Lou Williams professional fishing guide service. I specialize is bass fishing services in the Tennessee River and PickWick Lake areas.

email williams3534@bellsouth.net
phone ( 731 ) 989-5367

Pickwick Lake fishing report (6/24/2008 3:07:54 PM) (6/24/2008 3:07:54 PM)
.....Pickwick elevation: 414. Surface temps: 80 to 82 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Bass fishing has exploded on Pickwick with Largemouth caring the mail during the day and smallmouth filling in for the night run. The majority of largemouth have been running around 2 ½ to 3 ½ lbs with an occasional kicker fish busting the 5 lb. range. Smallmouth have been running 2 to 3 lbs, with a 4 to 5 lb’er in the mix. A lot of the smallmouth are thin and on the light side as they take a little longer to regain their weight lost from spawning. Largemouth have been schooling for the last couple of weeks and you could run into a school of fish running over the 4 lb. class. These schools are hard to keep up with and can occur any time during the day, especially just before dark. Most of the schooling fish are showing up on humps or shallow water ( 12 to 14 foot ) adjacent to deeper water ( 20 to 30 Foot ) . The action is fast and furious and usually only last 15 to 20 minutes.
This is the time of the year when you need to hit many holes rather than lingering on one hole for long periods of time, as timing is everything. If you hit a hole when the fish are there you will know it right away. If the area is void of bait fish, you can more than likely count on a dry hole.
As always, numerous patterns will be productive at the same time. Ledges, humps, points grassy areas along with deep flats will be productive at sometime during the day or night. Again keying in on shallow next to deep should serve you best.
Many baits have been productive for me for the past couple of weeks. Worms, rattle traps, spinner baits, crank baits, grubs and shimmee shake or chatter type baits have all been productive. Keying in on the edge of drops during the day and probing the tops early and late should serve you well. The best depth all around has been 10 to 14 foot. The grass bite has been 4 to 8 foot. The deeper grass has been producing the more quality fish.
High air temps can be challenging and you may want to opt for the cooler temps beginning around 6 pm, my choice has been from 6 pm to midnight. It’s hard to beat night fishing on Pickwick, especially since we seem to be having the best summer fishing we have had in the last few years.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lakle fishing report (5/17/2008 1:17:41 PM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 414. Surface temps: 65 to 68 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Well, fishing has had its ups & downs for the past few weeks with all of the cold fronts we have been experiencing. Lots of water forcing lake elevations to be somewhat erratic. The overall picture would be, the majority of fish have completed their spawn. Their gorging period has been going on for a couple of weeks. Stragglers which have spent their allotted time resting continue to bunch up and feed aggressively during early and late periods of the day. Sometime on the surface and other times below the surface. Surprisingly, surface temps have remained low for this time of the year, a good thing, as fish will continue to feed and cruise in shallow water for longer periods without higher surface temps forcing them back to deeper water for their digesting period.
One other effect of cooler surface temps, slowing down the growth of aquatic vegetation. At the present time the majority of grass has been in the 6 to 8 inch range. Still long enough to hold fish and create an easier fishing pattern. Once the grass gets thick and high, the penetration becomes more difficult and harder to get the right presentation.
The deeper bite is out there for the taking, but the more productive pattern will be shallow, ( 4 to 8 ft. ) . Carolina rigged plastics, Jigs, Shakee head worms, grubs & spinner baits along with deep diving cranks will be productive. For the shallower fish, Rattle traps, spinner baits, shallow running cranks and shakee head worms. I have been catching a good number of quality fish on a Texas rigged big unit worm in the sprayed grass color.
Catfish anglers have been having a ball catching channel catfish shallow, ( 2 to 8 ft deep ) . Bass anglers have been having a huge problem keeping them off their crank baits while bass fishing. Blues & whites have been good in 18 to 30 foot of water. Cut bait and worms have been productive.
Looking ahead to June fishing should continue to be good, thanks to much rain fall and low air temps, keeping the surface temps in the high 60’s to 70 degree range.
