LABOR DAY LOVE

Russell Crossroads hosted 2 nights of music over the Labor Day holiday

PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & WILLIAM MARLOW

Clockwise from Above: Mark Tucker was with The Bank Walkers at Russell Crossroads on Saturday night; The Stew headlined the Friday night concert for a crowd; Boys tumble on the grassy lawn at the Town Green; Hotel Fiction closed out the concert series on Saturday; Hotel Fiction kept the energy up to the very last song; Auburn's The Stews played a rock-based repertoire.

Clockwise from Above: As darkness fell on Friday night, the stage danced in lights; Supper Club opened the festivities on Friday; based in Athens, Georgia, Hotel Fiction brought a unique sound to their indie, pop and rock platylist; Listeners were on their feet for the talented musicians; The Bank Walkers are a local favorite.

The scientic name of the Eastern Bumble Bee is Bombus impatiens, a nod to its fondness of the garden flower impatiens.

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

IIf you have flowers around your house – wildflowers or a planted garden – you have bumble bees nearby. They are among the most important pollinators in our environment, responsible for moving pollen around from plant to plant and keeping our forests and fields healthy.

North America is home to 46 different species of bumble bees that are typically identified by the color patterns – black, yellow and orange/red – on their bodies. In the world, the number of species jumps to 250, which live in mostly moderate climates in the Northern Hemisphere. But the most common bumble bee here in the Lake Martin area is called, appropriately enough, the Common Eastern Bumble Bee. These furry insects have black hairs on their head, abdomen and legs and pale-yellow hairs on upper body or thorax. Queens, which are the only female bumble bees that mate, are the largest at about 4/5 of an inch long. Males, which have yellow fur on their faces, top out at about 1/2 of an inch in length. The vast majority of each colony is made up of worker bees, females that are about 1/3 of an inch long. Both types of females – queens and worker bees – have black faces. These bees are native from North Dakota to the eastern seaboard and from Canada to Florida, but they are most common in the eastern United States. Eastern Bumble Bees are very adaptable, living in grasslands, cities, forests, marshes and the suburbs throughout their native range. When foraging, they move fast – “busy bees” is more than just a catchy phrase – from flower to flower searching for sugary nectar to drink and for pollen, which is packed with protein, to eat. Eastern Bumble Bees identify flight paths to reliable patches of flowers, and follow the same paths over and over in a process called “traplining.” By following the same path, they can save time and energy when foraging. These native bees visit a wide range of flowering plants including asters, beggar lice, rhododendron, mountain laurel, goldenrod, clover and many others found in the Lake Martin area, as well as lots of garden vegetables and flowers. This insect’s scientific name, Bombus impatiens, is a nod to its fondness of the garden flower impatiens.

Back in the nest, foraging worker bees regurgitate their pollen and nectar, combined with saliva and stomach enzymes, which creEastern Bumble Bees visit a wide range of flowing plants. ates honey that feeds the queen and the young larvae. The younger worker bees tend the brood while older worker bees forage for food. That pollen sticks to the hairs on the bodies, and so as they make their rounds they pick up some pollen here and leave some there, fertilizing plants as they travel. Male bumble bees do not work – their one job is to mate with the queen. They have reproductive organs where the females have a stinger. Eastern Bumble Bees communicate like other social bees, using wing vibrations, pheromones, vision and touch to spread the word about where flowers are blooming or threats to the colony. Common Eastern Bumble Bees live in underground nests. Unlike the Honey Bee, which was imported from Europe, Eastern Bumble Bees don’t make lots of honey because they do not need it to survive the winter – each generation of bumble bee dies in fall as the frosts come and the flowers fade.

Only the newly hatched and mated queens survive by spending the winter months in hibernation. When the spring comes the new queen – carrying the future of the colony – searches for a suitable location like an abandoned underground den made by other animals and converts it into a nest. The nest is usually 1-3 feet beneath the soil’s surface. The entrance to the nest is connected to the main room by a tunnel that can be 1 1/2 to 9 feet long.

Inside the nest, the queen begins laying eggs. Over the course of the spring, summer and early fall, she will lay

between 300-500 eggs that will become the next generation of the colony. The first eggs to hatch each year – after roughly a month of incubation – are the initial wave of worker bees. Males and the new queens emerge in early fall. The queen can live up to one year, the workers and males have much shorter lifespans, as short as one month.

