Fishing Reports     Tournament Results

Pickwick

Located in northwest Alabama on the Tennessee River, Pickwick Landing Dam sits in Tennessee, but the majority of the reservoir floods Alabama. The total surface area at full summer pool is 47,500 acres. Pickwick Lake runs 50 miles from Pickwick Dam to the Shoals area in Alabama and Wilson Dam. McFarland Park at Florence can host major tournaments.

Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the most sought after species by anglers. Pickwick Reservoir greatest reputation is its superb smallmouth bass fishing. A 14-inch minimum size restriction limits harvest of smallmouth bass in Alabama controlled waters. One of the most popular smallmouth fishing areas is the "Shoals" reach directly downstream of Wilson Dam to the end of Seven-Mile Island. Generation discharge from Wilson Dam creates a strong current in this area that smallmouth bass love. Another favorite spot is the discharge basin at Colbert Fossil Plant west of Sheffield, Alabama, where the warm water discharged from the power plant attracts fish during cold weather.

The lower reaches of Pickwick provide excellent habitat for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass habitat in Pickwick Lake is so good that several line class records have been certified by the International Game Fish Association.

Crappie are another favorite fish species sought by anglers. The majority of the crappie angling in Alabama occurs during the spring on Bear Creek and Second Creek embayment. Most of the successful anglers drift jigs and minnows along the creek channels to find concentrations of crappie. Crappie must be longer than nine-inches to be harvested from Pickwick Lake.

The tail waters of Wilson Dam provide excellent opportunities to catch sauger during the winter months when they migrate upstream to spawn. Blue catfish and channel catfish are also found in high numbers during the summer. Bank access is available on the south side at Sheffield and Muscle Shoals and on the north side in McFarland Park and Waterloo. Boat anglers can use Wilson Lock to fish Wilson Lake.

Fishing Reports

4/29/2008

Pickwick Lake elevation: 414 ft. Water temps are in the mid to upper 60s. The bass reports have been excellent. It took over 22 lb’s to win 2 different tournaments over the weekend, with several large stringers weighed-in in both. Most reports indicate a shallow bite with crank baits, spinner baits, and top water baits all catching good numbers of bass. After the morning topwater bite, the larger fish seem to be in deeper water, and may require finesse tactics to coax into biting. The crappie reports are fair. The shallow water bite is all but over with. That’s not to say that some anglers are not catching shallow crappie, but most are picking them up in 8 to 20 ft of water. Yellow Creek continues to be a popular area, as does Indian Creek and Mills Creek. The catfish anglers are starting to report some success on the rock walls, with Yellow Creek and along the main river being the best areas. As water temps continue to warm and approach 70 degrees, the catfish bite will only get better.

4/16/2008

Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.5 ft; water temps are in the low to mid 60s. The crappie reports over the last week continue to be good. A lot of smaller males are starting to show up in shallow water, with the quality females still in slightly deeper water (12 to 20 feet). Jigs have been out-fishing minnows this past week. The shallow bite for crappie should get better this upcoming full moon. The bass reports are good. Most anglers are catching good numbers with the quality bite tough to come by. Bass are showing up on points, flats, gravel bars, and in the backs of the hollows. Rattletraps and crank baits have been good baits for numbers; Carolina-rigged plastics and grubs have produced a few quality fish. The catfish reports are starting to pick up, with some shallow fish being found on the rock walls and in the hollows. Most folks are using night crawlers, liver, and cut bait. The catfish should be on the rock walls in good numbers by the first of May.

8/7/2007

PICKWICK LAKE/J. P. COLEMAN:

Pickwick Lake elevation is 413.3; water temps are in the low to mid 80s. The bass reports remain fair to good. Winning tourney weights over the weekend have been over 18 lbs. A variety of patterns are currently good. For the early bite, target the hydrilla and milfoil behind State Line Island; most anglers are throwing top water baits and spinner baits. Other popular areas for bass right now are the river ledges and underwater humps. Carolina-rigged plastics and 10-inch, t-rigged plastic worms have been best baits. A few quality bass are also coming on deep crank baits. The catfish bite has been fair; good current generation in the afternoons and evenings has improved the catfish bite. For current generation schedules, go to:

http://www.lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=PKH&DataType=All&SUBMIT=View+data

Most catfish anglers are hitting the river ledges with trotlines, jugs and rod-n-reel combos. Best depths will be 15 to 25 feet deep, with deeper water in the river channel nearby. Night crawlers, wigglers, liver, and cut bait are all catching catfish.

