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 (5/17/2009 1:45:12 PM) (5/17/2009 1:45:12 PM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 414. Surface temps: 69 to 71. Water clarity: clear.
With the tail end of spawn now in progress we are looking at basically two patterns, spawn and post spawn. Meaning that the more quality fish in the 5 lb. class and up are more difficult to locate. We are still looking at cooler surface temps than we usually face for the end of May so if the fish are not confused I am to a challenging degree. Some of the quality fish are already in deep summer patterns with some still lingering between shallow and deep. Mother nature has definitely spread out the spawning season this year.
Your key areas from this point forward will be points, humps and drops, with deep flats holding some fish. Grass is beginning to take hold in most of the usual places on Pickwick. Now is the time to take advantage of these areas as the grass grows and thickens the fishing becomes more difficult to fish with your favorite baits. Right now the grass is anywhere from 6 inches to 24 inches tall, easy to penetrate and fish with most baits. This window could be short depending on upcoming surface temps.
For the past 2 weeks I have been catching fish anywhere from 2 foot to 14 feet deep with the more quality fish coming out of the deeper water. As we enter the month of June Quality fish will find their way back to the grass, especially grass nearest the deeper water.
Shakey head worms have been the most productive bait, using a Ľ oz. head. Colors have been all over the board with green pumpkin taking the majority of fish. Crank baits can now also be fished with confidence. Blues/ chart. Have been the best colors. The big worms will be next.
Smallmouth have begun to show up in good numbers but not many over 18 in. We have had plenty of current for the past couple of weeks, which I’m sure has contributed to the catches.
The lake elevations have been up and down and I think we are in for a stabilizing period, ( I hope ). So you can look for fishing to pick up once you get their patterns down. With stabilizing lake levels patterns will hold longer.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (4/18/2009 10:21:36 AM) (4/18/2009 10:21:36 AM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 414.50. Surface temps: 58 to 62 degrees. Water clarity : Clear.
Fishing continues to be great for numbers of 2 lb plus largemouth, 30 to 50 a day. As to what’s up with the numbers of quality fish, spawn and post spawn for a good number of them. We are still catching a few in the 4 to 5 lb. range, but not many. Males seem to be all over the lake, shallow and deep. Our experience has been the deeper water has been holding the better quality males, 2 to 3 lb’ers. As previously stated some sows are yet to lock on beds and we have been picking them up in water 5 to 8 ft. deep around wood.
Smallmouth are showing up in shallow water in small numbers with an occasional 5 lb. plus fish in the mix. The best numbers for me have been four in one trip. The best smallmouth weighed 5.25 lbs.
The last four trips have been great with plenty of action throughout the day. As predicted, we would be in for a great Spring, thanks to the three major shad kills this winter. I don’t believe I’ve seen the largemouth population any more healthy than they are at this time. They look like footballs and fight like, well tigers. Every fish feels like it could go better than three or four lbs.
Plastics and crank baits seem to be the baits of choice as we caught the majority of fish on shakey heads and medium running crank baits. Green pumpkin for shakey heads and shad colors for the cranks. I’m still having trouble getting my jerk bait bite.
Look for fish to get a little tougher for the next couple of weeks as they may become a little more difficult to locate. Continue targeting points and drops containing wood along ditches and small creeks as they leave the spawning grounds. This advice would be for quality fish as the smaller fish should continue to be good period. May should be another blow out month for quality fish as they get set in their summer patterns. You can add ledges and humps to the patterns for the month of May.
Good luck and fish safely, >>>>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (3/27/2009 8:10:21 AM) (3/27/2009 8:10:21 AM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 411.50 Surface temps: 54 to 58 degrees Water clarity: clear
Fishing continues to be good now and will only improve as we get into April. Look for spawning flats and pockets getting the majority of direct sunlight. Fish will be holding on or near stump fields or brush in 1 to 6 foot of water. Check for ditches or small creeks that shoot out to or along stump flats. This will be your key areas for spawn and post spawn conditions.
There will be a number of baits which will be productive. The # one bait should be rattle traps. In ˝ to ľ ounce . Jerk baits and spinner baits will be productive as well. Over looking Texas rigged plastics such as lizards and craws could be a mistake. Casting these critters in shallow water around stump fields and brush piles can be very productive especially for quality sows.