You might want to try your hand at night fishing as they will continue to feed even with the cooler surface temps, especially the first 2 hours after nightfall.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (4/13/2008 10:58:24 AM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.50. Surface temps: 63 to 65 degrees. Water clarity: clear on main lake to stain in feeder creeks. < hr > Fishing has been hit and miss for the last couple of weeks as the unstable water conditions and quality bedding fish trying to lock on beds. Some may have been successful as I’m sure surface temps have reached near 70 degrees in the very skinny water. With all the rain fall we have encountered lately, I still find the main body of the lake clear, at least on the lower end of Pickwick. Some feeder creeks are stained such as Yellow creek and Indian creek. High winds have also played a role in being able to fish some of the more productive holes. Having inked the page with negative remarks, on my last trip we continued to have the same conditions and fishing showed signs of improvement. With stats: a total of 14 fish, 3 smallmouth and 11 largemouth. I had one huge fish break off. The break off was a smallmouth that would go around 6 or 7 lbs. We boated a 4 lb. and 2 lb. smallmouth. The largest largemouth weighed 4.25 lbs. and the remainder would run better than 2 ½ lbs. < hr > My trip 3 days before that was much tougher. We only boated 1 quality fish ( 6 lbs. ) and five or six smaller fish. A lot of cast were made that day for so few fish. I look for smallmouth fishing to pick up for the next 2 to 3 weeks if I read the tealeaves right from my last trip on Wednesday. < hr > Now is the time to stay shallow, 2 to 8 foot deep. Look for small creeks entering into flats, a key place to spend some quality time. This will be your best bet for some healthly largemouth. Depending on conditions for that day, spinner baits, rattle traps, jerk baits and shallow running cranks and maybe jigs should be your most productive baits.< hr > For quality smallmouth check out large chunk rock embedded in gravel or hard bottom on and around points. If one side of the point creates a pocket, do not let that target get passed your cast. Smallmouth will also depend on small creeks to enter their spawning areas. Deeper patterns would apply, and yes, the same baits will be productive, you might add to the list a shakee head jig and worm to the list. < hr > If Mother Nature will corporate for a few days fishing could get hot. Look for all species to get into the act and go a feeding frenzy. < hr > Crappie activity has picked up as we are catching a few male crappie around shallow stumps and rocks, off points. We are catching them on shallow running Bandit crank baits. We should have 10 good days of this activity with the males up first to make the beds, than the females follow to spawn and the males return to make the spawn complete. < hr > Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (3/17/2008 2:08:25 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 413.50. Surface temps 53 to 55 degrees. Water clarity: Slight stain.
With bass in transitioning stages, preparing for spawning duties, they become a little tougher to locate. Especially the more quality fish. That has been the pattern for the last couple of weeks. You might say they are in between the deep patterns and the shallow patterns. It has been no problem to catch smaller fish in the shallows, up to 30 to 40 fish a day. Keep in mind that each day the fish will continue to move shallow until they reach their spawning areas. The water is right a summer pool, making more fish venture into shallow feeding areas. As the surface temps climb, look for the big’uns to rise to the occasion. If you consider shallow water as between 2 and 6 foot and deep water between 18 to 23 foot You might consider in between at 10 to 14 Foot.
Many spring baits will come into play for the next few weeks. You may want to try your search or reaction strike baits first in order to locate fish and switch to soft plastics for the slower bite and hopefully a bigger bite. The algae color water is not helping the jerk bait bite, but the bait is still productive. I am still catching the majority of my fish on shakee head worms, jerk baits, rattle traps and Bandit crank baits. Beware of the Drum and Catfish as they have decided to get into the act.
Smallmouth fishing has been good on the upper end of the lake, so I hear. The lower end historically follows the upper end 2 weeks later. I am looking forward to that. We could get back close to the good old days if the upper end is any indication.
Crappie fishing has picked up, with added anglers venturing out for the tasty fillets. Some anglers are catching them in 8 -14 foot of water on jigs and minnows.
Cat fish have begun their move to shallow water as well. We caught a couple of good channel cats the other day bass fishing on crank baits.
Fish safely and good luck. >>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (2/29/2008 9:15:26 AM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 409.50. Surface temps: 45 to 47 degrees. Water clarity: clear to slight stain.
Over all fishing continues to be good. Some days will be challenging for a few anglers, depending on what day you hit the water. Small fish in the 1 to 1 ½ lb. class will be there for the taking, just fish the skinny water with a reaction bait, like traps, blades or jerks baits. We have been catching one or two quality fish, 4 to 5 lb. class, on each trip for the past week to ten days. It all changed right after the great trip we had boating 45 fish with a 8.1 kicker. On a local club tournament this past Sunday, the winning string was 22 + lbs. Second was 18 + lbs. and third, 16 + lbs. So you can see, fishing is looking up.
Let me give you a few key pieces of the puzzle on what to look for on planning your next trip to Pickwick. # 1. One to two foot rise or more in lake elevation. # 2. Three to five degrees warm up in surface temps. #3. Sunshine, will give your mid day efforts a boost. # 4. Water clarity. A little stain goes a long way in making the reaction bait work well. #5. Wind. Five to ten mph wind will certainly call bass to a shallow stump fields, points or straight banks and pockets. The key pieces were placed in priority order, so having only one piece of the puzzle beginning with # one in play will increase your odds for catching a quality bass in shallow water. As each piece is added to the puzzle and the 5 th. piece is in place, look out, you could be in for a memorable day. Some lucky angler is going to catch a HOG.
