Bass Fishing - Bass fishing has been very good over the past couple weeks as the water finally cools to upper 50's. Both largemouth and smallmouth can be caught anywhere from shallow on bluff points and transition banks to suspended right on the first drop. Many of the large sacks are coming from people livescoping and throwing a jerkbait, alabama rig or shaking a minnow such as the Jenko Don with the revolution head. This is a time of year when there is a little wind that i love to take a suspending jerkbait and just cover points until i figure the depth range. Smallmouth is also good in the tailraces when the water is on, so its critical to watch the generation schedule. Crappie Fishing - ITS TIME! to me this is the best time of the year to be out crappie fishing. Traffic is lower and you can catch them shooting docks, drifting, or fishing deep brush. Really the key is wind that allows you to present your bait right. THe past 2 weeks, lots of limits caught deep on brush on the 3 inch lil don jenko bait and the 2 inch tickle fry on a 1/8 head. If you are shooting docks, its critical to go to lighter weights no larger than a 1/16 head and baits like the fry baby from jenko have been the best. Most of our success has been in major creeks but we have found the patterns to be good all the way from the TN dam to bear creek and waterloo, so its not one specific area. Catfishing - Unreal this week. Out on a bass trip this week and a good friend kept 20 nice white cats caught on a Jenko Don minnow. They are suspended and really feeding up so can only imagine what you could do with true bait. This was on the main river above the dam. Sauger - Just starting to show up below the Pickwick Dam. Heard a couple limits caught this week, but the nastier the weather or colder the better this gets. Several 20 inch fish caught this week. Brim - Loading up deep on barge ties and the dam walls. Also, you can drop shot a worm or even fish a small jig in cuts below the dam and fill the coolers up! They get in bunches and its one of the best ways to catch a big mess of fish. We understand its hunting season and many people think its cold, but proper clothes and some care (lifejacket on or very close) and it can be the best time to be on the lake. The change of leaves, eagles and wildlife is plenty and the fish are biting!

Bass - The bass seem to be behind their normal trends this year and plenty of fish are still shallow on brim and shad spawns. Fishing a finesse jig or soft plastic around docks or bluffs are getting bit on the TN end. The offshore bite has been slow to say the least, but we all expect as water warms some fish to move offshore any day. When they do it will be Jenko 20 and 25 time, Tremor Heads (Scroungers) and your favorite big worm or Jig. Crappie - Still excellent. Any brush 12-18 foot deep in main creeks have crappie in them. If the wind allows, use a 1/16 jig as most of the crappie sit on top of the brush but if windy a 1/8 will work but seems a smaller swimbait style like the Jenko Tickle Fry gets more bites to create a reaction. If the wind allows using a baby Fry or straight tail in natural colors has worked real well. Brim - Starting to BUST OUT! The full moon this week has them biting all over the lake. Look for coves with gravel and don't be scared to fish 4-6 foot deep for the larger ones. Fishing a black beetle or just dropshotting a worm has caught all the fish you want with an occasional catfish mixed in. Stripes/White bass - If you don't follow Donald Hedge you should. He has continued to catch tons of fish all summer early and late below the dam. If you want an awesome trip i would suggest you look him up. Top waters and swimbaits like the Jenko Booty Shaker have been tearing up the stripers and white bass. Catfish - Spawn has started and you can catch them on bottom on the river or this is the time of the year you can fish a cork with worms along main lake bluffs and really load the boat. Great way to take the family fishing.