There will be other pattern taking place in April at the same time. Pre spawn, spawn and post spawn. So limiting yourself to one pattern could prove to be costly.
For your deeper pattern say 6 to 10 foot, Look for drops along creek channels and bends containing wood just on top of the drops. This will be your key areas for pre spawning fish. You may find them scattered or bunched up in a small area. Cranks, Carolina rigs, jigs and spinner baits, or jerk baits will be your best bet .
For post spawn patterns, look for long tapering points as fish will suspend in groups somewhere along these points. The ones nearest spawning flats the better. Medium running cranks and jerk baits are hard to beat under these conditions.
With heavy rains taking place for the last week and forecasted for the next couple of days, look for changes in water clarity and lake levels. Reading the water and weather conditions on the day you hit the lake will only help you have a more productive trip. Fishing can be good with rising water and stained conditions. In fact some anglers wait with anticipation for these conditions to occur. Increasing the size of your offering, adding a more flashy or noisy bait like rattle traps and spinner baits will increase your bite percentages. Fishing close to the bank where points create current breaks will be one of your key areas.
Good luck and fish safely, >>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (3/8/2009 12:41:17 PM) (3/8/2009 12:41:17 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation: 410. Surface temps: 47 to 49 degrees. Water clarity: clear. With some stained water in creeks.
Well, mother nature gave us a slap on the wrist with snow, ice and cold rain this past week. We were very close to heated pre spawn conditions when a strong cold front entered the picture and dumped some 15 in. of snow in some areas. Surface temps were hovering around 56 and 57 degrees. Quality fish were shallow and gorging on shad. Surface temps dropped a good 10 degrees and the quality bite became a little tougher. On my last trip, the bite was improving, but not where it was before the storm hit the area. The best fish we caught would run a little over 4 lb. We had 3 in that class with 4 other fish around 3 lb. All but 1 was caught in shallow water, 1 to 3 foot deep. The 1 fish came out of water 14 foot deep. On Thursday of this week my son had a great day catching a number of 5 lb’ers, (3) and 1 over 7 lbs. all largemouth. The sow’s were caught in water 3 foot or less.
Smallmouth are on the tear in the upper end of the lake and have been for the last 2 weeks. 23 lb stringer of 5 smallmouth won the BFL Yesterday and a 20 lb + stringer of smallmouth won the Mt. Dew tourney last Saturday. The majority of smallmouth are being caught on Jerk Baits.
On the lower end of the lake largemouth are being caught on shallow flats and main lake points. Shallow fish have been in water 6 foot and up while main lake point fish have been cruising in water 10 to 14 feet deep. Some largemouth are taking jerk baits, but the majority of fish are coming off rattle traps and spinner baits. Shakee head worms have been producing a good number of fish on and around points and pockets.
We have forecasts for 3 or 4 days of rain this week. Air temps should remain in the 70’s. That warm rain should boost our surface temps 5 to 7 degrees, so better days are just around the corner.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (2/14/2009 1:40:03 PM) (2/14/2009 1:40:03 PM)
.....Pickwick Lake elevation : 409.50 .Surface temps : 51 to 54 degrees. Water clarity : clear to slight stain.
Bass fishing has improved from last post. It’s not good yet, but will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks as surface temps continue to climb. We are close to that magic number of 58 degrees. This will trigger more fish to begin their first stage, in semi deep waters, 8 to 14 foot, before moving into shallow flats and pockets to prepare for spawn.
With all the shad kills which we have experienced for the last few weeks, I look for Pickwick to have an exceptional pre spawn. Although the major spawn usually takes place during surface temps between 68 to 72 degrees, don’t think you are wasting your time by checking out spawning areas much earlier, lets say with surface temps between 58 to 62 degrees. The majority of trophy size fish spawn before the major spawn event. Plus, if your boat is setting in 4 foot of water, you will have surprisingly higher surface temps in one foot of water or less.
During first stages, Jigs, Carolina rigs Grubs, worms, Spinner baits ,deep diving cranks and Jerk baits would be good bait choices, after they hit the skinny water, shallow running cranks, Jerk baits, spinner baits and trap type baits should serve you well. As we head into pre spawn we will have a number of patterns taking place at the same time, so don’t get hung up on just one pattern, try them all.