Common Eastern Bumble Bees can sting when they feel threatened. While Honey Bees have a barbed stinger that pulls out of their body when they use it, killing the bee, the Eastern Bumble Bee females have a smooth stinger that can be used multiple times. It is said that a bumble bee sting hurts less than a wasp sting, more like a honey bee sting. Most of the time, the site of the sting becomes irritated and can sometimes remain so for several days. Some people have allergies to bumble bee stings, so if you don’t know whether you do, it’s best to not handle bumble bees.

Common Eastern Bumble Bees are raised commercially for use as pollinators in large greenhouse operations, especially those growing blueberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and raspberries.

So next time you see a flower shaking as an Eastern Bumble Bee collects for pollen and nectar, take a moment consider how important their work is for all of us.

Some information for this article came from The National Wildlife Federation, www.bumblebee.org, The Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan,

Eastern Bumble Bees identify flight paths to reliable patches of flowers, and follow the same paths in a process called "traplining.". Male bumble bees do not work, their only job is to mate with the queen.

Screened in Simplicity

TThere are lots of people around who say that America is getting soft and not in a good way. It’s a criticism. The inference is that if we had to face the huge challenges of prior generations, like the Great Depression or World War II, we would just give up.

Let’s face it: Some think America is so soft now that we can’t cope with anything beyond the range of a good Wi-Fi signal. We can’t stream our favorite reality show du jour? Forget about it. I’m not here to make any pronouncements on our country’s collective toughness or grit. I don’t think there has been any generation in history that thought, “Wow, kids these days are way tougher than we were.” But as a real estate agent, I do sometimes wonder about how we live when I notice a difference in homes built even 40 years ago versus those that are built now. Screened porches, to me, serve as a great reminder of this concept. They stare at us as time capsules.

They tell us not only when they were built, but also the priorities and concerns of those who built and used them. Since Lake Martin is a vacation home market where many of the first homes were built in the 1950s and ’60s, we have a chance to peer back in time as we squint through the screen. The very first image that comes to my mind is the screened door itself. Is there anyone among us, who, having heard the sound of a screen door opening and registered the telltale creak of that long spring, does not always remember it? Does any other door have such a distinctive sound as it is being opened? I don’t care what brand of screen door or where it is; they all sound the same.

Also, the intent and emotion of whoever is opening it is clear because when someone yanks it open, it creates a really high squeak and then slams shut. The high squeak and slam means either something is really wrong outside or someone is excited. Does any type of modern door convey that emotion? Is that where we want to be as a nation? With everyone having the same bland silent door openings and closings?

And what about security? Back in the old days, the only lock the screen door offered was a little aluminum hook that went on the inside of the door. All you had to do was wiggle the door open a little bit and put a knife in there or something and just flip the hook up to gain entry to the screened porch. Worst case scenario, if you were a criminal or you were truly desperate, you could cut a little slit in the screen and undo the hook that way.

Is that how carelessly we thought about security back then as a country? Is it a parallel to the story old-timers tell of being able to ride their bikes all over the city without fear? Nowadays, screened porches have cameras that are set off by motion and record audio and video that is 100 times more viewable than that of the moon landing. Are we that much under siege, America? Do we really need the security of Fort Knox just to guard the “Live Laugh Love” painting bought at Hobby Lobby?

Screened porches used to be mostly for storage. You kept things there that you knew you wanted to pick up on the way to the water. Gas cans. Outboard motors. Those cardboard boxes that came for free when you bought 100 crickets at the bait shop.

There was a downside, of course, to old porches. Unwanted items thrived there, like dead, dried up lizards. Ours had an insecticide from the 1940s that I’m sure contained gene warping DDT. It was one of those metal “atomizer “ sprayers. It was nothing more than a bicycle tire pump attached to a tin can of poison. It was exactly like the one Don Corleone used in his death scene in The Godfather.

Not so in this modern era. Our screen porches are oases, but are they testaments to our largess? Now, we have flat screen TVs; nice couches that are actually comfortable; and $50 candles.