Bass - You can find largemouth in about every facet. Post-spawn, Spawning, and some even Pre-Spawn still. You can fish shallow or deep and in between. Best baits shallow continue to be Jenko Booty Shaker Swimbaits, spinner baits and chatterbaits fished around rocky areas with shad. There is a start of a shad spawn all over the lake and its hit or miss early and late to find the ones with bass in them. One day this week we found 10 shad spawns and no bass, then the next day we found 5 with bass in all 5, and big smallmouth in the last one. The next couple weeks as the days warm should make more bass find these early in the morning. After the sun gets up, can fish same areas with Shakey heads and Carolina rigs to catch those bass. Also, there is a start of some moving offshore with Swimbaits and Crankbaits working. The JEnko 15 and Jenko 25 have been the hammers for those schools offshore. This has been better later in the day when water is pulled. Of course the live scope bite is going still as well. Crappie - Crappie spawn starting to come to an end, but tons of crappie being caught on break lines in 12-18 foot right in front of spawning areas. Live scoping floaters or brush is the big thing, but also slow trolling and drifting are working as well. Catfish - Starting to spawn and will be great in May. A lost way to fill the cooler is fish bluffs in the month of may with a cork and redworm and fill the cooler. Also catfish can be caught on the river ledges as well, but there is nothing better than watching a cork sink with kids. Brim - Just starting and will get better toward the full moon in may. Look for beds in the back of any of the pockets off the river. What an awesome way to fill the cooler and get kids (and big kids) hooked on fishing. If you don't know anybody, call Hunter Nanney and let him put you on them for your family.

Bass - Bass are in all facets of the spawn . Some have finished and are guarding fry, some of still shallow spawning while still another big group are moving in and will spawn on the next full moon. With the water finally being at summer pool or very close, more of the bass move shallow and have learned to time their spawn with the rise of water more than the water temps. Shakey heads, Small jigs, Carolina rigs or your favorite soft plastic like a lizard are working great. ITs a great time to get shallow and get lots of bites. Last weekend it took over 24 pounds to win a local charity tournament with several more over 20 pounds. Crappie - Excellent week. Many of the crappie are in all phases of the spawn. Some have finished and are moving back out to the first cover away from the bank. Another group is still on stumps and gravel points and areas spawning with a smaller group still offshore waiting to come in. The Jenko tickle fry has been the bait of the spring on a 1/16 or 1/8 Jenko Warhead depending on wind. Also the jig polers are starting to pick up much more as they move to the first cover offshore. Many of these people are using livescope to target the fish, but also some drifting is also catching them good. Target major creeks where most of the crappie spawn takes place. Pickwick Lake Guide Hunter Nanney caught several good limits last week even with Corks and live bait and Corks and Jigs for those that love watching their cork sink. Catfish - On about every crappie trip, 4-5 good eating size catfish are caught which means they are moving shallow. Look for the first of May to have an excellent catfish spawn. Take a slip cork and some redworms and get on main river or creek bluffs and drift down them and fill the cooler and catfish love to spawn on the bluffs. White Bass - Still running on the river strong. TN River guide Donald Hedge still had days over 200 last week and can put you on them. Small swimbaits like the Jenko Booty Shaker 3.25 or small grubs can do most of the damage as the White bass are in cuts, on points, or really any eddie along the river. Best area has been below the dam. Brim - A few being caught while crappie fishing, but they are normally mid may to June when they really move in to spawn. The TN river is an excellent place to fill coolers when this happens and is an awesome family trip.

Bass Cole and Cooper Walker Bass are moving shallow and spawning all over the lake. With the water being 416 last week, there were some good flipping fish and also some good fish with the current below the dams, but as this week hits, water is back close to summer pool which should put more of the "dragging" patterns into place. Small finesse jigs, shakey heads, or your favorite T Texas rig lizard should be a great thing in just about any pocket on the lake. Remember fish will spawn a little deeper on Pickwick, so make sure to fish it off the first drop. Several of the tournaments over the weekend took over 25 pounds with 5 fish to win. Current and the TN river always equals big weights. I expect numbers to go up greatly this week, but the weights maybe down some. Crappie Wide open in the spawn. Can catch them scoping the post and pre spawners in front of spawning coves or points as well as catch them casting grubs or small swimbaits. Seems like most days later in the day the crappie move up more shallow and are easier to catch. The Jenko Tickle Fry has been the bait of spring and depending on wind fish it slowly on a 1/16 or 1/8 jig head. Scopers have been fishing out to 15 foot, but most of the people casting have been in 6-8 foot. Catfish Was an awesome week last week. Current on the TN river means its wide open. Also another pattern is starting to show up as some catfish start to move to spawn. As you crappie fish, often you catch 4-5 good eater catfish. As we enter later April and May you can fish corks and worms on any of the main creek or river bluffs and have a blast catching spawning catfish. White Bass If you are not following Donald Hedge or Hunter Nanney on Facebook you should. Both of these guys are catching hundreds each day on the river. Should be another awesome week as they finish their spawn even with the lower water. If you can get in the boat with one of these guys you should! The Jenko Booty Shaker in 3.25 has caught not only loads of white bass, hybrids and stripers but some giant smallmouth mixed in.