Right now you have a deep and shallow pattern working, with the best fish coming out of 8 to 15 foot of water, while the smaller fish are being caught out of skinny water. If we get a good amount of warm rain this week end, the turn around could begin quickly.
Selecting the following baits should classify you as fully armed, Traps, Jerk baits, crank baits, shakee head worms, spinner baits and jigs. Those are my choices.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick Lake fishing report (2/20/2008 4:06:17 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 411.10. Surface temps: 48 to 50 degrees. Water clarity: clear to slight stain.
Well it looks as if the serious feeding has begun. Surface temps are right, lake elevation is on the way up and the sow’s seem to in a feeding mood. February seems to always bring out quality fish. It took place 2 weeks earlier last year and I was beginning to question my memory before my trip this Tuesday. We boated 45 fish and lost many more. The best fish, largemouth, topped out at 8.1 lbs. Check out the pic in the next issue of Mid South Hunting and Fishing magazine. We had 5 or 6 that would run 4 lbs. and a couple would reach into the 5 lb. range. It’s not hard to get hooked on fishing with days like that.
Main lake points and secondary points were the most productive areas. As has been stated in the past, all points were not created equally the same. In this stage of the transition choosing a good tapering point that turns into a flat on one side and a steep drop on the other would be your best place to start. Start on the deep end of the point and work your way along the deep drop side, then cover the flat area. Use a bait that covers water quickly, ( blades, traps and jerk baits,) once you get into the flat area as fish in skinny water will be very active and eager to bite.
Quality fish can be found in shallow water, from 2 to 8 foot deep right now and will continue on through spawn. A great number of quality fish have already past their first staging areas in the deeper water and are well on their way to the spawning grounds.
Weather you like it or not, wind and sometimes high winds play a major role in blowing in Springtime temperatures. Locating a wind blown bank which has stumps, grass, rocks and etc. could make your day. I know it played a major role on our trip yesterday.
Selecting a bait that will get you in the strike zone will be most important, than be flex able enough to try different baits until you get the right one or color. We have been getting results on spinner baits, jerk baits, traps and crank baits for the past couple of weeks.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (1/30/2008 1:04:58 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 410. Surface temps: 40 to 43 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Surface temps and air temps have dropped to a point where both fish and anglers have slowed down. Fish are feeding less often and anglers are choosing only certain days, ( warm & windless days ) to wet their lines. (Sauger anglers not included). Hunting season has expired and hunters are focusing on fishing again, with just enough time to get their gear in good working order with fresh new lines. Getting their baits all lined up with high anticipation for a brand new season.
The fish continue to feed, just not as often. Mid range fish (1 to 3 lbs. ) make up the majority of the bites, but an occasional 4 to 6 lb. bite, both smallmouth and largemouth is still out there for the taking. Last week I had the pleasure of taking my Granddaughter fishing on a fairly windless and warm day and she had a BALL. She had 1- 5 lb. smallmouth, 1- 4 lb. largemouth and 16 other bass in mid range class. My Granddaughter, Brittany is 13 years young. That was an exceptionally good day and our timing was just right.
If you are an angler that has been passing up February and opting to begin your season in March, I can tell you that you are missing a great opportunity to catch your best fish of the season, as quality fish begin their feeding early and good numbers of quality fish can be caught in shallow water, 2 to 6 foot ) adjacent to deep water all through the month of February.
The deep water bite will continue to exist on through March, especially fish holding on creek and river ledges. Just keep in mind, the shallower the fish the more active they will be. Deep flats and bluffs with wood in the mix will also be productive. Don’t overlook long tapering points that empty out into deep water. This is where your first staging occurs just before scattering into the more shallow water in preparation for spawn.
Many baits and technique’s will work well in February, but I will list a few of my choices which have worked for me in the past. # 1- on certain days the suspending jerk bait can be your best bait. # 2- Flat sided crank baits ( medium runners). Now, I fish the cranks a little different in February. I fish them in water from 2 to 8 foot deep and instead of cranking them back to the boat I will flash the bait with a pause, similar to a jerk bait presentation all the way back to the boat. That technique has worked well for me in the past. # 3- Jigs of course cannot be counted out, but choosing a fineness jig will be more productive. # 4- Shakee head worm & lead head combo’s may end up being your go to bait. The slower the presentation the more frequent the bites. The last bait, however not a last choice would be the rattle trap. I prefer to yo-yo the rattle trap in February, even in shallow water. When quality fish are fresh out of their winter haunts, they prefer the “no chase technique” .