Now is the part of this article where I’m supposed to wrap this all up with a call to return to the simpler days of Andy Griffith and Pat Boone. But I’ll be honest. If you come look at our screened porch these days, you would see that we have a flat screen, super comfortable sofas and Wi-Fi that’s thicker than the fireflies of your youth. If someone were nice enough

to give me a kegerator to put on our screened porch, trust me, I wouldn’t turn it down. In fact, I’d come pick it up and save them the trip. So, yeah. I’m guilty. Maybe I’m contributing to the soft edge of America with my cushy screened porch. But I’ll tell you this: It’s our family’s favorite spot to hang out. Isn’t that worth something? Can’t we embrace the new possibilities of modern homes without laughing LAKE PROPERTY at our pasts? True, the screened porches

BY JOHN COLEY of yore lacked entertainment, but their base deliverable was simply to keep away mosquitos. And yes, today’s screened porch might not need that 11th throw pillow. But isn’t comfort always a laudable goal? I think we can love old home design and embrace new comforts. But then again, maybe I’m wacky on pre-war insecticide and scented candles. John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Realty. Email him at john@lakemartinvoice.com.

Surprising Results

LLake Watch of Lake Martin partnered with Auburn University last year to conduct a scientific study of surface water draining from Lake Martin’s watershed into the lake (see Lake Watch goes hi-tech with AU microbiologist, Lake Magazine – July 2021). The study was funded by a grant from the Alabama Water Resources Research Institute and matching contributions from Lake Watch and Lake Martin HOBO. The study focused on four streams that drain landscapes with mixed land uses and flow into the

Tallapoosa River, which then flows into the upper lake.

We observed a proliferation of new chicken houses popping up above the lake and were concerned about what impacts the chicken waste (litter) would have on the waters flowing into Lake

Martin. Lake Watch had been testing these streams for a couple of years and had found high levels of E. coli in the streams following significant rain events.

E. coli is a bacterium that inhabits the gut of warm-blooded animals (livestock, wildlife) and humans. Its presence in water indicates fecal contamination – a health risk to those that recreate in the water.

Once Lake Watch discovered the presence of high E. coli in streams above the lake, the next questions were: Where’s the poop coming from, and is it impacting the lake? The AU researchers,

Dr. Feng and her graduate student Wenjing Ren, used microbial source tracking to analyze water samples from the four streams and the Tallapoosa River at

Jaybird Landing, where Lake Martin begins.

MST employs genetic marker analysis to identify the critters from which the fecal contamination or animal

tissue originated – like the testing used on NCIS to identify criminals. The researchers analyzed water for the presence of four different genetic markers: a human bacterial marker; a cattle bacterial marker, a chicken bacterial marker and a chicken tissue marker. E. coli concentrations were also measured. Water samples were taken on 11 dates from September 2021 through May 2022. Half of the sampling targeted rain events when the streams had elevated flow, and the other half targeted dry periods when the streams were at normal level. AU results verified Lake Watch monitor test results showing high concentrations of E. coli in the streams mentioned above in the Lake Martin watershed after significant rain events. To our surprise, humans and cattle were the main sources of fecal contamination in the streams and the river at Jaybird Landing regardless of rainfall/streamflow levels. Both sources were found in all four streams and at Jaybird Landing and were highest after significant Preliminary rain events. Crooked testing results and Timbergut creeks at four upstream creeks varied from Lake Watch expectations usually had the highest concentrations of human and cattle genetic markers, as well as the highest concentrations of fecal contamination. Timbergut Creek had the highest levels of fecal contamination, with six of the 11 sample dates having E. coli levels above EPA standards, mostly after rain events. Chicken bacterial genetic markers were detected much less frequently, only on three sample dates in only three streams, Timbergut, Emuckfaw and Hillabee and

at Jaybird Landing, after rain events.

Chicken tissue genetic markers were detected most frequently (on every sample date, 11 of 11 dates) in one stream, Crooked Creek, and also downstream in the Tallapoosa River at Jaybird Landing, on six of 10 sample dates, after rain events.