Bass - Many of the fish last week were starting to stage and moving shallow to spawn. Shakey heads, Smaller Finesse Jigs, and Carolina Rigs fished on secondary points or on banks in coves off the river or off major creeks were getting lots of bites. Pick your bait depending on the cover you are fishing. The larger fish seemed to be mixed with lots of buck bass, so just cull thru them. As the water rises this week look for other patterns to work on top of the above patterns. With rising water could come current. When there is current in the river, there is always groups of fish that will bite a crankbait, Jenko Booty Shaker Swimbait, or the Jenko Tremor Shad. You may fish 10 points with no bites, then hit one and catch 20 pounds. Also, as the water rises over 415, it creates its own awesome opportunity. Get your favorite flipping rod and bait with some heavy line and find the bullrushes or flooded trees on the lake. As the water and temps warm later in the week, there could be a lot of fun had flipping. Mike Mazerac with some nice crappie! Crappie - Were wide open last week spawning. The Jenko Tickle Fry and Fry Baby caught many limits. As the water rises this week, those crappie spawning will stay on the gravel points and structure but will become harder to catch. Normally these fish don't follow the water, so think where the bank line was last week and position your boat. Catfish - Its gonna be a crazy week for catfish. With fresh water and current comes the catfish feed. Fish mouths of creeks on the lake or especially below the dams. Its not uncommon to catch 100 catfish in a day, many of the good eating size in eddies downstream. White Bass - On fire on the river with hundreds being caught. Depending on the water levels and current amounts, those could still be fantastic, or it may wash out. I would say be very careful if below the dam has more than 100k running or levels are above 374. I would suggest if you are not experienced, pay an experienced guide like Donald Hedge or Hunter Nanney and have them show you the river at those levels. Some excellent fishing can be had, but safety first.

Bass - Fish are starting to move shallow! Fish can be caught in both the pre spawn phase with some moving up to spawn. Carolina rigs or shakey heads on secondary points are a great pattern as fish move into shallow. Also, as water worms, fish can be caught on shallow wood with a jig or favorite soft plastic. If there is wind or water color, a spinnerbait and chatterbait are also good. With the forecast in rain, if it happens, by this weekend, current could also be a factor again and the Jenko Booty Shaker in both the 4 inch and 3.25 inch has won a bunch of money over the past 3 weeks related to current. Crappie - ON FIRE is an understatement. Crappie are finally moving shallow with limits being caught casting a jig. I went this past weekend and we had 60 keepers in 4 hours Saturday fishing main creeks and gravel points. 1/8 jigs with the Jenko Tickle Fry in any of the chartreuse colors made a big difference. Having the suttle movement of a swim tail this time of year seems to really help. Also, wood in 12-15 foot of water right in front of spawning areas were real good for poling as the crappie are moving up. One thing to consider in early spring is you may fish an area early in the morning and catch nothing and at 5:00 in the afternoon a school of 20 move in. Timing Timing Timing Catfish - Was some slower last week, but with this fresh rains we just had and more coming, look for that to turn wide open again later this week on the lake and river. Eddies in the mouth of major creeks are a place to load the cooler. White Bass - ON fire! Water has been low on the river but local Guides like Donald Hedge has continued to catch over 100 a day easy. Small swimbaits, grubs or crankbaits can load the boat and cooler and is a great place to count pulls or take kids. Watch the water levels this week but the spawn is a great time to catch them from the bank or a boat.

