PICKWICK LAKE
By Reed Montgomery
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com
Lake Level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Upper 80's
SUMMER ON PICKWICK LAKE
LOWER LAKE
If you have never fished the lower end of Pickwick Lake, you may be surprised. Most anglers that visit this Tennessee River Impoundment in North Alabama, never venture far from the lakes headwaters. Starting at the lower lake dam there is plenty of cover and bottom irregularities for anglers to target and for bass of all species to relate to.
Bear Creek, the largest feeder creek on the lakes lower end, does show excellent smallmouth habitat, with deep rock bluffs, small pebble points, humps and ridges, including many deep river ledges and drop-offs found here. Largemouth bass can be caught in this huge creek, from the creek mouth to the shallow stump flats in the creeks headwaters. Weedbeds, piers, boat houses and a winding feeder creek loaded with wood cover, produce quality largemouth bass throughout the summer months. Even a few spotted bass can be found, often mixed right in with other bass species.
Second Creek near the lakes lower dam is also a good creek for day or night fishing this summer. Rock bluffs, rocky boulder-strewn banks, piers, boat houses, a bridge surrounded with rip-rap rocks, and weedy, stump-filled flats all show a variety of cover situations. Although the lake is deep on this lower end and quite featureless, fish will relate to slight irregularities found along the main lake. Small pockets, cuts, and broken off banks, are excellent choices for fishing day or night, throughout the summer months. From Pickwick dam to Natchez Trace Parkway bridge, there are many places to explore this summer, on the lakes lower end.
MID LAKE
Before you travel up (or down) this lake, study a map. You will immediately notice Koger Island, just above Natchez Trace Bridge. It is an excellent place to fish when water is being generated. You will also notice the lack of creeks in this midlake region, although over a dozen "small Branches" do exist. Only a few major feeder creeks in this mid lake area are worth investigating this summer. Mulberry Creek, Horseshoe Bend Creek, Dry Creek and Little Bear Creek, do have water depths deeper than 10 feet, and all of these feeders hold a good concentration of bass, most are seeking the shade and cooler current found in these creeks.
There is an abundance of visible and submerged islands, rock bluffs, underwater ridges and bars, and plenty of creek mouths and rock piles (actually old Indian Mounds) in this mid lake region. Some map study and the use of your electronics, will aid an angler in discovering these hidden hotspots. Smallmouth bass are known to inhibit these mid lake waters, feeding on washed in meals, brought to them by the strong current of the Tennessee River System. Striped bass and hybrid striped bass are also found in these rocky drop-offs. The largemouth bass prefer the more slack water areas and can be found in the creek mouths, far up in the creeks or along wood and rock cover found on the main lake, generally out of the swift current.
UPPER LAKE
Most anglers that have fished Pickwick Lake, have found the lakes headwaters to hold a variety of fish species. Some anglers never fish any further than 3-4 miles from the lakes headwaters, below upper Wilson Lake dam, featuring swift, tailrace waters. This is smallmouth country and many huge smallmouth bass in the trophy category, are caught from these swift, tailrace waters each season. As when fishing below any dam, it is mandatory all boat occupants wear a life jacket when fishing or navigating within 800 yards of the dam. With hot, 90 degree plus days now at hand, many anglers fish at night in these lake headwaters, to avoid the daytime crowds and to beat the heat.
There are also many other places to explore, when the fish are not biting at the dam. A canal, right beside the dam, lined with miles of rip-rap rocks, shows smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass, gathering here throughout the summer months. This canal leads upriver to a Lock, where barges and huge boats are allowed to lock through the dam. Fish feed along the rip-rap rocks, found on both sides of this canal, when water is being released through the lock.
Just above the Mc Farland Park public boat launch (near the town of Florence) is a bridge, and further upstream about 1-2 miles, within site of the dam, is another bridge. These bridge pilings hold fish of all species year round, feeding and holding out of the swift current found here. Three to four miles below the public launch is a series of mid lake islands. Seven Mile Island, the biggest of all, is sitting right in the middle of the lake. Swift, main lake current splits here and joins several other rocky islands in this deep river bend. There are also many backwaters to explore, including Coffee Slough, hidden from view on the lakes Northern shores. Little Cypress Creek, right below McFarland Park public boat launch, winds far back in the hill sides, and holds a good concentration of bass and stripers, especially in the creek mouth during water generation or when evident current is visible.
Explore the 50 plus miles of water on Pickwick Lake this summer and discover some new fishing holes of your own. Or call Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133 and see how to fish this huge lake day or night. "Over 40 Years Fishing Pickwick Lake and other Alabama Lakes for Bass and Stripers"
NOTE* See My Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com Just click on the "fishing tips" link for updated summertime fishing tips and lure suggestions, for both day and night fishing, on Pickwick Lake (and other Alabama Lakes) this summer.
This report provided by:
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Reeds Guide Service (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: ALABASSGYD@aol.com
Website: www.FISHINGALABAMA.com