So what does this mean for the lake? For the time being, the proliferation of chicken houses above the lake appears to not be a threat to Lake Martin, according to the study. A major consideration is that the litter in chicken houses is only cleaned out once every two to three years. It is conceivable that the study may not have captured the impacts of chicken litter since the study was done over a limited time period (nine months) and could have missed impacts from chicken litter spread on local fields. Another possibility could be that chicken farmers are using appropriate best management practices that retain chicken waste on their fields so very little runs off into streams. And yet another confounding factor – when petroleum prices are high, manufactured fertilizer prices go up, and chicken litter becomes more valuable. Under these circumstances, poultry farmers sell their litter for use by farmers as fertilizer, and it is trucked out of the watershed and has no impact on local water quality. We don’t know the amount of litter spread during the study. Whatever the case may be, we need to keep an eye on the expanding poultry production in our watershed.

Based on the results of the AU study, it appears that we do have an issue with human and cattle waste in streams emptying into the river and ultimately into the upper lake. We need to work on tracking down these sources of contamination and get them resolved.

The detection of chicken tissue markers coming down Crooked Creek on every sampling date and detection at the beginning of the lake at Jaybird Landing was also a surprise. More testing is needed to determine the source of chicken tissue in Crooked Creek. We don’t yet know the implications of this finding and will need assistance to determine whether this poses any threat to lake users. We’ll keep you posted.

Be sure to check the Lake Watch Swim Alert at lakewatch.org/swim-alert to get the latest E. coli test results throughout the lake and at Hillabee and Emuckfaw creeks. Be safe and enjoy the water. And consider helping us out in our mission to protect our treasured lake, go to lakewatch.org/get-involved to learn more. LAKE WATCH BY ERIC REUTEBUCH

Learn more about Lake Watch at lakewatch.org.

WATER ACCESS

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91 Barlow Road, Equality • $450,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Judy Voss 256.794.0779 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 • $999,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Adam Yager 205.914.0830 LakeMartinRealty.com

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Black Beans

Seasoned Black Beans

2-3 cans low sodium black beans, undrained Juice of 2 fresh limes 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste

Place black beans in a sauce pan with all liquid from the can. Add juice of two limes. Add cumin, paprika and chili powder to taste. Bring to simmer for 15 minutes, making sure you have enough liquid in the saucepan. Add very small amounts of salt and pepper to taste. Serve as a side dish or over rice, alongside crunchy chicken tacos.

Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

1 cup uncooked quinoa 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 avocado, cubed 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup fresh parsley 1/4 cup green onions, diced 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning Salt and pepper to taste

Cook quinoa according to directions; then, cool. Combine black beans in a large bowl with avocado, tomato, feta, parsley and onions. Add in cooled quinoa. Mix vinegar, olive oil and seasoning in a small bowl; then, pour and mix into salad. Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigTThe growing trend to consume plant-based foods and the affects of the pandemic has encouraged consumers to purchase and stock pantries at Lake Martin and beyond with plant-based proteins. This has increased the sales of dried and canned beans exponentially. Black beans have taken on the starring role in many kitchens, providing an inexpensive, readily available, versatile, high protein staple.

Black beans are called pulses, which are the edible seeds of legumes. They are native to the Americas, including Central and South America. Black bean consumption dates back 7,000 years ago, when they were considered a staple of Central and South American diets. Today, black beans are a common ingredient in the dishes of Latin

American countries, such as Mexico, Peru and Columbia.

Black beans did not gain popularity in North America until the late 1900s.

In Mexico, black beans are used in tacos, enchiladas, burritos and many side dishes. Peruvians use black beans to make tacu-tacu, which is a thick cake of rice and beans topped with a fried egg. In Venezuela, they are served with thick corn cakes called arepas. In the United States, black beans are eaten with rice, salads, tacos, arepas, stews, chili, burgers, egg scrambles and grain bowls.

This high-protein staple is grown from seeds in pods and is harvested about 95 to 105 days after planting.

Black beans are nutrient dense, providing a great source of protein and fiber and containing iron, zinc and calcium, which promote growth and immunity. They are loaded with phytochemicals that exhibit antioxidant properties.

While the exact nutrient profile differs brand to brand and type of beans, in general, 1/2 cup of cooked black beans contains 115 calories; .5 gram of fat; 20 grams of carbohydrate; 8 grams of dietary fiber; 8 grams of plant protein; 1.8 milligrams of iron (10 percent of recommended daily value); 305 milligrams of potassium (6 percent of daily value); 60 milligrams of magnesium (14 percent of daily value); 23 milligrams of calcium (2 percent of daily value); and 128 micrograms of folate (32 percent of daily value).

