four footpath-only trail locations near the east and south shorelines of Lake Martin. The oldest of these trail systems can be accessed at Alabama Power’s Overlook Park. From state Route 50 at Martin Dam, turn north onto Overlook Drive. The park and trailhead are about a mile up the road. Alabama Power has provided picnic tables and an observation platform at the trailhead to three paths totaling 7.2 looped miles that can be hiked in a variety of distance combinations between 1 mile and the full 7.2.

The Overlook trails were constructed in 2004 and feature stands of longleaf pine, native azaleas and charming mountain laurel teacup blossoms in season.

Up the road from Overlook Park, the James M. Scott Deadening Trail features unique rock formations, including the Needle’s Eye and Jasmine Bluff, and a spectacular view of Lake Martin’s most popular landmark, Chimney Rock on Acapulco Rock Island. The full loop measures 4.2 miles, but a crossover route hikes only 3.1, and an emergency trail at the crossover leads back to the parking lot. A challenge even for experienced hikers, the Deadening Trail is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Wear sturdy shoes with good tread and pack plenty of water, as well as a snack,

STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & AUDRA SPEARS

for this unique hiking experience. The trailhead is about 3 miles from the turn onto Overlook Drive from Martin Dam. Turn into the Harbor subdivision. The trailhead is 600 feet on the left at 83 Harbor View Blvd., Dadeville.

Four trails at Smith Mountain are complemented with an outdoor education center at the foot of a fire tower that offers Lake Martin’s most spectacular panoramic views. In Dadeville, turn onto West Lafayette Street and follow the brown landmark signs to Smith Mountain just off Youngs Ferry Road to reach the parking lot.

Take the .4-mile Walker Bynum Smith Mountain Tower Trail to visit the kiosk displays at the education center and gain a greater appreciation for the flora and fauna you might see as you hike. The trail is steep and will seem longer than its measured distance. Change up the hike on your return to the parking lot by catching the Return Trail on the west side of the tower.

The Lakeshore Trail can be accessed from the Walker Bynum trail near the top of the mountain. The trail makes a sharp descent before winding along the undeveloped shoreline of the lake. The 2.4-mile loop returns to the parking lot.

The Little Smith Mountain Loop is a challenging trail for hikers who are in better-than-average physical condition. It is not a trail for small children or youngsters who like to venture away from the hiking party. The 2.6-mile trail is known for its beautiful views and rock formations, as well as the variety of flora.

Accessible only during the winter drawdown, the trailhead to the David M. Forker Island Hop/Boat Dock Trail is 1.4 miles from the parking lot via the Lakeshore Trail. During summer’s full pool level on the lake, the path connecting the four islands is submerged.

The trails at Smith Mountain are color coded and blazed on tree trunks at adult-eye-level to help hikers navigate. Download maps at crata.org.

South of Lake Martin, the John B. Scott Forever Wild and Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad trails wind through a historic wildlife management area owned by Alabama Forever Wild.

The 4.7-mile John B. Scott Trail is named for an influential voice for conservation. The late John B. Scott was instrumental in the establishment of the Forever Wild Land Trust, which sets aside ecologically significant properties for preservation. The trail weaves through old growth forest and along creeks as it invites

The Island Hop trail below Smith Mountain offers a winter-only hiking option 54 LAKE SEPTEMBER 2022

hikers to experience the rich wildlife abundance and diversity of Alabama. It is a moderate hike, though the trail can be muddy at times.

The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail follows the historic railroad bed that was used in the construction of Martin Dam in the early 1920s. Follow either the Highline or Lowline trail bed to Saddle Rock Mountain, the highest point in Elmore County. The Lowline trail is an out-and-back hike totaling 5.4 miles that advances as far as Channahatchee Creek. Plans are being made to construct a bridge over the creek and continue the point-to-point trail.

Visit crata.org for maps and more information about any of the non-profit organization’s projects.

Russell Forest

Russell Lands has set aside some 25,000 acres of woods and streams for the preservation of nature for future generations at Lake Martin. The diverse habitat provides an excellent venue for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding and serves as a staging area for Russell Lands’ naturalist programs and guided hikes. The woods are maintained as a working forest to help protect Lake Martin and ensure that it will retain its standing as one of the country’s cleanest lakes.

Download the free Russell Lands app, which provides GPS locating on the trail map. You can share your location and see friends’ locations or record and display your hikes through Russell Forest, email images or post them on social media. The app also includes links to Russell Lands events and restaurants.

Hikers are invited to travel the trails for free upon completing and submitting a Russell Forest Trail Association application. Cyclers pay a $20 annual membership and must display a bike decal on the bicycle’s seat post. Golf cart access is limited to selected trails after payment of a $100 membership fee, and horse riders pay $100 for an individual membership or $175 for a family membership. Horse riders also are eligible for a $25 day pass. See the registration form at russelllands.com/outdoors/russellforest/ and review policies.

