Tennesse River System - Pickwick Lake

Smallmouth Bass dominated the springtime Bassmasters TOP 150 tournament on Pickwick Lake in 1999. In 2000, the Bassmasters Eastern Invitational showed the biggest bag of bass brought to the scales, over the course of the three day event, were smallmouths. However, largemouth抯 in the 8-9 lb. class were not to be outdone on this tremendous bass fishery on the lower Tennessee River system. Many trophy-sized largemouth抯 in the 5-9 lb. class were also weighed in during both of these Bassmasters tournaments.

Situated near the town of Florence, in northwestern Alabama, Pickwick Lake has survived the test of time. Summertime shows an excellent fishery for a variety of species of bass (and other game fish) near the lakes headwaters, below upper Wilson Lake dam. As below any Tennessee River impoundment dam, the huge smallmouth bass can average 5 pounds and trophy-sized smallmouths in the 6-8 pound are not uncommon.

The upper end of this huge Tennessee River impoundment gets a lot of notoriety and fishing pressure, but the lakes lower end also offers a variety of fishing situations. Many feeder creeks, vast weedbeds and loads of wood and rock cover, make up the mid-to-lower portions of Pickwick lake. Both day and night fishing is excellent throughout the summer months on this outstanding bass fishery.

DAY: When June arrives in Alabama the first hot, 90 degree days commence. As bass have fed and recuperated from the rigors of the spring spawn, many are now back to "full capacity" as the main lake waters begin to warm. Main lake water temperatures will now be in the mid- to-upper 80's.

As all species of gamefish, feed and follow the baitfish around, their travels will bring them to a dead end at the upper lakes headwaters, near Wilson Lake dam. These lake headwaters offer not only baitfish and crayfish, but also current, cooler water, and an entire area with high oxygen levels. As in most running water situations, all these bass need to do is to sit and await an easy meal.

Best times for tailrace fishing is when water is being discharged or shortly after it commences. Dawn is always good for schooling bass and stripers. Late evening or during rare, summertime, rainy or cloudy days, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid-striped bass and white bass, can be found attacking schools of baitfish in the first 2 miles of Pickwick Lakes headwaters.

Lures of all sizes, shapes, colors and actions take these voracious feeding fish of all species. Long cast's may be needed with topwaters, spoons, lead tailspinners, rooster tails, crankbaits, rattletraps or Pradco's, Rattlin' Spots. Grubs, gitzits, tube baits and other shad (or crayfish) imitations, drifted in the current or cast to the schooling fish, will also take numbers of fish on-or-near bottom.

Mid-to-downriver on Pickwick Lake is so spread out that an angler can feel lost when searching out summertime haunts of these ever-roaming schools of bass. Some of the best creeks near the lakes headwaters and around mid-portions of Pickwick Lake (that always deserve a little exploring) are Spring Creek, Little Cypress Creek, Coffee Slough, Dry Creek, Sinking Creek and Little Bear Creek. Can't bear the heat? Night fishing, is the right fishing, for summer on Pickwick Lake.

NIGHT: Like most Tennessee River Impoundment抯, Pickwick Lake shows an ever-increasing interest in the nighttime smallmouth fishing. When searching out these hard-fighting, jumping bass during the nocturnal hours keep in mind (just like during the day) bass will be in shallow water feeding. More than likely these bass will be even shallower after midnight, when most bass cruise the shallows looking for baitfish and crayfish.

At Pickwick lakes headwaters, just below Wilson dam to the bridge, lies some of the best smallmouth fishing in the south. Even during nighttime tournaments 5 bass bags weighing 20 pounds is a common sight. There of countless numbers of 5-6 pound smallmouths weighed in each week. You can catch these bass at all hours of the night with a variety of lures fished in many ways. When water is generated, as during the day, drifting with live bait can't be beat. But challenging these bass after dark with fake offerings, takes a little knowledge of what works best on a regular basis.