Cooper and Cole Walker Bass Fishing - Well up came the water to 415, then right back down to 411. During the week with the current rolling last week, fish were shallow eating crankbaits and swimbaits and some big Spinnerbaits. The swimbait of the year so far is the Jenko Booty Shaker and is a must when fishing current. THe best spinner bait is a Billy Phillips 3/4 ounce double willow. With the lake level stopping and the current slowing, look for a good wave of fish to move shallow this week. Shakey Heads, Texas Rig, Small jigs will be catching the first good wave moving up with this warm weather. Also, there will still be fish staging where the Big spinnerbait or swimbait will be a big player especially around current or wind. Cole Walker, Cooper Walker and Mike Park Crappie Fishing - Starting to move shallower. Look for stumps and brush 8-15 foot. Start deeper early, but they will move up to gravel points and shallower areas especially later in day. Next month, as long as the weather stays stable and water level slowly rising to summer pool should be time to start casting jigs around gravel points in major creeks and finding fish. Those black male crappie normally move up first. As always, there will be some larger crappie on deeper tops close to those shallower water that are ideal for scoping. My favorite casting bait is the Jenko Tickle Fry. The little swim tail on the end with a 1/8 head is absolutely deadly when they move up. Cat Fishing - As current slows, this slows. Still some great reports down on the river based on current levels. Watching water flow for big rains or higher water is a great time to load the freezer. The spawn happens for them normally in May and thats when a cork and red worm can be a blast on the main bluffs of the lake. White Bass - Absolutely on fire! Good friend Jeff Gordon was on the river this past weekend and caught over 150 white bass. Small swimbaits and crankbaits in the mouth of cuts or anywhere the river eddies on sandbars could be loaded as they move up to spawn. This is a GREAT way to teach inexperienced or young anglers the fun of fishing, or just for us old heads to just go count pulls! Also, properly cleaned where you lift the knife and cut the red out, are great to eat, especially fresh.

Largemouth Bass - Last week had lots of tournaments on the lake with the livescope winning most of them. However, there was a 5 fish limit over 30 pounds weighed in "old school" but fishing Rattle baits and swimbaits. One of the best swimbaits made is the Jenko Booty Shaker and has been a dominant player on the TN river. This week, the river is on a huge rise with the rains and lots of current. THe first few days will be tough, but after 2-3 days, some of the best fishing of the year can happen. Bass will look for current seams and eddies and can group up. Cranking an orange crankbait form 7 foot to 15 foot deep will be the deal or a big Billy Phillips Spinnerbait. The sediment and current will greatly hurt the livescope guys, so its time for the old school to play. Crappie - Last week was awesome with crappie still relating to deep structure. Lots of limits caught both with a long pole and casting. Livescope is a game changer for crappie and allows you to see the brush and how they are positioned. They bite so much better when they are in the top of the structure. The X series Jenko 13 foot is the ultimate livescope jig rod if vertical fishing. With the extreme rise of water this week and mud, it will take a few days for the fish to adjust, but i would look for them in eddies and on a little shallower structure this week or suspended. Catfish - Get ready for the beat down! Spring rains and high water equals a huge feed for catfish. Great time to fill the freezer on the lake or river. Just remember be very careful as the water is rising very fast and lots of floating things on the river. White Bass - Running like crazy below the dam. The huge rise this week may slow them down for a few days, but as it peaks, look for eddies in mouths of creeks or on sandbars and throw your favorite small grub or swimbait for loads of fun. This is often a great way to start new anglers or if your an old one like me just go "count pulls" as my old friend Mike Whitten used to say. Anybody that has ever built something knows things never goes as planned. We were hoping to be open at the Lodge by now with our date of March 1, but things happen. Getting closer each day and we are excited for a great Spring as we open in a couple weeks. We would sure appreciate you considering us for your stay when you come enjoy Pickwick Lake!