Consumption of black beans has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The fiber in beans could help lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, in turn improving risk factors for heart disease and

other cardiac conditions. Black beans provide 30 percent of the recommended daily fiber intake for women and 20 percent of the recommended daily fiber intake for men.

Fiber helps slow down blood sugar response, which leads to a more gradual rise in blood glucose. Blood sugar management is important in the prevention of diabetes and other health issues that often accompany it, such as kidney disease, heart disease, nerve damage, vision loss and fertility issues. The fiber in black beans helps promote normal bowel function and also fuels the lining of the gut. Black beans serve as a prebiotic to feed probiotics, which help to balance the good and bad bacteria in our gut. Consuming enough fiber by eating beans will help to prevent and manage diarrhea and constipation, as well as other digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease and colon cancer. There are some negatives to beans, but the positives outweigh them. You may experience gas when adding beans to your diet. You can reduce this experience by gradually adding beans to your diet in

HEALTHY LIVING small amounts. Soaking beans

BY JULIE HUDSON helps to ease this side effect, as does drinking plenty of water. In addition, beans contain an anti-nutrient that is thought to interfere with mineral absorption. Soaking and cooking beans reduces the antinutrient content. Canned beans contain high amounts of sodium. Always choose low- or no-sodium canned beans and rinse them before eating or cooking.

As with all foods, the quality of black beans differs, depending on the brand and method of preparation. Canned beans are cooked before being canned, which creates a convenient product with long shelf life. Dried beans may offer a fresher means of preparation. While not as convenient, dried beans are less expensive, can be prepared in bulk and have lower sodium content than canned beans.

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

Black beans offer high protein in a variety of delicious dishes

OCTOBER 2022 LAKE 63

Marinated Olives

Ingredients

4 to 6 cups any mix olives (We use kalamata and Castelvetrano’s) 1/2 cup minced garlic 1 tablespoon fennel pollen 2 cups extra virgin olive oil 8 oranges, juiced and the zest from one

Directions

Steam the garlic, fennel pollen and EVOO for 30 minutes. Place the olives, orange zest and the juice in a plastic container. Pour the EVOO mix over the olives and chill overnight. CHEF'S TABLE

BY PETE MCKENNY

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.

The Perfect Holiday Gift

JJudging from some store displays and advertising, the holidays are upon us. For most retailers, the busiest time of the year runs from Halloween to the end of December. That means family gatherings, gift giving and parties.

Gifting wine offers a wide range of opportunities that parallel the purpose and gesture of appreciation associated with gift giving. As with any gift, common sense and appropriateness are especially important when giving wine. For example, as a hostess gift, wine is often a welcomed gesture unless the recipient is a teetotaler or just doesn’t care for the wine you might choose. Also, note that the hosts for a dinner party may have planned the menu around their own choices. Don’t be disappointed when your hostess gift is not served.

If you are buying wine for a gift, spend no more than what you are comfortable with, which in some cases may seem extravagant and leave the receiver uncomfortable. If pulling wine from your cellar, make sure that – as fine a wine as it might have been at one time – it is not too close to peak but still has some time before it is past prime. Selecting wine for a gift often takes considerable thought. Ultimately, it is truly the thought that counts.

With that in mind, here are a few high quality wines that could please almost every taste at a variety of price points. Of course, this list is not exclusive. There are a lot more good wines than would fit neatly into one box.

Our staff members and friends brought each wine to the table to consolidate our lists and discuss our individual suggestions. Though it is doubtful that these selections would satisfy every palate, the list is a snapshot of a bunch of good wines from which to choose. It is not, however, set in stone and could change, a little, by tomorrow. It is a sliver of the wines that we would not hesitate to recommend and are available in this market.

Our choice for an alternative white is Tea Leaf Chenin Blanc ($18) from South Africa. We use “alternative” to identify those grapes that are not everyday names and don’t have a specific category. Chenin Blanc is often overlooked

despite being South Africa’s most widely planted variety. Another alternative wine is from the Savoie district of eastern France. The primary grape for the light, dry and somewhat acidic Savoir Blanc ($15) is Jacquere (jahKEHR). Alternative for sure.

