![Bassmaster Elite Series pro and lifetime Alabama resident Matt Herren met up with photographer/writer Thomas Allen before Lake Martin went off limits to give him an inside look at the lake that serves as the opening tournament for the 2018 Elite Series season.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/0-img_1631.jpg)
![Alexander City, Ala., will serve as the host city for the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin presented by Econo Lodge, Feb. 8-11. A truly beautiful place.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1-g0314382.jpg)
![Matt preps his Yamaha before heading out on this cold early January morning.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2-g0013505.jpg)
![It was in the neighborhood of 25 degrees, which required the heavy layers. For Matt that is his StormR suit.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3-g0023523.jpg)
![Warm boots, too.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4-g0033548.jpg)
![He reminded me that it would be a very cold run across the lake. The veteran pro angler has fished many events on this lake across his impressive career.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5-g0043598.jpg)
“It can be a very tough lake to fish,” he said. “There are a pile of fish in here, but not many big ones. So this tournament will come down to ounces. Or whoever caught the most big fish. I hope that’s me!”
![He grabbed a few rods out to check a couple of spots. But we weren't going to do much fishing on this day.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/6-g0053626.jpg)
![I'll tell you this much for certain, and in the pictures to come you'll see that Lake Martin is a breathtaking body of water.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/7-g0063648.jpg)
![](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/8-g0073674.jpg)
![It's always better to freeze with a buddy.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/9-g0103758.jpg)
![Herren spent a majority of his time staring at his dash-mounted Humminbirds. A key tool for success on this lake.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/10-g0113789.jpg)
![Bait is plentiful, which means the fish will be healthy.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/11-g0123839.jpg)
![](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/12-g0133858.jpg)
![And we move.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/13-g0143898.jpg)
![And Herren looks for more proof of life.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/14-g0153919.jpg)
![Here is his command center.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/15-g0163957.jpg)
![](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/16-g0173985.jpg)
![This tournament will likely include a lot of](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/17-g0194048.jpg)
![He hooks up pretty quickly with a fish that represents the likely average fish that will be weighed at this event.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/18-g0204065.jpg)
![And again ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/19-g0214110.jpg)
![A near carbon copy of the previous fish.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/20-g0224122.jpg)
![And again ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/21-g0244200.jpg)
![This one looks a little better.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/22-g0254215.jpg)
![And it is. Herren said a limit of spotted bass this size each day will put you in contention to win. Maybe ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/23-g0264242.jpg)
![Off we go ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/24-g0274273.jpg)
![More scanning ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25-g0284303.jpg)
![The Minn Kota Ultrex will be a major player at Lake Martin in February.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/26-g0294331.jpg)
![I even got in on the action. But only once. We put the rods up after we hooked a few and continued our tour. Camera guys don't get to fish much, but when given the opportunity, I don't pass it up!](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27-g0304380.jpg)
![The lake is heavily wooded, but the structure base is primarily rock and scattered wood.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/28-bass0045.jpg)
![Long points that stretch out into the main lake will play, too.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/29-bass0075.jpg)
![Small bays.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/30-bass0078.jpg)
![Woody points ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/31-bass0096.jpg)
![Boulders ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/32-bass0130.jpg)
![Lots of open water, as well.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/33-bass0135.jpg)
![Deep points ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/34-bass0157.jpg)
![Long creeks ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/35-bass0184.jpg)
![Islands ...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/36-bass0239.jpg)
![And some impressive houses!](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/37-bass0264.jpg)
![The scenery is fantastic top to bottom at this place.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/38-bass0285.jpg)
![The structure is fairly consistent, making it tough to narrow down the winning pattern.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/39-bass0296.jpg)
![Aside from vegetation this time of year, Lake Martin literally has something for everybody.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/40-bass0335.jpg)
![](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/41-bass0346.jpg)
![Stumps everywhere.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/42-bass0362.jpg)
![Herren keeps an eye on his Humminbirds as we keep viewing Lake Martin.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/43-bass9937.jpg)
Thanks for sharing your insight with us, Matt. And good luck!