Russell Forest also hosts the annual Russell Forest Run in late February to raise funds for the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation. Monies donated in past years have furnished students with updated technological devices, outfitted school buses with air conditioning and provided for additional health and education needs in local schools. For more information about the Russell Forest Run event, visit the website at russellforestrun.com.

Wind Creek State Park

A moderate-to-difficult hike, the Alabama Reunion Trail at Wind Creek State Park measures some 3.8 miles through hardwood bottoms and pine forest. Though a loop trail, the path is bisected by state Route 128. The North Side Trail is just under 2 miles, and the South Side Trail measures 1.8 miles. The trail can be accessed near the park entrance and is open to hikers and mountain bikers. The Campfire Trail is 1.8 miles of moderate hiking with several steep climbs and connector trails. Hike each season to watch the transitions

Unique rock formations of color, the growth and abound on the Deadening abundance of ferns and

Trail off Overlook Road other changes in the woods. Visit during an orienteering weekend to gain navigation skills through the forest.

Visit alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park/hiking-and-biking-trails for maps and more information.

Visit alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park/ horse-trails for information on 20 miles of trails, including the Jeff Reed Horse Trail and guided trail rides for up to four riders. Horse camping and day riding areas also are available at the park.

Nature’s Way Preserve

Alabama Power maintains the Nature’s Way dayuse area at Lake Martin, featuring a meandering hiking trail on more than 70 acres. Located on the lake’s south side, the area features three trail options, one of which hugs the Lake Martin shoreline. Benches, bridges, picnic areas and a gazebo provide points of interest and interlude along the way. Access the trail from Overlook Drive via McCarthy and Old Tree roads in the Kennebec area. Visit apcpreserves.com/ lake-martin/#_natures to download a map and view a virtual tour.

100 Years of Change

It started roughly 100 years ago. The land that is becoming The Heritage and Wicker Point Golf Club was farmland along the Tallapoosa River in a very rural and remote area of Alabama. The people that lived in this area lived on and worked the land – without electricity. Fortunately, a relatively new company, Alabama Power Company, had a plan to build a hydroelectric dam on the Tallapoosa River and connect this part of rural Alabama to what we now call the grid.

Fours years later (my guess is it would take 25 years to get a permit today), the dam was built, and thousands of acres of farmland were flooded, creating Lake Martin, which was named for the power company’s president. Prior to filling the lake, the power company and Benjamin Russell purchased much of the farmland under and bordering what would become the lake. Much of the farmland would be underwater, and a willing owner would more easily grant that permission.

From the filling of the lake in 1926 up to 2018, very little happened on the 1,500 lakefront acres that would become The Heritage. Farming continued on the property, and the people who worked the land lived in the Russell Farm community on the property. Over time, the farming operation ended, and the land turned into managed forest.

In addition to the farming operation, a special piece

of property, Wicker Point peninsula, was used to provide waterfront rental cabins. Those humble green cabins were some of the first of what long-time lake lovers call Russell Cabins. The cabins, some dating back to the 1950s, provided a wonderful introduction to Lake Martin for thousands of people, including yours truly. Lake Martin has evolved, especially over the last 30 years. The Wicker Point area remained remarkably unchanged until 2018. Russell Lands, Inc., which has grown under the watchful care of Benjamin Russell’s grandson, is the owner of the property. Russell Lands has developed many waterfront properties on the lake. Willow Point, The Willows, Windermere, Trillium, River Oaks and LAKE PROPERTY The Ridge are very attractive and wellBY STEVE ARNBERG known lake communities developed by Russell. In 2018, it was apparent that the company was nearly complete with its development and sales period for The Willows and The Ridge. With the ever-growing popularity of the lake, the company began to consider what came next. After considering the choices on nearly 25,000 acres of land owned by the company, this quiet location was chosen. The key consideration for selecting this property was due to the decision by Russell’s management team that more amenities, as well as waterfront homesites, were needed. The key amenity was a new golf course. Russell Lands had already built and enhanced the Willow Point golf course, which was transformative to the company and to the lake. Currently, there is a waiting list for potential membership, proving that more capacity for golf is needed. With property as special as the Wicker Point area, the company decided to approach the world’s leading golf course designers, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. After looking at all of Russell’s Over the last century, Wicker property holdings, they Point has gone from farmland agreed that the Wicker to forest to golf course

area provided the very best location for a world-class golf course.

There are a huge number of people who use the term “world-class,” and most of the time, it is not really justified; however, in this case, I believe the term fits. The Wicker Point Golf Course is shaping up to be a world-class golf course.

The property that 100 years ago was farmland and four years ago was a forest, is transforming before our eyes into a world-class golf course. Pine forest has become a series of lush fairways. Given the current schedule, the private course will be open for play in September of 2023.

In July, Russell offered the first collection of waterfront property in The Heritage, the master-planned community that is home to Wicker Point Golf Club. To date, 45 of the available 51 properties have gone under contract.