The Sancerre area of France’s Loire Valley is well known for the crisp, acidic white wines from the Sauvignon Blanc variety. Our Domaine Durand Sancerre ($32) is a winner for any occasion, as is our pick for a Pinot Grigio. Terlato ($22), with subtle fruit flavors and great texture, is from one of the best areas for Italian wines, Friuli.

For a touch of elegance, reach for the bubbles. Charles Bove Brut ($18) is a dry Champagne made in the traditional method from grapes in the St. Hilaire area of the Loire Valley. Diora Rosé ($18) is also a very elegant, light copper-colored wine from the juice of California Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir is also our first red wine selection. The Calling ($24) is a California Pinot showing a nice balance of flavor, acidity and structure. Next is the Ricossa Barbera Appassimento ($21). Barbera is the grape; appassimento is the process of drying the fruit; thus, concentrating the aromas and flavors while adding a delicate sweetness to this wine. Obviously Italian. This world tour now takes us to one of Spain’s most important and most famous regions, Rioja. The Tempranillo-based Izadi Reserva ($21) is aged for at least three years with one year in oak barrels. Chateau Saint-André-Corbin ($25) is a Bordeaux from the St. George-St. Emilion area of France. The blend of 70 percent Merlot and 30 percent Cabernet Franc is an interesting addition to our list.

In Bordeaux and Loire, Malbec is a blending grape; in Cahors, France, it is a prominent variety producing dark, full-flavored wine. In Argentina and Chile, Malbec is King. The 100 percent Malbec, Black Tears by Tapiz ($56) from the Uco Valley of Mendoza is rich and luscious, as is the last wine in this grouping, Black Stallion Napa Cab ($29). This is pure grace with soft tannins and hints of cherry and plum.

That is a pretty good list of excellent wines covering many styles, varieties and categories. But to be complete we need to include three more categories: honorable mentions, great value and splurge. We limited those to just two wines for each.

The red wine honorable mention is Jadot Beaujolais ($16), a step up in quality from Beaujolais Nouveau. Also called the Thanksgiving wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November and not a minute before. The Gamay grape used in the Beaujolais wines makes a light and fruity red that goes very well with the holidays. For those who enjoy a sweeter wine, Pizzolato Moscato ($15) is sweet with only 7 percent alcohol. It is a very popular white wine.

For our value wines or best bang for the buck, we chose Lago Vinho Verde ($11) from Portugal. It is light, 10 percent alcohol and 70 calories. For a red value wine, we suggest Reschke Cabernet Sauvignon ($15) from Australia. Both are party favorites with screw caps at great prices.

Finally, we’ll splurge a little. The white we selected is Remoissenet Chassagne-Montrachet ($95) a white Burgundy (Chardonnay) considered to be among the best in the world. Our red splurge is the 2016 Cain Five ($120), a blend of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Enjoy responsibly and happy holidays.

FROM THE CELLAR BY HENRY FOY

Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine and Spirits at 128 Calhoun Street in downtown Alexander City with one of the area’s largest selections of premium wines and cigars. Email him at emporiumwine128@gmail.com.

Big Bass Conundrum

Speculating on the reasons for small Alabama bass on Lake Martin in recent years

LLake Martin is not known for being a big-bass factory. There are giant largemouths, more than we realize in the lake. And there are some Alabama bass (fka spotted bass) topping 5 pounds. They are rare, but they are here. Lake Martin is better known as a numbers lake; meaning, you’re probably more likely to catch a bass or multiple bass on any given day here, though the average size might not be as big as most other lakes.

A few years ago, we experienced some of the best fall fishing I’ve ever seen on Lake Martin. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of 2-pound to 4-pound

Alabmaa bass were schooling all over the lake. Since then, many anglers, including me, have been on edge expecting to see that phenomenon again. For some reason, it just hasn’t happened on that level. It seems as though the fishing in Lake Martin has gone through some changes.

Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you’re looking for in your trip.

The trend I’ve noticed on

Lake Martin and other lakes in the area is the sheer number of smaller bass present while it seems there are fewer large bass. In the past, it’s been common to run into areas that are full of small bass. If you kept looking around, you could find some groups or patterns that produced numbers of fish that were 2 pounds and up.