Crappie fishing has been fair so far. I look for the better crappie to also pick up in February. The crappie have been coming out of 14 to 23 foot of water on hair jigs and tubes.
Sauger fishing continues to be good to fair, depending on who is in the right hole at the right time. 1 ¼ oz. sauger jigs tipped with minnows has been the best bait
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (1/10/2008 7:10:15 AM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 410.50. Surface temps: 48 to 50 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Fishing has slowed over the past couple of weeks, of course it’s January and Pickwick has been traditionally been slow in January. Surface temps remain unusually high for January and you would think that their metabolism would continue to be high and feed for longer periods of time than they seem to be feeding, especially the more quality fish. I am sure I have missed a few good feeding periods during the recent fronts that come through our area.
The average numbers for me have been 6 to 10 bass a day on post frontal conditions, with a kicker bass of maybe 3 lbs. Prefrontal conditions has been producing numbers of 12 fish or better and a couple of quality fish in the 5 lb. or better range.
Usually, February has traditionally been my best month for huge largemouth in the 5 lb. and up range. If the weather trend continues, we may have quality fish move shallow at the end of January.
At this time quality fish remain deep, 12 to 18 foot and as usual the smaller fish continue to come out of grass in 4 to 6 foot of water. Keep in mind, the clarity of water makes it easier to spook fish, so longer cast and stealth approach will be in order.
My best baits has been the shakee head worms, rubber skirted jigs, jerk baits and crank baits. I’m sure drop shot rigs will work as well if you have the patience for that technique.
Reports on sauger have been somewhat slower over the past couple of weeks.
Stripe fishing has been good below the dam and on past Diamond Island.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (12/10/2007 2:22:49 PM)
.....Pickwick elevation: 410. Surface temps: 49 to 52 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Bass fishing has been good for the last couple of weeks, for both smallmouth and largemouth. We have boated a good number of smallmouth in the 4 to 5 lb. range. This is a welcome change over the last couple of years. The majority of smallmouth are coming from sharp drops on ledges and points. Depths has been best in the 14 to 22 ft. range. Largemouth continue to feed in the grassy areas on and around drops and flats. Look for wood to increase and produce the more quality fish. Largemouth are hanging in shallow water, 2 to 6 foot. They will be shallow if they are active and aggressive. Here again grass and wood are key areas. Look for deeper water near by.
We have been catching both smallmouth and largemouth on a number of baits, however the jig has been the best bait for both species. Tipping the jig with a Smallie Beaver or Paca chunk has worked well for me. Grubs in the 4 to 5 in. size, Beavers paired with a ¼ oz. lead head has also been productive. The best jig color has been brown/purple, using a peanut butter or sprayed grass trailer’s.
If you can plan your trip 2 days before the front arrives, you should catch the big one on the move. The number of quality fish will increase on that day.
Sauger fishing in on the upswing. I have been getting reports of 12 to 18 keeper fish a day by a number of anglers. Below the dam and River heights has been the best spots. Sauger jigs and live minnows has been the best baits. Chartreuse and lime colors have been best.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick Lake fishing report (11/14/2007 8:36:25 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 410. Surface temps: 58 to 60 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Bass fishing on Pickwick continues to be good , except for post frontal conditions. The smaller fish in the 1 ½ lb to 2 lb. class are being caught in shallow grassy areas in good numbers, ( 15 to 30 ) a day. The majority of fish are coming out of 2 to 3 foot of water. Some larger fish are coming out of the same areas, only in much fewer numbers. The smaller fish are stacked in certain areas, while the larger fish have been scattered. The largest fish that I saw last week was a 8 lb. largemouth. Some fish continue to roam in the back of creeks with 3 lb’ers topping the best size. Main lake grass seems to hold the more quality fish.
Grass throughout the lake has begun to wane, especially matted grass. Some areas has totally lost all of what once was heavy mat’s, while other areas still hold some semblance of matted grass. As the grass continues to die, fish will continue to use the fallen mats to feed in throughout December. They may not hold there as long, but will feed and return to the deeper water near by.
We have been catching fish on a number of baits. The best top water bait has been Sammie’s by Lucky Craft. Flat Maxx crank baits, by Bandit. Jigs, ¼ to 5/16 oz., by Stanley, and finally the ½ oz. rattle trap’s by Bill Lewis.
Smallmouth have been slow, at least on the lower end of the lake. I feel like the high surface temps have keep them at bay. We have been catching a few smaller small mouth in the 2 to 3 lb. range, but the real gorge has not taken place or it took place without me.
I have not heard of any good reports on Sauger as yet, but there again the water temps need to really cool down before they move up to shallower water.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>>>> Lou