Elite

A look at Pickwick Lake 2022

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The top B.A.S.S. circuit returns to the Tennessee River for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, June 2-5, out of Counce, Tenn. The Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau is serving as host.
This will be the ninth Bassmaster pro level tournament on Pickwick Lake, which has hosted several other B.A.S.S. circuits, including Nation Championships.  
Impounded by Pickwick Dam in Tennessee, the lake is a 52-mile long reservoir of the Tennessee River. While some of lake is also in Mississippi, the large proportion of Pickwick’s 43,000 surface acres and 490 miles of shoreline are in Alabama. Pickwick is known for healthy populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Tournament central is Pickwick Landing State Park, 116 State Park Road in Counce. Daily launches are set for 8 a.m. ET, with weigh-ins at 4:10 p.m. ET. The expo opens at noon on Saturday and Sunday, and Bill Dance will hold a meet and greet Saturday only. All B.A.S.S. venues are free to attend.
Last year on the eve of the Elite, heavy rains hit the Pickwick watershed, flooding the region and postponing the tournament’s start. When they began the event on Saturday, the Elites were greeted to water levels 6 feet higher than during practice.
While the high water made relocating fish difficult in some areas down river, Chris Zaldain was among the anglers who plied the gushing Wilson Dam tailrace to great success. On the first day of competition, there were six bags topping 20 pounds, including leader Koby Kreiger’s 25 pounds, 12 ounces.
Bill Lowen, fishing down river, cut Kreiger’s lead to 11 ounces after Day 2 with that day’s biggest bag at 23-13. Lowen tied Chad Pipkens for the lead after three days with 62-10.
On the lower end of Pickwick, near this year’s takeoff, Hank Cherry, reeling in a bass last year, and Tyler Rivet posted Top 10 finishes.
With heavy flow, Wilson Dam was a hotspot throughout last year’s tournament. Stephen Kennedy took several rides in the rough water.
Kennedy found it well worth the risk, catching good-sized smallmouth and bringing in two bags topping 20 pounds. He finished fourth with 77-4. Water flow is key to producing bites on Pickwick.
Brock Mosley, one of the more experienced anglers on Pickwick, made the Top 10 fishing around the bluffs close to takeoff and Wilson Dam.
Mosley’s 22-14 was the biggest bag on Championship Tuesday and his second in the event topping 20 pounds, giving him 80-11 and second place. This year, Mosley said he expects it will again take more than 20 pounds a day to win.
Lowen, who had three second-place finishes, received some inspiration from mentor Denny Brauer the night before the final day. Brauer, a Bass Fishing Hall of Famer, told Lowen to go catch a 7-pounder on their favorite black and blue jig.
Lowen, known as the guy “who will 12-pound you to death,” did Brauer’s suggestion one better.
He landed a monumental 8-5 that gave him his third 20-pound bag and a winning total of 83-5.
Lowen, who had qualified to 10 Classics and cashed checks in 73% of his events, had won his first tournament in 159 B.A.S.S. entries. “I guess it kind of puts the icing on the cake, it kind of solidifies your career,” he said.
This event is shaping up to be a ledge fishing affair. The anglers should enjoy stable weather conditions with storms hitting Thursday.
Brandon Palaniuk took over the lead in the Progressive Bassmater Angler of the Year standings at the last event on Lake Fork, and he has hopes of doubling up on his 2017 title. He leads John Cox by 20 points and David Mullins by 41. Jay Przekurat holds a 22-point lead in the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race over Joseph Webster, who will be fishing on his home water at Pickwick.
With another medical hardship, the Elite field is down to 91 anglers. Each will take off from the Pickwick Landing State Park hoping to win the $100,000 top prize and make positive moves in the AOY standings. Bassmaster LIVE will bring on-the-water action during competition.

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