The transformation will continue in The Heritage over the next several years. More waterfront property will be available. The golf course and clubhouse will be ready for use next September as noted above. The Benjamin Lake Club, a waterfront recreation center with a pool, clubhouse, fitness facility, beach, community docks, event lawns, tennis courts and pickleball courts will open by May of 2025. Water-access homes will be developed as well.

We think that The Heritage will be transformative to Lake Martin. For those of us who have been on the lake for years, we know Lake Martin is a world-class lake. Now we have a world-class attraction to draw people’s attention from around the world.

Steve Arnberg is Vice President Real Estate Sales for Russell Lands.

FEELING THE CALL OF FALL? MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS HEALTHY

As the heat of summer fades and cooler temperatures come calling, we look forward to that feeling of fall. It’s the perfect time to be outdoors with family and friends, and a great time to be alive.

Make sure your heart is ready for the season with an appointment at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at Russell Medical.

Kevin Sublett, MD, is board-certified in cardiovascular care and offers the latest in prevention, testing, and treatment for keeping your heart healthy.

Our clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including: • Advanced ultrasound testing • Nuclear medicine imaging in fully accredited labs • Management of cardiac rhythm disorders • Interventional cardiology care

Our expanded clinical team is ready to serve you. Schedule a visit today by calling 256-234-2644.

Wrap up one season and prepare for the next

This has been an active year for the Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners, and we are looking forward to the rest of this year and 2023.

The Dedeville Fall Festival is coming up, and HOBOs will have a booth set up and will be speaking with members of our community about the various functions we perform to carry out our mission to preserve and protect our Treasured Lake Martin. We encourage membership. Annual membership is only $15 for individuals and $25 for a family. We look forward to seeing you there.

We plan to participate in the Christmas events in Dadeville this year, becoming more visible to the lake community to drive membership and participation in our association. Please consider joining and becoming active in our association.

This past year, we continued our association with Lake Watch and encouraged community participation in their mission to protect the clean waters of Lake Martin. Lake Watch can always use volunteer water monitors to perform the extremely important function of monitoring the water in our lake. Lake Watch will train you and provide the test kits. We will continue to contribute and encourage community participation with Lake Watch.

This coming spring, HOBOs will offer free boat inspections at the Alabama Power boat ramps with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. This past spring, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary passed 24 boats and handed out certificates. HOBOs was happy to assist with this community service. Visit lakemartinhobos.com for dates and times.

This past summer, HOBOs held a free boating safety course with the assistance of the Alabama Marine Patrol. We had 29 people take the free course and pass the test and receive their certifications. We thank the Alabama Marine Patrol for conducting the class and helping the community to become safer boaters. HOBOs plans to hold another free boating safety course this coming spring. Check the website for details.

HOBOs have been active in several construction projects around the lake as these projects affect the lake and community. We participated in the Alexander City meeting concerning the new graphite plant being constructed in Kellyton. HOBOs wanted to ensure this manufacturing plant would have no ill effects on the quality of water in Lake Martin. The State and City have done an excellent job of working with the manufacturer to ensure that. Along with Lake Watch, LMRA and several other lake associations, HOBOs continues to monitor these construction sites and developments to protect our lake. With new developments and industrial sites coming to our lake, HOBOs will continue to work with our community to manage any issues that are concerning our membership. Unrestricted development of our lake is a concern of our members. HOBOs will continue to work with ADEM, Alabama Power, Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce and other influential organizations to ensure these developments keep Lake Martin clean and protected. We also will participate in the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup around the lake on Nov. 4 and 5. At our last annual breakfast meeting in June, we elected four new board members. We had two excellent guest

HOBO speakers and a big crowd. We are planBY HARRY DENEGRE ning our next breakfast meeting for next June. Board meetings are held every two months on the second Monday of that month. Our next board meeting is Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, at 4 p.m. We hold our meetings in Dadeville at Zazu’s Verandah. HOBOs plans to continue our membership drive. We will continue to request local businesses to allow us to place our membership brochures in their place of business. We want to make our association visible to the community and encourage active participation in our association. In addition, HOBOs will be working with our legislators to pass some legislation regarding proximity and wake laws for Lake Martin. Other states around Alabama have passed these types of laws. Input from our members is appreciated. The years 2022 and 2023 look to be active times for the Lake Martin HOBOs. Please consider becoming a member. Harry DeNegre is president of Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners Association. Learn more at lakemartinhobos.com.

