A look at Pickwick Lake

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The Elites Series moves down the Tennessee River for this week’s Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, the third stop in a nine-event schedule. The event is hosted by Visit Florence.
The Elites Series moves down the Tennessee River for this week’s Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, the third stop in a nine-event schedule. The event is hosted by Visit Florence.
Pickwick Lake, which has been the venue for six pro level Bassmaster events as well as several B.A.S.S. Nation championships recently, is known for multi-species and numbers. “Pickwick is more magical than anywhere else on the Tennessee River system in March,” said first-year Elite Justin Atkins, who lives in Florence. “You get the trifecta of bass opportunities with big largemouth, big smallmouth and big spotted bass.”
Pickwick Lake, which has been the venue for six pro level Bassmaster events as well as several B.A.S.S. Nation championships recently, is known for multi-species and numbers. “Pickwick is more magical than anywhere else on the Tennessee River system in March,” said first-year Elite Justin Atkins, who lives in Florence. “You get the trifecta of bass opportunities with big largemouth, big smallmouth and big spotted bass.”
Impounded by Pickwick Dam in Tennessee, the lake is a 52-mile long reservoir of the famed Tennessee River with 43,000 surface acres and 490 miles of shoreline.
Impounded by Pickwick Dam in Tennessee, the lake is a 52-mile long reservoir of the famed Tennessee River with 43,000 surface acres and 490 miles of shoreline.
McFarland Park in Florence, Ala., is tournament central, with daily takeoffs there Thursday-Sunday at 7:45 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 4 p.m. ET.
McFarland Park in Florence, Ala., is tournament central, with daily takeoffs there Thursday-Sunday at 7:45 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 4 p.m. ET.
The 100 anglers will depart from the park facilities inside O’Neal Harbor on the northeast end of the lake, and a number will take a left and head under the Lee Highway bridge.
The 100 anglers will depart from the park facilities inside O’Neal Harbor on the northeast end of the lake, and a number will take a left and head under the Lee Highway bridge.
It’s a short jaunt from takeoff to one of the famed fishing holes on Pickwick, the Wilson Dam tailrace. Long known as the Shoals, which lends its name to the region’s cities, the rocky bottom with often strong currents is home to multiple species of fish.
It’s a short jaunt from takeoff to one of the famed fishing holes on Pickwick, the Wilson Dam tailrace. Long known as the Shoals, which lends its name to the region’s cities, the rocky bottom with often strong currents is home to multiple species of fish.
The dam was built to aid navigation, but it created a haven for swift-water loving smallmouth and also holds largemouth, both of which feed when water is moved through the dam.
The dam was built to aid navigation, but it created a haven for swift-water loving smallmouth and also holds largemouth, both of which feed when water is moved through the dam.
The region near Wilson Dam has been a great fishing hole since its construction, as evidenced by these successful anglers from the 1940s.
The region near Wilson Dam has been a great fishing hole since its construction, as evidenced by these successful anglers from the 1940s.
In the most recent Elite event on Pickwick, Bassmaster TV’s Davy Hite mixed a handful of smallmouth in his bags as he plied the tailwaters for 84-9 to win his eighth and final B.A.S.S. title. The year before, Kevin Short won the Elite there with 75-1, catching two 6-pound largemouth on the final day. In 1998, Mark Menendez, who is in this year’s field, won the Alabama Top 100 with 60-3.
In the most recent Elite event on Pickwick, Bassmaster TV’s Davy Hite mixed a handful of smallmouth in his bags as he plied the tailwaters for 84-9 to win his eighth and final B.A.S.S. title. The year before, Kevin Short won the Elite there with 75-1, catching two 6-pound largemouth on the final day. In 1998, Mark Menendez, who is in this year’s field, won the Alabama Top 100 with 60-3.
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship has been held at Pickwick in two the past three years, both times in November. Wisconsin’s Pat Schlapper targeted smallmouth to win the 2020 title with 51-10 over three days, earning a Classic berth and taking the invitation to fish the Elites this year.
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship has been held at Pickwick in two the past three years, both times in November. Wisconsin’s Pat Schlapper targeted smallmouth to win the 2020 title with 51-10 over three days, earning a Classic berth and taking the invitation to fish the Elites this year.
Randy Pierson also has fond memories of Pickwick. In 2018, he won the Nation title to vault into the Elites. He benefitted from rains and the TVA pulling water from Wilson and creating current throughout Pickwick.
Randy Pierson also has fond memories of Pickwick. In 2018, he won the Nation title to vault into the Elites. He benefitted from rains and the TVA pulling water from Wilson and creating current throughout Pickwick.
Pickwick, which ranked 13th in Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes of the Decade in 2020, provides great bass habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth in the middle and lower reaches. A recent Alabama Bass Trail event was won with 27 pounds, and there were 20 bags over 20 pounds.
Pickwick, which ranked 13th in Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes of the Decade in 2020, provides great bass habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth in the middle and lower reaches. A recent Alabama Bass Trail event was won with 27 pounds, and there were 20 bags over 20 pounds.
The long-range forecast could provide incoming water to help keep current flowing, and temperatures will be stable through practice before a cool down as competition begins.
The long-range forecast could provide incoming water to help keep current flowing, and temperatures will be stable through practice before a cool down as competition begins.
Hite said that if the weather holds, it might take 100 pounds to win on Pickwick. He said prespawn bass should be staging deeper but fish will be caught shallow on jigs, crankbaits and vibrating jigs. The Elites are coming off the Tennessee River event, a couple locks upstream, where Canadian Jeff Gustafson found a deep smallmouth school to win with 63-0.
Hite said that if the weather holds, it might take 100 pounds to win on Pickwick. He said prespawn bass should be staging deeper but fish will be caught shallow on jigs, crankbaits and vibrating jigs. The Elites are coming off the Tennessee River event, a couple locks upstream, where Canadian Jeff Gustafson found a deep smallmouth school to win with 63-0.
On the line at Pickwick is the $100,000 first-place prize and points in the Angler of the Year race, which Greg Hackney now leading with 190 points. Gustafson is second with 177.
On the line at Pickwick is the $100,000 first-place prize and points in the Angler of the Year race, which Greg Hackney now leading with 190 points. Gustafson is second with 177.