Pickwick Lake Fishing Report - 3/10/24

Bass - The recent big bass tournament took over 84 pounds to win with 15 bass over 3 days. With 60 pounds needed to be in the top 20, Pickwick definitely showed that there are some large bass biting in the lake. Great thing is the numbers of not only largemouth, but also Smallmouth that were weighed in. Last week, the top baits of choice was the Forward Facing Sonar Minnows and also the Alabama rig. Jenko Lures makes an excellent bladed Alabama rig and is the one we have been using lately. The 3 inch Booty Shaker swimbait by Jenko on the outside with the 4 inch in the middle has been the key. Also, there were some great bass, including the lunker of the tournament caught on a shallow running crankbait. Not all bass are deep and the lunker of the tournament caught by a co-angler was caught on a crankbait. Early in spring we like Red and orange a lot. Some great lure choices are the Jenko CD-5 and CD-7 as well as other crankbaits that run in that range. With the huge rains coming this week, look for there to be a real good crankbait bite and maybe even adding a CD-15 into the mix if the water gets rolling as expected. As of today the water is only 408.9 but expected to rise fast in the next few days. If its 412 or higher and current over 90,000 the bite will for sure change but can be fantastic and help guys that want to fish without the forward facing sonar.

Crappie - Fantastic last week with crappie still sitting over brush in 20-30 foot of water. Still baits like the Jenko Big T Fry daddy 2 inch and Big T Jenko Tickle Fry. colors with a little shad and chartreuse have been the deal. With the rise in water and current, fish will move more to current breaks this week probably on main creek points and the river crappie will be about impossible. But if you find them, they will group up.

Catfish - Slow last week, but with fresh water and rising water, expect that to bust lose this week. Find current seams on the river and drift your bait of choice on the bottom and hold on. Fishing will also be fantastic on the TN river below the Pickwick Dam with the gates open.

Sauger - Still Slow with not many keepers coming. Not sure why sauger seem to run in cycles for years. Last year was a fantastic year below Pickwick Dam and this year it has been slower with even less non keepers. With the flood gates expected to open, this will probably completely shut that down this week.

White Bass - Below Pickwick Dam is the place to be. sit in the cuts on side of the river where the water is slack and have a blast. Small Swimbaits like the jenko booty shaker 3 inch or curl tail grubs in white or Chartreuse will fill the cooler. This bite will be fantastic thru March when the water and weather allows as they move up to spawn.