Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Bass Trail is pleased to welcome Lake Martin to the state’s popular fishing trail for 2015. Lake Martin joins the South Division bringing the popular trail to 13 premier bass fishing lakes located throughout the state of Alabama.

Located in Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Coosa counties, Lake Martin is the largest lake in Alabama, encompassing over 44,000 acres. It has over 750 miles of wooded shoreline and is home to the country’s largest state park, Wind Creek. Lake Martin is a reservoir, formed by the construction of Martin Dam on the Tallapoosa River. Construction on Martin Dam began in 1923 and was completed in 1926, creating what was at the time the largest man-made body of water in the world. Lake Martin, while challenging for bass fishing due to water clarity of 10-15 feet, puts everyone on the same playing ground in search of the big catch.

“The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the addition of Lake Martin to the Alabama Bass Trail,” said Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ann Rye. “We consider it a tremendous complement to join this group of lakes and know that the trail will be enhanced with the addition of Lake Martin. We have heard many positive comments from the fishing community and we cannot wait to extend our hospitality to them. The creation of the Alabama Bass Trail and Kay Donaldson’s leadership has brought an economic engine to the state of Alabama and we are proud to support that effort. Alabama is rich in natural resources and it is exciting to see our governor endorsing and promoting this type of tourism.”

The lake will be featured online and in print with detailed information on each lake including the latest tips from professional anglers and guides, lake maps with hot spots indicated, and current weather and water data.

“We are excited to have Lake Martin as part of the Alabama Bass Trail. Lake Martin will work well with the other lakes currently on the Alabama Bass Trail to represent the best bass fishing in Alabama. Ms. Ann Rye and the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and community leaders have shown interest in being on the Alabama Bass Trail from day one and we are excited to be able to add them in 2015,” said Alabama Bass Trail Program Director Kay Donaldson.

For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org or call Donaldson at 855.9FISHAL.

About Alabama Bass Trail

The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Weiss Lake, Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Lake Martin, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.  For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.