Stripe or white bass continues to be great below the dam with most of the fish coming from Shiloh Park down river. A variety of baits have been productive, including white grubs, inline spinners and road runners.
Sauger fishing has been good in and around the New Johnsonville area. I had reports of some good limits with 3 lb fish in the mix. They should continue to move South toward Pickwick dam with each passing day. Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick lake fishing report (1/25/2009 10:59:43 AM) (1/25/2009 10:59:43 AM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 410. Surface temps: 39 to 42 degrees. Water clarity stained.
There is very little to report on fish activity at this time. It is as if they have really do have lock jaw. In the last three weeks I have fished at least 5 times, I can count on one hand the number of Bass caught, with the largest going 3 lbs. That’s about as tough as I have see it in a long time.
There is sound reasoning for the almost non existing bite, except for a few active Drum. # 1. Badly stained water. # 2. High 40’s to low 50’s surface temps # 3. Low surface temps and stained water at the same time makes fishing or catching tough. # 4. Unstable lake elevations. # 5. Shad kills Number 5 would rank # 1 as the main reason fishing is very tough. We are experiencing one heck of a shad kill both below and above the dam. We are paying for it now, however we should experience a great Spring without the availability so many shad .
For the past 3 years February has been the best month for quality fish, this year I look for March to be our best month considering the colder temps and shad kills. It should take them at least 30 days just to digest all those free happy meals that was available this month.
The lake has shown some improvement in the water color and the gates have been closed, so I look for fishing to improve shortly, baring any more shad kills.
The most productive baits will be Spinner baits, Jerk baits, Lipless cranks, Jigs and grubs. While the surface temps hover around 50 and below you may want to tie on some blade baits and give them a shot, I know I will.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou
Pickwick Lake fishing report (1/12/2009 7:00:04 PM) (1/12/2009 7:00:04 PM)
.....Pickwick lake elevation: 414. Surface temps : 46 to 48n degrees. Water clarity: stained
Well, without further obstacles, like buying another store, maybe I can get back on track with my fishing reports. It’s been a challenge with the move, making changes and etc.
By the way, I carry fishing tackle and will have in stock many of the hot baits of the past and new ones that may come along in the future. I carry the bass pro catalog line and buy direct lines like Reaction innovations, Billy Phillips spinner baits and All Pro Rods as my major rod line. I would invite you to visit the store’s web site www.sweetlipsstore.com. All merchandise lines that we carry are on the site yet. We intend to add lines and you can use the Bass Pro catalogue to shop as we buy from their wholesale co. and sell for the same price as catalogued. We can ship orders via UPS and US Mail using paypal or credit cards. Now to the fishing report.
Overall December turned out to be an exceptionally good month for quality fish. My largest fish of the year a 10 lb’er (largemouth). So far January has been very challenging, thanks to the heavy rail fall. The gates have been open off and on for the past couple of weeks. The main lake has been bad stained and the bite has been slow with the exception of a couple of days out of the past 2 weeks. The lake elevation has been yo-yoing up and down adding to the already tough conditions. Oh, and we had a shad kill to top it off. We all know what happens when we have a shad kill. Happy meals are in abundance and the bite almost disappears. Some of the short creeks have good color and the main lake has begun to show signs of clearing. The stained water will continue until the gates are closed. Once that occurs and the lake elevations stabilizes, the bite should return to a normal winter pattern and the big bite should be on. Not in numbers yet, that should come sometimes in February.
Baits that were working before the floods came were: Jerk baits, crank baits, 5 in. grubs, by the way, the 10 lb’er came on a 5 in pumpkin/chart grub. Spinner baits and rattletraps caught a good number of fish as well. A few fish were caught on Jigs, however not as many as I anticipated.
The depths were really all over the board, any where from 3 ft to 28 foot. Points were the most productive with a few fish coming out of pockets.
Crappie fishing was good for a couple of weeks and that bite crashed as well.
Of course, the Sauger bite will return once the water flow lessens and the shad kill is over. We have some more cold weather on the way so it could contribute to the delay.
Fish safely and good luck, >>>>>> Lou