Bass - with the water levels on Pickwick rising to 415, going to 417 mid week and over 200,000 being pulled it’s critical to be careful on the lake.  Lots of debris floating and lots of current.   Saying this, the few people that went out this weekend still caught them.  25 pounds for 5 fish won a winter trail for those that went out.  Alabama rigs with blades like the Jenko 5 wire worked good with the Chartreuse Shad booty shaker.   Also, fishing eddies against the bank with the colored water with a Jenko cd-7 and cd-15 in orange craw caught some real good fish.  High running water can be feast or famine as fish will group up.  Biggest issue this week is the extreme cold temps.  Cold temps and muddy water make it tough but current does help.    Crappie - the rise in water and high cute t and color in water has shut the crappie fishing down some.  Water really needs to stabilize but when the water starts to fall and clear in coming weeks, look for the crappie fishing to be wide open.  With the little current in water the Jenko tickle fry is a real catcher.  Again use colors with some chartreuse in them for the deep crappie holding on brush and stumps and even rock points.   White bass - blown out below the dam right now but it will be wide open in the next few weeks if you are planning a trip.  March is spawn time and it’s not uncommon to catch over 100 a day.  Crankbaits like the Jenko cd-7 in Orange craw or chartreuse work well as well as basic curly tail 2.5 inch grubs or small swimbaits.   Catfish are biting! Catfish - they are on fire!   Had a buddy this weekend catch 50 good white cats on the river with redworms anchored in one Eddie.   You must be careful while navigating but down stream away from the dam it is manageable with experience.  Please keep your lifejacket on at all times but you can set up and tie to trees and fish bends in the river or creek mouths.   If you don’t get bit in 10 minutes move.  When you find them they are loaded.    Overall this will be a tough week and if you are not super experienced and careful I would suggest waiting till the water calms as it can be unforgiving especially with the levels and the temperatures.

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.

Located in the heart of Tennessee, Pickwick Lake offers more than just stunning views and water activities. This destination is a treasure chest of hidden gems, from charming local eateries to breathtaking parks. If you're ready for a mix of nature, culture, and adventure, you’re in the right place! Let’s dive into some captivating spots that every visitor should explore. Beautiful cove on Pickwick Lake Hidden Parks and Nature Trails The surroundings of Pickwick Lake are rich in parks and trails that provide beautiful landscapes and invigorating outdoor experiences. Pickwick Landing State Park is a standout among these attractions. With over 1,000 acres of unspoiled scenery, it offers numerous activities like hiking, fishing, and boating. One of its most popular trails, the Lakeview Trail , stretches about 2.5 miles and provides breathtaking views of the water. You can spot various bird species, including herons and eagles, making it a paradise for bird watchers. If you're searching for a quieter retreat, look no further than the Cypress Creek Wildlife Refuge . This hidden gem features 25,000 acres of wetlands that are home to diverse wildlife. Visitors often see deer grazing and turtles basking in the sun. It's an idyllic spot for photography or simply enjoying a relaxing day outdoors. Serene wooded hiking trail surrounded by green trees Historical Sites and Attractions History buffs will find plenty to explore around Pickwick Lake. The region is home to several historical sites that tell the area's rich story. A visit to Shiloh National Military Park is essential for understanding the Civil War’s impact on this region. The site of a crucial battle in 1862, the park spans over 4,200 acres and features preserved battlefields and informative exhibits. More than 300,000 visitors come each year to reflect on its significance. Visitors can take guided tours to see historic monuments and artifacts that paint a vivid picture of the past. Another notable place is the Cherry Mansion . This antebellum home, located along the Tennessee River, offers tours that provide insights into Southern life before the Civil War. The impressive architecture makes it a favorite among history lovers and photographers alike. Shiloh National Military Park Water Activities and Fishing Spots Your trip to Pickwick Lake wouldn’t be complete without experiencing its water activities. The lake serves as a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, providing endless options for adventure. Fishing is a highlight here, with more than 20 different species of fish, including bass and catfish. Local bait shops offer gear rentals and guided excursions, ensuring a successful outing. Statistically, anglers have a 50% higher chance of catching trophy bass in this lake than in nearby waters. For a different experience, consider renting a kayak or paddleboard. The lake’s calm waters create the perfect environment for beginners and experienced paddlers. Many visitors report spending an average of three hours exploring the shores, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. If adrenaline is what you seek, jet skiing and boating rentals are also available. Cole Walker with a Triple on Pickwick Lake Treasure Trove of Experiences Pickwick Lake and its surrounding areas are more than just a summer getaway. They offer a diverse range of hidden gems promising adventure, relaxation, and cultural enrichment. Whether you hike through nature, savor a local meal, or explore historical sites, there are countless experiences waiting for you. So plan your visit to Pickwick Lake today. Uncover the charm of these treasures, and you’ll certainly leave with cherished memories and a yearning to return. With its beautiful landscapes, delicious local fare, and engaging activities, this destination offers surprises for adventurous souls.