But, the past couple of years, it seems there are huge schools of smaller bass all over the lake.

I wonder. I don’t have the answers, so you won’t find a reason for this phenomenon at the end of this article. But speculation could give us some things to think about, and you just can’t go wrong thinking about fishing.

Could it just be the quality of electronics now are so good, especially with forward sonar, that it seems there are more fish? Possibly. But other sonar technologies have been around more than 10 years, and that would’ve already revealed these huge schools of smaller fish. The last year that we saw multiple big schools of the quality 2-pound to 4-pound fish was 2019. What has happened since then? We had a unique early turnover that year just before those fish showed up; then, the weather and water got extremely hot again over the next several weeks. Were the big fish stressed to the point they did not recover? The population of blueback herring in the lake was seemingly at a peak. Bass were gorging on 4- to 7-inch blueback herring that seemed to be everywhere. We haven’t seen the schools of large blueback herring as much since then. Could the extreme changes in dissolved oxygen availability and water temperature during that weather event have stressed the herring population to a point of no return or, at best, a delayed return? Did that year’s class of would-be big bass have a bad spawn in years past due to water conditions at the time? Water level, water clarity, temperature or a number of other things may not have been optimal. That could potentially leave a gap in the numbers. There’s also a unique possibility in the pandemic. I don’t guess the bass were affected by COVID directly, but more people were fishing during the peak of BIG CATCHES the pandemic than in a long, long time. It was a good thing for the industry, and I was happy to see how BY GREG VINSON many people were out fishing for the first time, but did the extra fishing pressure take a toll? Fish were getting more pressure, more often. In addition, there was a period when folks didn’t know if they’d even be able to go to a grocery store because of lockdowns or just fear of contracting COVID. Were an increasing number of larger fish kept for food? Is forward facing sonar just making some fish harder to catch? Especially the older, larger and

undoubtedly more educated fish? Forward sonar reveals fish in places we rarely suspected. Anglers are more capable of presenting a bait directly to the fish more often now, regardless of where they are positioned. Could they just be getting used to our offerings and biting less?

Does a younger year’s class of fish dominate the Alabama bass in an unbalanced cycle for now? I witnessed this phenomenon about 10 years ago fishing Lake Jordan very hard. One year, I was catching a lot of 4- and 5-pounders; and all of the sudden, it seemed the lake was just full of 1.5- to 2-pound fish. Those are small ones for Lake Jordan. Over the next three years, I watched them put on about a pound each year until five-fish limits of Alabama bass weighed 20-plus pounds again. Could there be a gap in a year class of fish due to a bad spawning season or some type of disease like a Largemouth Bass Virus?

Should we keep more 1-pound and smaller bass to thin the herd and allow the others opportunity to feed and grow? Or, by removing the more aggressive fish that bite artificial baits, are we setting ourselves up for a population of fish that are tougher to catch as the smarter fish repopulate the lake? Releasing the 2-plus- and 3-plus-pound fish seems like a good practice either way to me. They are the survivors and can leave us with some good genes if they get the opportunity to spawn again.

The common theme here may seem a little frustrating because there are more questions than answers at this point. I suspect, and again, it’s just one angler’s opinion, that it’s a combination of a few of these possibilities. Or perhaps I’m missing it altogether.

For now, I can only say time will tell as we see what happens with the large population of smaller bass in Lake Martin. The past experience with Lake Jordan leaves me optimistic that whatever the reason, we have some good fishing to look forward to in the coming years. Hopefully, many of these smaller fish will grow up to be the 3-plus-pound fish that are considered big Alabama bass on Lake Martin.

Let’s enjoy the good bass fishing on Lake Martin now when it comes to numbers. Occasionally, we’ll still see a few of those big Alabama bass. It’s good for young anglers to get some action to keep them engaged. Each catch brings a learning experience on where to look for fish, how to present a bait, how to detect a bite and how to get the fish in the boat.

With time, maybe we’ll get to see these fish grow up, and we’ll see more big bass, along with a nice balance of up-and-comers to keep the population strong.

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.