WATER ACCESS

Russell Cabins at The Willows, Verandas II • $995,000 Builder: Classic Homes • Beds: 4 Baths: 4.5 • Sq Ft: 2,396 Russell Lands Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com

48 Outboard Circle, Jackson’s Gap • $1,200,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 4 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 LakeMartinRealty.com

741 Lakeview Ridge Unit 804, Dadeville • $225,000 Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Top Floor Unit Lake Martin Realty Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099 LakeMartinRealty.com

110 Buena Vista Circle, Alexander City • $750,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 3.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Judith Jager 205.914.0830 LakeMartinRealty.com 665 Dogwood Drive, Eclectic • $1,099,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Adam Yager 205.914.0830 LakeMartinRealty.com

1477 Wind Creek Farm Road, Alex City • $515,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Mimi Rush 334.399.7874 LakeMartinRealty.com 1137 North Ridge, Alexander City • $5,950,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 7 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Jan Hall 256.329.6313 LakeMartinRealty.com

56 Magnolia Crest, Dadeville • $435,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3.5 • Water View Lake Martin Realty Michelle Brooks-Slayman 256.749.1031 LakeMartinRealty.com

103 Bennett Lane, Jackson’s Gap • $799,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681 LakeMartinRealty.com

25 Camp Circle, Dadeville • $369,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 • Water Access Lake Martin Realty Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792 LakeMartinRealty.com 188 East Ridge, Alexander City • $1,925,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 4 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 LakeMartinRealty.com

1486 Althea Loop, Alexander City • $334,900 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 • Parrish Hills Lake Martin Realty Haley Fuller 256.750.2411 LakeMartinRealty.com

Healthy Southern Food

It is not a secret that, more often than not, the Southern diet gets a bad rap for causing cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. There is definitely some truth to this, and organizations like The American Heart Association and the Dietetic Association agree that a diet containing lots of added fat, fried foods, organ, processed meat and sugar sweetened beverages is unhealthy. Scientific evidence indicates this type of diet leads to obesity and chronic disease. The most current research shows a link between CVD and the Southern diet with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Making a few changes in the Southern diet without abandoning cultural traditions could reduce the health risks and improve outcomes for those who eat Southern food.

Southern food reflects a blend of cultures and culinary traditions that were influenced by the French, Portuguese, Spanish, Native Americans and the West African slaves. The South is divided into three regions: South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central. Food is cultivated, prepared and consumed according to social, economic and political histories of each region. Southern food is a living record of people, places and cultures contributing to the South. Southern food is a way for people to connect with land heritage, loved ones and self. The connectivity to Southern foods could have as big of an impact on food choices as other biological, economic and physical determinants. Southern states consistently rank the worst in the

United States for health and wellness. The question has been asked and research has focused on what is causing residents of the South to have higher incidences of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and strokes. The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study has looked at black and white participants in the Southeast region of the United States to determine the causes for excess stroke mortality in the Southeast. Since the inception of the study, there have been many smaller studies. These studies included 56 percent of people living in the stroke belt. These states included North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The largest cause of death in the United States is loss of heart function, which causes sudden cardiac death. It HEALTHY LIVING occurs most frequently in adults of the age

BY JULIE HUDSON mid 30s to mid 40s. Most of the deaths are caused by heart arrhythmias. It has been discovered through research that a diet high in sugar, fat and processed foods is not limited to the South but also is typical in the western United States. It is important to find ways to embrace Southern traditions while incorporating solutions to healthier eating. Studies have shown that when people are told to use one style of eating, such as the Mediterranean eating pattern, it sends a message that we must abandon cultural traditions to be able to eat healthy. This could impact people in a negative way and imply that the rejection of their traditional foods is the only way to live healthy.

The Mediterranean diet is known to be the hallmark example. It won the best overall diet for 2022 for promoting a healthier heart, weight loss and a balanced eating plan while preventing strokes, type 2 diabetes and premature death. The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish and extra virgin olive oil. Processed foods, added sugar and refined grains should be avoided or limited.

The heart healthy Lenoir Project set an example of a culturally inclusive lifestyle used to reduce cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure in North Carolina residents. The med-South intervention dietary pattern is another example of the inclusion of the Mediterranean diet and Southern diet. Participants in the study were given a modified cookbook that combines Southern style recipes using the principles of the Mediterranean diet to incorporate foods that are culturally acceptable to the Southern palate. The foods included greens, sweet potatoes, beans, nuts, oils, full fat salad dressings and mayonnaise.

Studies have proven that the Southern diet is linked to a higher incidence of coronary heart disease, sudden cardiac death and other chronic diseases. Food in the South reflects culture and tradition from around the world. In place of demonizing and abandoning the Southern diet, recipes could be tailored to include traditional foods while following the Mediterranean-eating pattern. If you are looking for ways to improve health while respecting your culture and tradition, here are some ways to create a happy medium.

The Mediterranean diet chooses particular foods that are healthy and states these should be eaten more often. Incorporation of these suggested foods could offer benefits while using existing food preferences and practices. n Foods that once were discouraged, like peanuts and mayonnaise, could be added back using the Mediterranean style. Add back full fat dressings in small amounts; roast vegetables in the oven and make that the basis of all meals. Eat nuts in moderation for snacks. n Choose whole grains, beans and legumes. n Eat plenty of fish. n Choose heart healthy fats, such as extra virgin olive oil and avocados. Avoid or limit unhealthy fats in cooking, such as fatback, bacon and ham hocks. n Skip the saltshaker. Salt is an acquired taste. Learn to appreciate the natural flavor of food. n Avoid frying foods; choose healthier ways to cook, like baking, sautéing and grilling. n Avoid or limit added sugar. Check labels if you are unsure about a certain food.