Chosen and proven favorite lures for fooling these bass range from top to bottom and many choices can vary among anglers with certain fishing habits. Many soft plastics, including the old standby, the worm, will always take a few bass. Always try various lure shapes, sizes, tail actions, monofilament line class, lure weights, and colors. Generally, 4-6 inch model worms, or small crayfish, lizards, centipedes and other creature imitations, will fool even the most of the big feeders. Plus, try tube baits, shad imitations and small, curly tailed grubs, all fished on light line with jig head weights or bullet weights, rigged Texas or Carolina style (experiment with leader lengths).

Experiment with darker color choices on these lures, especially in stained water or at night. Try natural colors in clearer water situations. All of these bottom-bumping lures are best for targeting these often finicky feeding spotted bass or smallmouths. The bigger bass of these species, and some largemouth抯, prefer a full-sized meal, especially during low-light periods, and bigger worms or other lures may be needed to entice a strike. This goes for oversized jig and pork combos, or jigs adorned with big, plastic chunks, crayfish trailers, twin-tailed trailers or plastic lizard trailers. Large crayfish imitations, 6-8 inch lizards and oversized grubs are also popular, fished Texas-rigged with 1/8 to 1/2 ounce bullet weights on bottom at night, for all of these species of bass.

Dropping, or slow-rolling spinnerbaits, along or near the bottom, is always a great "Big Bass" tactic throughout the night, on any lake. Heavy model spinnerbaits in the one half to two ounce models are needed, so bring plenty. Include trailer hooks, especially if fish are constantly missed, or if the lakes bottom is fairly clean and hangups can be avoided. Short strikes are common so replace or sharpen all hooks. Darker-colored spinnerbait skirts and trailers are the norm, but on bright, cloudless, moonlit nights, colors such as red, chartreuse or white, can bring amazing results, so bring various color choices and styles. There are even times when pork trailers are better than plastic add-ons, so always have both and experiment to see what the bass prefer.

From mid-to-upper water levels, bass will hit a variety of lures at night on Pickwick Lake, to many to go into detail on for now. (see other Lake tips at www.fishingalabama.com for more lure suggestions.) Always include lures such as jerkbaits, crankbaits, rattletraps and even soft jerkbaits and floating worms, plus various topwaters, especially after midnight, in very shallow water. This is where the "Big Bass" feed after dark on Pickwick Lake, and unlike bright, hot, sunny days, they can be fooled into striking during these low light periods.

As mentioned throughout these summer tips there are many ways to catch bass when it gets hot. Preparing yourself, your tackle, your boat, and all that fishing equipment, for night fishing, takes a whole day of getting organized. Properly packing necessary items and checking all boat running lights, bilge pumps, aerators, boat trailer and lights, tires, bearings, and charged batteries, always avoids unneeded problems later. Trailer bearings should be greased or replaced and all tires must be checked, including air in both the vehicle and trailer tires, or replacing all. This includes checking the air in the spares to. Don't wait to discover it's flat, when you need it the most. Its no fun being broke down on the side of the road in the dark, for hours, when you could be catching fish.

Emergencies call for a number of tools, safety items and first aid kits. These are a must, for anything can happen on an all night fishing trip. Spare fuses, props (for the outboard and trolling motor) oil, gas, food, drinks and ice, are hard to get after dark. Make sure to make a checklist, and "check off" all of these necessary items, as you pack for the trip. Let a loved one at home know where your going, what lake, what route your taking, what boat launch or marina, when you will be back and a phone number to call for emergencies, especially when you are gone night fishing. A cell phone can be a life saver. Get one or borrow a friends.

Have an enjoyable day or night fishing trip this summer. Practice Catch and Release. Your fishing future depends on you. Don't trash up our lakes, their all we have. Always wear your life jacket and outboard motor kill switch. The life you save, may be your own. Watch out for the other guy and be safe this summer.

Note: See, "Night Fishing Then and Now" at www.FISHINGALABAMA.com for more info about preparing for SUMMERTIME'S Nocturnal Bassin'. See you on the water...Reed Montgomery.