7/10/2007

Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.4 ft; water temps are in the low to mid 80s. The catfish reports continue to be fair to good. Most catfish anglers are now hitting the gravel bars and the river ledges. Best depths will be 15 to 25 feet deep, with deeper water in the river channel nearby. Night crawlers, wigglers, liver, and cut bait are all catching catfish. The bass reports remain fair to good. Catching numbers of bass is not difficult; getting the quality bite is. Several angles are reporting a good top water bite early off submerged grass beds and shallow points. After the top water bite, popular areas for bass right now are points in Yellow Creek, the main river ledges and underwater humps. Carolina-rigged plastics and deep crank baits are best choices for the deeper bite.

7/6/2007

Pickwick Lake: Guide Clagett Talley (731-607-5266) says good numbers of bass are still taking top water baits around shoreline cover just after sunrise. During the middle of the day, crank baits are producing a few good fish around the points and ledges. White bass are taking Bandit Crank baits around the sandy banks throughout the day. Stripers have been extremely slow.

7/3/2007

Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.2 ft; water temps are in the low to mid 80s. he bass reports remain good. Catching numbers of bass is not difficult; getting the quality bite is. The shallow flats from Panther Creek to Dry Creek are holding good numbers of bass right now; target grassy areas with frogs, spinner baits and top water baits. The deeper bite is coming off river ledges and underwater humps. Carolina-rigged plastics, jig-n-pig combos and deep crank baits are best choices for the deeper bite. Several good stripe (white bass and striped bass) reports continue to come in; underwater humps in 12 to 15 ft of water have been the best areas. The catfish reports continue to be fair to good; most catfish anglers are now hitting the ends of the gravel bars and the river ledges. Best depths will be 15 to 25 feet deep, with deeper water in the channel nearby. Trotlines and rod-n-reels are both catching fish; best baits will be liver and cut bait.

6/29/2007

Pickwick Lake: Guide Clagett Talley (731-607-5266) says bass are still easy to catch, which is good considering all other species are super slow. The early-morning bite has been excellent with top water baits fished around shoreline cover. When the morning bite dies down, you can throw a crank bait in the same areas and usually catch a few more fish. White bass are spread out compared to last month. But good fish are still taking Bandit Crank baits around the banks. Stripers have been extremely slow during the past few weeks. A few fish are taking bluegill in the area between the boils at Pickwick Dam and the first power line crossing.

6/26/2007

PICKWICK LAKE/J. P. COLEMAN: Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.0 ft; water temps are in the high 70s to low 80s. The catfish reports continue to be fair to good; most catfish anglers are now hitting the ends of the gravel bars and the river ledges. Best depths will be 15 to 25 feet deep, with deeper water in the channel nearby. Jugs and rod-n-reel combos have both been catching fish; best baits are cut bait, liver and night crawlers. The bass reports remain good; not many smallies caught over the last week, but good numbers of largemouth are showing up. The submerged grass behind State Line Island is still holding good numbers of largemouth right now. Most anglers are hitting the grass early and late with top water baits. Other popular areas for bass right now are river ledges and underwater humps. Carolina-rigged plastics, deep crank baits and jig-n-pig combos are best choices for the deeper bite. Several good stripe (white bass and striped bass) reports continue to come in; stripes are holding in a lot of the same areas as largemouth; jigging spoons have been best baits.

6/01/2007

Pickwick Lake: Guide Clagett Talley (731-607-5266) says most of the big bass have moved to deeper water. When they're active, you can catch good numbers on a Mann's 20-plus crank bait. Good fish are also taking top water baits around rocky banks just after sunrise. White bass have been harder to find this week, but a few anglers are still catching them on crank baits and white grubs around the gravel banks. Stripers have been scattered, and most anglers are having trouble locating them.