Julie Hudson is a certified dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Ingredients

2-1/3 cups heavy cream 2/3 cup whole milk 3/4 cup grams sugar 9 egg yolks 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 1 vanilla bean 1/4 pound fresh mint 1/4 cup Crème d’ Mint 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Bring the cream and milk to a simmer with the vanilla bean, vanilla extract, fresh mint and liquor. Make sure not to boil. Beat the egg yolks and sugar. Slowly add the milk and cream mixture into the egg mixture, making sure you don’t cook the egg. Chill and spin for 4 to 7 minutes. When extracting the ice cream, sprinkle the chips in and mix to incorporate.

Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star resorts in Ohio, Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club 12 years ago. CHEF'S TABLE

CHEERS!

KOWALIGA

Big Blue

Add a taste of the Caribbean to your endof-summer celebrations with the Big Blue cocktail from Kowaliga Restaurant. Sweet Bacardi Rum and a splash of bitter-orange Blue Curacao come down to earth when combined with Cathead Vodka, courtesy of Mississippi’s first (legal) distillery. Pour on the lemonade as a summer treat and add some lemon-lime bubbles with Sprite, and you have the makings of that perfect watch-the-actionfrom-the-covered-porch toast to great times at Lake Martin this summer. And that action has a wide definition, from applauding wakesurfer tricks as boaters pass by to scoring the best table for the quintessential moment when the sunset turns the sky and water to flame. Here’s to the big flavor of smooth, sweet memories and another great summer at the lake. 1 ounce Cathead Vodka 1 ounce Bacardi Rum 1/2 ounce Blue Curacao Lemonade Sprite Fill a glass with ice, add liquor, fill with lemonade and a splash of Sprite.

Join us every Saturday June through September 8 AM - 12 PM 4 Court Square - Old City Hall parking lot

If you’ve had a chance to watch some professional bass tour events lately, you’ve probably seen a lot of the anglers staring intently at their front graph almost the entire time. Chances are they’re locked into the forward facing sonar view on their screens before the cast, during the cast and throughout the retrieve. The tournament wins attributed to this technology have been stacking up; so much so, that there are growing numbers that either love it or hate it. Some are even calling for the technology to be banned.

Forward sonar broke onto the scene six years ago with Garmin’s Panoptix. It blew me away the first time I saw it. In just 30 minutes using it, it was apparent that this was a game changer. I went to a spot on Lake Jordan where the fish are notorious for roaming open water as they hunt shad. Occasionally, they would school on the surface, disappear and pop up again out of casting reach. This was the story for this area for years. They were quality fish but relating to nothing more than schools of baitfish suspended over 20 feet of water.

In the first 10 minutes, I had learned to point the trolling motor in the direction of my cast. Using the scale on screen, I knew how far away my bait was from the boat and how deep it was. By keeping the trolling motor pointed at the bait, I could watch it come back to the boat. If I could see and follow my bait, I should certainly see fish, and I did. Within 30 minutes, I could recognize balls of baitfish (shad) and see the fish that were chasing them under the water. After a few failed attempts, I finally got the timing and distance right and cast a simple jigging spoon right in front of one of the fish. It zoomed over and ate it. It was a 3-pound largemouth suspended and cruising 10 feet deep in 20 feet of water. I would not have known that fish was even there before. I was sold.

Since the original Panoptix was introduced, Garmin upped the anty with Livescope – and now, Livescope Plus, which has much better target separation. Lowrance and Humminbird have introduced their versions of forward sonar technology as well. It’s become a staple for nearly all tour-level anglers because of the real time sonar view of what’s beneath the water. The current saying on