Local man among winners at SE Mid-Amateur event

Alexander City's Walker Grant (right) and Robert Nelson of Fairhope wrapped up the Senior Division title at this year's Southeast Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Willow Point

WWalker Grant of Alexander City and Robert Nelson of Fairhope claimed the Senior Division title in the 4th Southeast Mid-Amateur FourBall Championship, which was played at the end of August at Willow Point Golf & Country Club in Alexander

City. They fired 11-under 61 to close; Nelson electrified the field with eight birdies and one eagle. Altogether, they went 20-under 196 for the tournament. The Mid-Amateur Division title went to Alan Coshatt of Birmingham and Dalton

Melnyk of Atlanta, Georgia, who posted six-under 66 for the day.

Altogether, they went 23-under 193 for the tournament.

Brent Whitehead and Kirk Whitehead of

Atlanta, Georgia, made birdie on No.17 and eagle on No. 18 to finish one stroke behind at a low seven-under 65 for the day. They carded a 22-under 194 for the tournament.

Harlan Winn of Birmingham and Thomas

Iturbe of Nashville, Tennessee, claimed third, posting a nine-under 63 to close. They fired a 21-under 195 for the tournament. Finishing second in the Senior Division, Jeff Taylor and Shaw Pritchett of Montgomery carded a four-under 68 for the day and 19-under 197 overall. 2021 Champions Kevin Jordan of Smyrna, Georgia, and Ray Harris of Leeds claimed third. They teamed to shoot sixunder 66. They went 17-under PAR for the COURSE 199 for the tournament.

WITH MATT SHEPPARD The Mid-Amateur Division played 7,161 yards while the Senior Division played 6,709 yards. The championship is co-conducted by Willow Point Golf & Country Club and the Alabama Golf Association. Matt Sheppard is PGA professional director of golf at Willow Point Golf & Country Club.

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.

lamberthandlamberth.com

256-234-6401

6 Franklin Street • Alexander City

Alex City Marine.......................................................... 6

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

AVSP..............................................................................70

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

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

Chuck's Marina...........................................................60

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

Custom Docks............................................................64

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

Diamond Golf Cars...................................................57

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

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

Froggy Bottom Materials..........................................60

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

Grove Station..............................................................64

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

Heritage South Credit Union .................................63

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage ..............75 Just Blinds....................................................................... 3

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

Kowaliga Whole Health............................................75

Lake Martin Dock......................................................19

Lake Martin Mortgage...............................................60

Lake Martin Realty...............................................24, 51

Lake Martin Signature Construction.....................31

Lake Martin Storm Shelters ....................................37

Lamberth & Lamberth ..............................................74

Main Street Alexander City.....................................46

Mark King's Furniture ...............................................17

MedHealth ...................................................................59

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

National Village ...........................................................77

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

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

Prime Management...................................................... 6

Raining Dogs Gallery ................................................75 Reinhardt Lexus .........................................................13

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

Russell Lands...............................................................80

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

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

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

Singleton Marine.........................................................37

Sparkle Cleaning Services ........................................30

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

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

The Kelly......................................................................30

The Learning Tree ......................................................59

The Salvation Army ...................................................74

Tippy Canoe.................................................................. 6

TowBoat US ................................................................12

UAB Heart & Vascular ..............................................35

US Bank........................................................................19

Vacation Rental Management..................................74

Luxurious Amenities: Resort, Golf, Tennis, Fishing, Spa, and Wooded Trails

Everyday Grandeur

DISCOVER A LUXURIOUS GOLF LIFESTYLE LIVING ALONG GRAND NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

Tucked away on the outskirts of Auburn University at the world-class Grand National Golf Course, the award winning National Village offers everything you’ll ever need for the way you want to live. The thoughtfully crafted master planned community features georgeous homes designed by national award winner Larry Garnett and built by Ab and Don Conner at Conner Bros. Construction Co., Inc., a local company with more than 100 years of experience. With the Marriott at Grand National on site, residents enjoy championship golf, miles of picturesque nature trails and lakes for fishing, spa and pool. National Village is truly an unbelievable place to live – inside or out. Plus, thanks to the high speed fiber optic network of Opelika (Alabama’s first Gig City), our homeowners enjoy some of the Nation’s fastest internet for any work- or learn-from-home requirements.

Parting Shot

Photo by Kenneth Boone

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." ~ John A. Shedd

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.