5/29/2007

PICKWICK LAKE/J. P. COLEMAN: Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.0 ft; water temps are in the high 60s to low 70s. The bass reports the last week or so have been pretty good. Most of the bass being caught are coming off humps and main lake points. A few bass are beginning to show up on the river ledges, but the numbers are not quite there yet. Best baits for bass have been deep crank baits and Carolina-rigged plastics; best depths have been anywhere from 12 to 20 ft deep. The lower end of the lake seems to be providing the bettor action right now. The catfish anglers are reporting a fair bite. Not much action on the rock walls over the weekend; most of the catfish anglers were fishing the river ledges and deeper gravel bars. Jug fishing has gotten real popular the last week or so, particularly just out from Eastport. The crappie bite has dropped off as we move into post spawn. The deep bite for crappie should pick up again.

5/25/2007

Pickwick Lake: Guide Clagett Talley (731-607-5266) says the bass are finally off the beds, but fishing is still good. He's been catching good numbers of bass using Carolina-rigged Zoom Speed Craws, Brush Hogs and 6-8 inch lizards. He's also had success with Bandit Crank baits around the rocky banks. White bass are running strong around the dam and in the Diamond Island area. They are hitting Bandit Crank baits in calm water and jerk baits in swift water. Small white grubs are also working well at times for white bass. Stripers are biting throughout the day. If you drift from the dam down to the first overhead power line that crosses the river with a live minnow and 1-3 ounce sinker you should score. Be sure to keep a top water bait or jerk bait handy because they have been busting the surface throughout the day. A few sauger are still being caught on bright-colored crank baits.

5/23/2007

Pickwick Lake elevation: 414.2 ft; water temps are in the high 60s to low 70s. Catfish anglers fishing the walls are starting to come out in numbers. The reports vary, depending on who you talk to, but based on past experience, once the water temps stay in the 70s overnight, the rock wall cat fishing really turns on. It’s still a little early, but a few folks are starting to report some good numbers. Best areas now have been in Yellow Creek, but as water temps warm, the walls all the way to Eastport will be good. Other fair to good reports are also being reported for blue cats; target the gravel bars and ledges just out from JP Coleman for best results. The bass reports have been good, with good numbers being reportedly caught from the lower end of the lake. A shallow and deep bite is showing up right now. The shallow bite has been in the back of Yellow Creek and on the river from Panther to Dry Creek. Top water baits, spinner baits and chatter baits are all good bait choices. The deeper fish are starting to show up on humps and ledges. Best depths have been 12 to 20 ft with deeper water nearby. Carolina-rigged plastics, deep crank baits and ¾ oz spinner baits are productive bait choices. The crappie bite has dropped off as we move into post spawn. The deep bite for crappie should pick up again.

Pickwick Tournaments

Yellow Creek Keeps Producing the Wins 7/15/2007

Team Chism Stays in Yellow Creek to Come Home with the Win (3.25.2007)

Team Chism never left Yellow Creek to find the 5 fish 13.12 Lb. sack that contributed to their win. Running South towards Bay Springs the father/son team started the day, fishing the canal section of Yellow Creek. The father/son team moved up yellow creek, picking up a fish here and there to seal the victory.

Team Turman/Cook improved to a second place finish by fishing grass at the main lake at Pickwick. The team used soft plastics fishing in and around grass mixed with hard structure. They had a limit of 12” fish by 8:00 and started the culling process which lasted all day. “We upgraded from 12inch. fish to 13inch. fish, and then to 14inches and then to 15inch fish.” They just progressively got bigger all day long.”

Team Galloway took another top 3 finish this weekend. This father/son team filled their limit by finesse fishing. “We stayed in one cut, and caught fish all day long. They just didn’t get any bigger.” Team Galloway used the backside of boat docks and the first drop-off as a target for their finesse tactic. Fishing from the first drop out to deep water was their ticket to their second top three finish of the year.

The rest of the field used completely different tactics in order to fill the live-wells. Tactics ranged from deep to shallow, finesse fishing to power fishing, fast paced and  covering water to slow and methodical. No matter what the tactic was, everyone was able to catch fish. Out of the 24 angler field only 4 came back to weigh-in without a limit. Days like that are just down right fun!