tour is, “If you’re not scoping, you’re hoping.” Critics say, “It’s not fair to the fish.” Here’s the deal: With forward facing sonar, an angler could pull up to a promising spot, scan the area in front of around the boat for cover, bait, fish or depth changes in real time. Then, make a cast to a target; watch the bait land; watch it on the retrieve; and hopefully, watch a fish come and get it. Or depending on how the fish reacts to the bait, it may mean a different bait or color may work better. By trying different baits, colors or presentations with multiple fish, an angler could get a quicker dial in on what works best. So what’s all the fuss about? Why would there be some out there that seemingly hate this revolutionary technology and some even saying it should be banned? Here’s my opinion as an angler but also as a fishing fan: First, it has changed how the game looks when we watch it on TV or live. As professional anglers have gotten more and more proficient with forward sonar, they are glued BIG CATCHES to the screen as they watch for cover and BY GREG VINSON fish in their areas. Then they are glued to the screen as they make cast after cast to specific fish. Sometimes, it appears that they only look away long enough to line up their cast with where the trolling motor/transducer is pointed. This is a big contrast to how we’ve watched the game before. As long as I’ve been fishing, electronics have played a key role in locating fish and attempting to put bait as close as possible to the fish. Even back to the days of a flasher, anglers fished vertically, watching for the blip on the circular display to know where the bait was. Traditional sonar later improved to a point where anglers could see jigging spoons, drop shots or even live bait rigs on the screens and tell if fish were reacting. Our late friend Aaron Martens was the best in the game at that for years. He was famous for catching big bass on finesse tackle by putting the bait precisely in front of quality fish. A lot of anglers were good at it, but he refined it to the point that he was the best. What we could once only do when fish passed under the boat now can be done in more real time over a 100-foot-plus radius around the boat using forward sonar. Now, an angler could see fish as they move throughout the water column around the boat. Many local tournaments are being dominated by anglers using this technology as well. For some who haven’t added it to their boat, it probably feels like a disadvantage. I know from experiencing it at the tour level, when side-imaging sonar burst onto the scene and later down imaging. I had to get it and learn to use it because I was getting beat by it in certain events on the Tennessee River. Electronics have gotten more and more expensive (like everything else it seems) as technology has improved. To purchase a unit and forward sonar capability, an angler can drop upwards of $4,000 in a hurry. Not everyone can or is willing to spend that kind of money on a fish finder.

Pros and cons of forward facing sonar

For anglers who fish for a living, it’s a worthy investment and a must. Competitive angling has always pushed the bar higher as anglers have purchased bigger and faster boats, stronger trolling motors, stronger batteries, better electronics, better line, better hooks, better rods, better reels, higher quality baits and shallow water anchor poles, and the list goes on.

This applies to any level of competitive angling, not just the professional tour levels. It forces anglers to make tough decisions based on their budgets. Just how much are they willing to spend on equipment to be competitive? The equipment could make us more efficient anglers; yet, there is still the art of fishing that requires an angler to use knowledge and instincts.

Forward facing sonar is a game changer capable of scanning a large area around the boat at any given time, but Lake Martin, for example is 44,150 acres of water. You can’t scan that large of an area using forward sonar, and you never will.

Angler first have to revert back to the age-old process of predicting what type of area the fish should be relating to based on time of year and conditions. Then they have to predict what baits and presentations might work. Only after getting that portion right could they implement the capabilities of sonar technology.

There are limits to forward facing sonar still. It’s effective in shallow water now, but not as effective as offshore. The shallower the bite, the less advantage an angler has with forward sonar, especially when the fish are in shallow cover. For predominantly shallow water anglers, this could present advantages in the coming years as the shallow fish become the less pressured ones.

As with sight fishing, there are going to be fish that are just plain hard to catch. An angler could see fish on the screen and put bait in front of them, but sometimes, the fish just aren’t going to bite, especially as they get more angling pressure. Valuable time could be wasted messing with fish that won’t be triggered into biting.

All the while, another angler with a solid pattern elsewhere is doing work. It still comes down to efficiency, and sometimes that means moving on, even though you know the fish are there. The old saying, “Should I stay, or should I go?” has never been more in play.

As it appears, I’m still a fan of forward facing sonar. My love for fishing comes from a desire to catch more and bigger fish every time I go. Anything that can help me achieve that goal is a plus. It’s improved my understanding of fish. Forward sonar has catapulted that ability for me and plenty of other anglers alike. We still have to first predict where they’ll be and what they’ll bite, but it’s unquestionably changed the game. And anytime there is such an earthquake type change, there will be some resistance to it. The question one has to be asking is, “What’s coming next?”

Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

Distance isn't always better

Most golfers have heard the phrase, “Tee it high, and let it fly.”

Every golfer wants to hit farther. But farther is not always better. Particularly when a shot is errant or not as desired. Far into the trees is less desirable than on the woods’ edge. Deep in the water versus short of a hazard adds strokes to the scorecard. Swinging hard and/or out of control can be self-defeating to one’s game and attitude.

There is no doubt good golfers have talent beyond the average enthusiast. Professional and most low handicap amateurs have worked long hours to develop touch while training muscles to produce the same swing over and over. Like any athlete, they have honed their craft through drive and passion; determined to reach the upper echelon of skillful players of the game. But they are also good strategists. Playing safer golf shots could produce lower scores without taking unnecessary risks shot after shot. “Playing the percentages” refers to knowing when to charge versus playing more conservatively.

Many of us do not have the ability, time, desire, passion or drive to become elite golfers; yet, we still want to score better while achieving rewarding results. Strategy is one aspect upon which we could all improve. The first aspect of strategy is how you spend your time in and around golf.

Go back to my opening statement, “Tee it high and let it fly.” The reality is that most people learn golf backwards. We learn to hit the ball with a full swing on the driving range or golf course. We get frustrated but keep coming back. Eventually, we learn how to putt, chip, pitch and play out of bunkers.

