Spring
Fishing Lake Pickwick
Lake
level: down for winter pool 3-5 feet - w/rain varies
A smallmouth fishery so under rated, in the past only the Bassmasters
and the surrounding locals, really knew how good the fishing
was on Pickwick Lake. During The 1999 Bassmasters Eastern Invitational
on Pickwick Lake, this was clearly evident. Mark Menendez won
the tournament. By locking through Wilson Dam each day and catching
smallmouth bass on suspending jerkbaits, up in Wilson Lake, averaging
over 20 lbs each day.
One 5 bass limit of smallmouths, brought in during that cold,
late winter tournament, weighed almost 30 lbs. Several anglers
had smallmouths over 5 lbs. There were also two huge largemouth's
in the 89 lb. category caught in this Bassmasters tournament,
by Rick Clunn and by Alabama's Randy Howell. But now the word
is out on Pickwick Lake, an excellent bass fishery year round.
Pickwick
Lake In March
This 47,500 acre lake has loads of prespawn spots for both smallmouth
and largemouth bass. With lake levels still down for winter pool
navigation can be hazardous, so exercise extreme caution when
navigating Pickwick Lake. Study a map (www.fishinghotspots.com)
and use your depthfinder when exploring this lake in March.
Just
below Wilson Dam at the lakes headwaters is some of the best
smallmouth water in the South. As waters begin to warm in March
bass will gather here to feed and begin looking for slack water
areas to bed in. As below all Tennessee River Lake dams, the
current is often swift and dangerous. Wearing life jackets
is a must, for all boat occupants, when fishing below any of
these Lake headwater dams. Boating within 800 yards of the
dam, it's the law. Wear em', it could just save your life.
Drifting
with live bait is popular and takes many trophy smallmouth
bass in March. Live bait, catches anything that swims below
these Tennessee river dams. Lures can mop up below these dams.
March shows a lot of suspending bass hitting floating and suspending
jerkbaits. Lures like Excaliber's new Ghost Minnow and the
original LongA or Excaliber's suspending minnow are good with
a very slow, stop and go, erratic retrieve. As waters warm,
speed your retrieve on these lures and look for surfacing or
schooling bass. They will also rise to a well placed topwater
lure, but be fast, at times these fish of all species disappear
as fast they appeared.
Creek
fishing in March on Pickwick lake shows less water to explore,
with low lake levels. But many nice bass are still taken in
March in creek mouths, along main lake points and near the
lake headwaters in deeper creeks. Creeks and backwaters such
as Little Cypress Creek, Spring Creek, Coffee Slough, Sinking
Creek, Dry Creek and Little Bear Creek, all deserve a little
exploring...with caution, when navigating in low water. The
lake will return to full pool by the end of April.
Pickwick
Lake in April
April on Pickwick Lake will show some changes. Lake levels slowly
returning to full pool and several things, affecting the movement
of bass, taking place throughout the lake. Slightly stained water
or muddy water conditions from spring rains, warming water near
70 degrees, new grass of several varieties, and bass of all species
bedding or preparing to bed, will take place according to April's
unpredictable conditions.
Below
Cane Creek as you pass the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, the
lake will take on a riverlike appearance with smaller feeder
creeks and pockets. These outofthe current spots all have weeds,
stumprows, blowdowns, rocky banks and some have excellent spots
for both bedding smallmouth bass and some huge largemouth's,
some in the 10 pound class. Secondary points, humps, bars,
old underwater Indian mounds, ridges and submerged islands,
all hold trophy bass neglected by most bankbeating anglers
in Spring. Check out Little Cypress Creek, Dry Creek, Little
Bear Creek and around Seven Mile island, when fishing very
shallow in April on Pickwick Lake.
On
the lakes lower end many creeks go unnoticed due to more upriver
activity. Still, there is a well kept secret about excellent
springtime bassin' in such creeks as Bear Creek, Second Creek,
Yellow Creek, Panther Creek and Indian Creek, all found on
Pickwick Lakes lower end. Clearer and much deeper water, heats
slower than shallow, stained water, and on these lower lake
regions, there are a lot of bass bedding later in April than
upriver bass.
Pickwick
Lake in May
: From massive Pickwick Lakes upper lake headwaters, to the lower
lakes deeper creeks, the fishing is exceptional for smallmouth
bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass in May. May is often noted
as "the" topwater month. But on Pickwick Lake, May also shows
bass holding in areas that brought them shallow a few months
ago, as they leave the shallow water and head back to deeper
water, usually around the first week of June.
During
these transition times try fishing midlake areas, far back
up in creeks, or midways, around first and secondary creek
points. Fish with deepdiving Excaliber Fat Free shad crankbaits
in midtodeep running models. Spro's crankbait 25 series in
baby bass colors are also excellent running crankbaits. Jerkbaits
always generate a few strikes from all species of bass during
May.
