Elite

Dock Talk: Pickwick Lake

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Craig Lamb
The Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake. Summertime and bass fishing. The sum of the whole equates to prime bass fishing on the signature underwater ledges strung along the river channel. 
The bass spend the summer on the offshore ledges, favoring the current generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and specifically where the river runs through the Tennessee Valley of northern Alabama, from Guntersville to Pickwick lakes. 
That all begs this question as practice came to a close. Will the ledges be the top performers for the playing field? We posed that question as anglers arrived back at Pickwick Landing State Park, host venue for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake. Like they say on that news channel. We report and you decide. Is it truth or just dock talk? 
“I believe someone will land on the motherlode and it will be won on the ledges. I found fish out there but couldn’t catch those fish,” said Schultz. 
Like most anglers we interviewed, baits covering the entire water column were piled on the front deck.
And the winning weight is? “An 18-pound average each day.”
Next up was the “ledge master” Brandon Lester.
“I have not found any healthy grass, so I don’t think there is any other sustainable option other than the ledges. Can somebody catch 20 pounds in shallow one day? I say yes, but they won’t be able to do that all four days and win it,” said Lester. 
“It absolutely will be won on the ledges. It’s Pickwick Lake, in the month of June, and the water temperature is 82 degrees. Add it all up and that’s the perfect setup for a ledge tournament. It will be won out and deep.”
And the winning weight is? “83 pounds.” 
“I think it will be won deep because that’s where the fish are headed. I’ve caught fish deep, spent many hours idling and looking at electronics.”
“Historically, a June tournament on the Tennessee River has not been my strengths. It’s the dynamics of it all. I’m a deep-water guy but not this kind,” said Pirch. 
And the winning weigh is? “78 pounds.”
“There is no question that it’s going to be won deep. The Tennessee River in June and they are out there. It’s not easy but it will be won out there.”
“My practice hasn’t been great, but I’ve spent my time looking for schools of fish, and I’ve found 15 or 20 of them out there. It’s not easy but they are out there,” said Foutz.  
And the winning weight is? “82 pounds.”
Pickwick Lake empties into Kentucky Lake, home fishery for Matt Robertson.
“It’s going to be won offshore. The only challenge I see right now is getting on the right schools. The community holes are going to be loaded up with boats.”
“The only problem is going to be people fishing on top of each other. Finding a subtle sweet spot away from a community hole will be huge,” said Robertson. 
And the winning weigh is? “I think 22 pounds a day wins; 12 1/2 a day gets a check.”
“We’re on the Tennessee River in early June, so there’s no question that it will be won deep. I think we have a few things working against us that not only affect deep fishing here, but throughout the country.”
“Here, it’s several things working against us. There was a large college tournament here last week and those kids are great fishermen and they know how to dial into the big schools of offshore fish using their electronics. So, you can definitely tell by fishing that you are fishing for a fish that has seen literally every bait. Another thing is our technology is so advanced with the forward-facing sonar and the down-scan that you can pull up on them, see them and then they vanish.”
“Given all that, I think it’ll still be won out deep, but we are going to have to go out there and grind it out. If you get on a place where they are, you’ll have to slow down, downsize, using light line and be really patient,” said Williamson. 
And the winning weight is? “I think if somebody catches 18 or 19 each day, they will be very strong. If you can catch 16 or so a day, you’ll be in the Top 10.”
“It will be won offshore. There are fish to be caught shallow but they won’t hold up for four days to win it.” 
“You’ll have to decide if you just want some points and stay shallow, or go for it all in deep water,” said Downey. 
And the winning weight is? “75 pounds.” 
“I’m not sure it will get won deep. It’s really tough out there. Everybody found everything. I’m sure there is some secret little spot out there where somebody will load up.”
“I think it’s going to be won on a random shell bar in 4- to 8-feet of water. There might be a hidey hole that I know nothing about where it might get won. But the offshore fishing is not great,” said Livesay.
And the winning weight is? “68-5.”

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