As we take greater interest in the game or get better, we start trying to putt better; recognizing this is where the difference is made. But it is not just putting. Watch the better players at any club, and you’ll see they typically are the

players with good short games and few putts in a round. If you have time occasionally to practice, spend equal or greater time on the putting green and short game practice area as you do hitting balls on the driving range. Consider arriving at the golf course 15 minutes early to at least chip and putt before a round. Recognize that 60 percent to 80 percent of golf shots are played within 60 yards of the flagstick on each hole. Par 3 and par 4 holes factor half or more shots to be played close to or on the green. Talented player or not, the same holds true. If par for the course being played is 72, and two putts are taken on every hole, then half the allocated shots are from within 60 yards. Now consider that very few of us hit all the THE SCRAMBLE greens in regulation. So shorter shots from PETER ROUILLARD off the green factor into the percentage of shots taken within 60 yards. When a player can pitch, chip or blast a ball close enough to make the subsequent putt, strokes are saved. The shape, length and intensity of these shorter swings require less physical strength and exertion. Distance is not a factor, as most players of the game can easily hit the ball 60 yards or less. Developing better touch will control shot distance. Better pitching and chipping contribute to fewer putts. So do yourself a favor. Spend time wisely by spending equal or more time practicing shorter shots to improve your ability within 60 yards of the flag. Learn distance control. Saving shots when and wherever lowers scores and handicaps. If you need help with your game, see your local PGA professional. That professional has dedicated a career to you enjoying the game of golf. Peter Rouillard is general manager at Stillwaters Golf and Copper's Grill.

Jaybird Landing

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

Jacksons Gap

49

Bethel Church

57

Pleasant Ridge Church

16

Lake Martin Baptist Church

Red Ridge United Methodist Church

28

49

Church of the Living Waters Stillwaters

8 9 6

17

Walnut Hill

27

Lake Pointe Baptist Church

26

49 Horseshoe Bend National Park

Lake Martin Alabama

21

Dadeville

280

25

Camp Hill

50

Marinas

1. Kowaliga Marina1 256-397-1210 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. The Ridge Marina2 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

3. River North Marina3 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors4 256-397-1700 19 Russell Marine Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. Real Island Marina5 256-397-1200 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

3. Blue Creek Marina6 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

2. Parker Creek Marina 7 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

3. Harbor Pointe Marina8 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net

2. Lakeside Marina 9 256-825-9286 7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines10 256-825-0999 3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861

2. Alex City Marine11 256-215-FISH(3474) 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Smith Marina - Shipwreck Sam's Froyo12 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com

Restaurants & Venues

6. SpringHouse 13 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 6. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

14

Kowaliga Restaurant15 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Lake Martin Pizza16 256-373-3337 5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853

The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill17 256-307-1887 8605 AL HWY 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Business & Shopping

Lake Martin Storm Shelters18 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City)19 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

20

21

22

23

. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort24 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 . Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717 8421 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

25

26

Churches

Lake Pointe Baptist Church27 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

28

Dock Builders

29

Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

ALEXANDER CITY

Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Carlos The Body Shop Walgreens Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Jake's Moore Wealth Management Carlisle's Emporium Wine Cloud Nine Downtown Girl Shay Aesthetics JR'S Hillabee Towers Senior Nutrition Center Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty Dark Insurance Warren Appliance MainStreet Family Care Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's General Merchandise Daylight Donuts Alfa Valley Bank - 280 Pricare Temple Medical AllState BB&T Bank Hometown Pharmacy Lake Martin Home Health Allen's Food Mart (Exxon) Karen Channell - State Farm Insurance North Lake Condo River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply Petro Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Longleaf Antique Mall Playhouse Cinemas Chamber of Commerce Winn Dixie Re/Max Around the Lake City Hall A&E Metal Regions Bank Marathon - 280 Renfroe's Market Russell Medical Center Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors Koon's II Tallapoosa Ford Dylan Johnson - Country Financial Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Drugs Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark The Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Do It Center Russell Home Decor Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars Tippy Canoe Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office Wind Creek Gate Wind Creek Store Willow Point Office Willow Point Country Club Smith Marina on Lake Martin Nails Kowaliga Marina Kowaliga Restaurant Children's Harbor Catherine's Market Russell Lands Corporate Office Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center SpringHouse Restaurant Ridge Club Ridge Marina

HACKNEYVILLE

Hackneyville Water Authority

NEW SITE

Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland

DADEVILLE

Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Chuck's Marina Deep Water Docks Lake Martin Pizza

CAMP HILL

Link Gas Station

KELLYTON

Five Star Plantation

EQUALITY

Equality Food Mart Southern Star Parker Creek Marina Charles Borden

ECLECTIC

Lake Breeze Realty Offshore Marina Lake Martin Mini Mall Corner Stone Coffee Co. Lake Martin Dock Company Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Johnson Furniture WOW Catering LLC Eclectic Library Real Island Marina Anchor Bay Marina Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Office Tallassee Marathon Tallassee Eagle Tallassee Chamber Parris Mullins Jr. O.D.

Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

Alex City Marine........................................................70

Artic Air .......................................................................52

AVSP..............................................................................77

Blue Creek Iron Works ............................................75

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation .........................................8

Chuck's Marina...........................................................57

Coach Kraft Upholstery...........................................75

Custom Docks............................................................20

Davco............................................................................75

Diamond Golf Cars...................................................26

Docks Unlimited .......................................................... 5

Electronic Technology Group..................................75

Froggy Bottom Materials..........................................17

George Hardy D.M.D.................................................. 8

Harbor Pointe Marina...............................................67

Henderson Glass........................................................75

Heritage South Credit Union .................................70

Hinson Galleries.........................................................12 Hughes Pools ..............................................................20

Just Blinds....................................................................... 3

Karen Channell State Farm .....................................75

Kowaliga Whole Health............................................76

Lake Martin Dock......................................................17

Lake Martin Mortgage...............................................61

Lake Martin Pressure Washing.................................. 6

Lake Martin Realty.....................................................27

Lake Martin Signature Construction.....................33

Lake Martin Storm Shelters ....................................57

Lamberth & Lamberth ..............................................57

Main Street Alexander City.....................................67

Mark King's Furniture ...............................................13

Moore Wealth Management ....................................79

National Village ...........................................................21

Off the Beaton Path .................................................... 8

Precise Pressure Washing.........................................75

Prime Management...................................................... 6 Red Hawk Detailing...................................................75

Reinhardt Lexus .........................................................53

Renaissance Electronics.............................................. 5

Russell Lands.........................................................39, 80

Russell Medical ............................................................. 2

Satterfield....................................................................... 5

Security Pest Control ................................................. 8

Singleton Marine.........................................................76

Sparkle Cleaning Services ........................................12

Sunrise Dock...............................................................12

Temple Medical Center .............................................. 8

The Kelly......................................................................60

Tippy Canoe................................................................67

TowBoat US ................................................................60

UAB Heart & Vascular ..............................................59

US Bank........................................................................26

Vacation Rental Management..................................75

Parting Shot

Photo by Kenneth Boone

"Nature uses human imagination to lift her work of creation to even higher levels." ~ Luigi Pirandello

How To Keep Your Retirement On Track in a World of Low Returns

By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.

As a retiree, are you at risk for outliving your income? A serious question for serious times. Recently, several key assumptions traditionally used in retirement income planning are being challenged by leading financial industry experts. Are retirees who made those traditional assumptions still okay?

For example, lately several famous market observers, including John Bogle¹, the founder of the Vanguard Group, have warned that investors should reduce their expectations for their stock market investment returns to 4% a year. Ray Dalio², founder of one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in the world, also recently warned that “investment returns will be very low going forward.”

In addition, several leading studies have challenged the validity of the traditional “4% rule.” Developed back in the 1990’s when interest rates were higher for CDs and bonds, the rule stated that if a retiree kept their withdrawals limited to 4% of their initial retirement portfolio balance, that it should provide a sustained income for thirty years of retirement. However, Wade Pfau³, a professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services and Michael Finke of Texas Tech University, found that given the sustained current level of low interest rates that the level of acceptable initial withdrawals needed to be limited to 2.85% to provide an income for thirty years of retirement.

The Stanford Center on Longevity recently published a study that recommended that retirees should focus on sources that were not exposed to stock market risk to cover essential expenses, i.e., Social Security or an annuity of one type or another. It found that if income to cover essential expenses was exposed to stock market risk that the emotional cost of worrying about meeting expenses during a stock market downturn would prompt many investors to make ill-advised investment decisions.

On Wednesday, September 28th, Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. will be conducting a complimentary webinar on methods of how to not outlive your retirement income. The workshop covers a number of issues including factoring in the above-mentioned changes to traditional assumptions, key risks (i.e., sequence rate of return and inflation), and various approaches to mitigating the risks of outliving your income.

If you would like to be included in the webinar, please call 256.234.2761 or sarah@moorewealthmanagement. com.

Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Auburn, Montgomery, and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement assets over $170 million (as of 1.21.2022) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 38 years. Contact Susan at 256.234.2761. Email contact is susan@ moorewealthmanagement.com

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation.

Make it their

256.215.7011 RealEstate@RussellLands.com RussellLands.com THE HERITAGE FROM RUSSELL LANDS. EXQUISITE WATERFRONT LOTS NOW AVAILABLE.

Firepits and birthdays. Starry nights and laughter. There’s no life more wonderful than The Heritage on Lake Martin. Set among Lake Martin’s nearly 900 miles of shoreline surrounding over 40,000 acres of pristine water, The Heritage is a 1,500-acre waterfront development along 12 miles of sparkling shoreline—all from Russell Lands, one of the South’s most respected land companies. The stunning community features spectacular waterfront and luxury interior homesites, as well as a flagship resident-owned lake club and private Coore & Crenshaw golf course. Don’t miss your chance to start your own cherished traditions.

Opportunities to rewrite your Heritage are now open. Contact us today.