Some bass, suspending away from the bank, will nail fast, erratic
retrieves with these injured baitfish imitating lures. These
anxious and hungry fish can be enticed with fast, erratic stopandgo
retrieves. Try Trilene Big Game 1015 lb. test monofilament line
on these jerkbaits, along with other floating model jerkbaits.
Storm's Suspend Dots and Suspend Strips will make floating model
jerkbait lures suspend. Experiment, for every lure takes different
amounts of added weight to attain perfect suspending qualities.
Pickwick
lakes lower end has lots of grass and in Spring, like on other
Tennessee River lakes, lure choice can vary. Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits,
shallowrunning crankbaits, rattletraps, super spots, floating
worms, lizards, soft jerkbaits, frogs and rats, all bring surprising
results. Try these and other lures in and around, the many
varieties of grass, that bass inhabit on Pickwick Lake, this
Spring.
Or call on Reeds Guide Service and learn to fish Pickwick lakes
shallow to deep water bass. "Over 40 years exploring Pickwick
lake in all seasons." Remember, a guided fishing trip with Reeds
Guide Service makes a great surprise Christmas gift, Birthday
gift, Father's Day gift, or good for any occasion, for those
loved ones that love to fish. See my website: www.fishingalabama.com
for more info.
Remember, a guided trip with Reeds Guide Service to any lake
in Alabama makes a great surprise Birthday gift, Fathers Day
gift or Christmas gift (certificates available), for those loved
ones that love to fish. Call today (205) 787-5133, or e-mail
me at alabassgyd@aol.com for
reservations this fall, winter or next year's spring and summer
seasons.
* Looking
for a new or used boat? Go to www.airportmarine.com for
a great deal! Also see their tournament trail link found there: www.airportteamtrail.com Alabama's
best paying bass tournaments!
* Looking for the best bass boat in the world? Go to: www.rangerboats.com
* See my website: www.fishingalabama.com for
more fishing tips, fishing articles, fishing website links, and
info on Reeds Guide Service.
Good Fishin'
Reed Montgomery
/ Outdoor Writer
" Alabama Radio Show Host and Television Host For Over 10
Years "
Owner / Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Birmingham, Alabama
Email: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Fishing, Guiding and Exploring Every Lake
in Alabama for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass
and Some Huge, Striped Bass ."
I
fished Tim's Ford 2 times this week. Monday the
25th I fished (4 hrs) by myself again and had 7 total. 3 Smallmouth-3
Largemouth and 1 Spot. (4 Keepers out of the 7) A pearl Prowler
Soft Shad with the tail dipped in JJ's Magic Chart worked again.
Sorry I don't have pictures-laying them in the seat just doesn't
do them justice. 
Mr.
Don Scarbough and we had a great 4 hours. The Prowler Soft Shad
and a Storm (Owned by Rapala) Suspending Wildeye Swim Shad paid
off big today. We had very little help wind wise and it took several
moves but we were able to connect on some good fish. The key was
staying around bait and keying in on suspended fish. The Wildeye
Suspend Shad works great for a quicker falling bait and the Soft
Shad for a slower descent. The Suspend Wildeye Shad comes in over
12 colors and 5 sizes. The Prowler Soft Shad in multiple colors
and you can't go wrong with any of them. If you don't have these
two baits you need to get some-they work...Thanks Don for a very
pleasurable day.
July
and August Fishing has been average this year. I apologize for
not getting many reports out this summer. Computer and camera
problems and being blessed with some lifestyle changes slowed
my fishing down the last two months. The Gar Fishing has been
great this summer which helps when things are slow. A 3 to 4
foot gar in waste high water makes for an interesting fight and
on the lighter side comical. The Trophy Smallies have been few
and far between but the numbers have been good in the 15 inch
range. Ten inch Rock Bass have been great and the numbers are
average. The same pattern has held early and late in the day
and has been best very late. There is a mid day bite in the deepest
holes with craw-dads and minnows and Sliders fished very slow.
Fishing the Case Jacks Worm Early and Late on top has been very
effective and of course live bait will work all day. With the
Cooler temps we a re hav ing, the top water bite should be great
in the mornings and start around 5 in the evenings.
Our
Streams were effected by the last two years of drought in that
the amount of ground water flowing into the stream beds is not
as prevalent this summer. This has caused the streams to be warmer
this year than I can remember causing a night bight just like
in our lakes. I waded two weeks ago and had a ball throwing the
Jacks worm and Case King Grub (between 9pm and 11pm) across the
top they would hammer it. If you know your waters it is safe
to wade at night. If you are not familiar with a stretch I would
not go.