Pro tips offered for catching Pickwick Lake largemouth

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Smallmouth bass get all the attention at Pickwick Lake, and they deserve it.

The lake is legendary for producing the best smallmouth fishing on the Tennessee River system. Not to be ignored, a healthy population of largemouth also lives in the southwest Tennessee lake. Pickwick's pedigree for both species makes it worthy of its No. 13 ranking in the Bassmaster Top 100 Bass Lakes all-decade list.

“The best time to catch quality largemouth on Pickwick is definitely in the spring,” said Bassmaster Elite Series angler Brandon Lester, a native of Fayetteville, Tenn. “I like to go there in fall for smallmouth, and in the spring for largemouth.”

In spring, flourishing vegetation provides nursery habitat for baitfish and spawning habitat and ambush cover for largemouth.

“Look for hydrilla in the creeks, where prespawn largemouth will stage and spawn while feeding on the young baitfish at the same time,” Lester advised.

Creeks that come to mind are those near the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge crossing the lake. Those have the healthiest growth of vegetation, while their large size provides plenty of fishing opportunities.

For Lester, fish-finding electronics come into play, and specifically side scan sonar that allows the angler to view the bottom habitat in high-definition detail.

“You can see 100 feet to either side of your boat,” Lester said. “Look on the bottom for isolated humps, edges and irregularities in the shape of the growth.”

Those irregularities are what attract the staging and feeding bass, which like to be concealed from other fish. Lester seeks freshly blooming hydrilla growing up to 12 inches, where the largemouth will eventually spawn. When he finds such areas, he calls on two easy-to-use lures that are ideal for anglers of any skill level or for anyone who is new to the lake.

“I like to alternate between a bladed jig and a lipless crankbait,” Lester said. “You can cover a lot of water with the crankbait and slow down with the jig when the fish are less active.”

Lester shares a tip about the lipless crankbait that is worth trying. That is to use different sound emitting styles to give the fish a changeup.

“They hear a lot of lipless crankbaits, so try a one-knocker or rattler until you find out what the fish are preferring at the time,” Lester said.

Try cranking the lure over the tops of the hydrilla. Doing so can coax the largemouth out of the vegetation and into the open water where the lure is going.

For the bladed jig, he finds the best success allowing the lure to sink into the grass and giving the rod tip a pop. Strikes occur as the lure breaks free of the vegetation.

“The bonus is you can also catch smallmouth while there, just keep in mind it's a current-generated bite,” Lester said.

Gear Suggestions

Rig up with a 1/2- or up to 3/4-ounce lipless crankbait of your choice.

Reds and oranges imitating crawfish are local favorites. Try different sound styles until you find success. Lester uses a 7-foot, 2-inch mediumheavy action rod with a 7:1 gear ratio reel, spooled with 17-pound Vicious Pro Elite fluorocarbon line. He uses the same setup for the bladed jig; 1/2-ounce models are best. Lester likes shad or green pumpkin jigs with the X Zone Pro Series Mini Swammer or the X Zone Mini Muscle Back Finesse Craw for trailers.

Pickwick Lake runs 50 miles on the Tennessee River

from Wilson Dam in Florence, Ala., to Pickwick Dam in Tennessee.

The lake has 490 miles of shoreline and covers about 47,000 square acres of water surface.

Pickwick Landing State Park is an ideal base for your trip, with the park located 14 miles south of the dam.

Accommodations include an inn with 119 rooms, each with a picturesque view of the lake. A restaurant, cabins and camping for tents and RVS add to the amenities. Guests can enjoy golfing, birding, picnicking, disc golf, nature walks and more. The park contains 1,416 acres of forested hills and hollows.

Plan your trip to Pickwick Lake at tnvacation.com

About The Lake

Other Fun