Pete-K

Good advice, Used to fish a creek here about 15 miles from the Tn river. Its unreal how many big small mouths were that far up this creek. We would wade fish it in the spring and summer. And fishing 2 miles of it between the roads ( Leave a truck at both) 2 of us would average 50 + fish per day. Using 1/8th head and grubs. But most good fish came on a jointed minnow about 3" long these shallow running jointed minnows were killer baits for small waters like this.. Each time we would see a hole coming up we would cast to the lower end and come back through it. At times you would have one on for each of us and see more trying to take the bait away. Fun fishing for sure. Wish I was able to do this these days.. Pete

Also something to think about on the store made ones. If a bass takes your bait and starts to swim away they will feel when the leader stops as it hits the sinker and drop it. But with the sinker just slipped up on the line. It allows more movement of the bait and hook. Thus they can't feel that sinker until you cross there eye's. Just a thought & my 3 cents for what its worth. Pete

Never use those. Just slip my weight and beads on, Then snell my hook on a leader. Add my swivel between the 2 above and its done. Plus was taught by and old friend. Less is best! Leaves less tackle to fail or hang up. Pete

Was hoping you would get some info on this post. As I will be there fishing the last part of May or the first part of June for 2 days. Will be staying on a floating cabin near StarDust Marina. Any ideals where to start the search there would sure help out, I will be fishing by my self. Wife will be in a meeting there and I get to fish LOL Pete

Front hook if your going to change them. Pete

Thanks guys guess its just been way to many years off the water for them. Did put a few in the boat below the dam Friday no big ones but a few 3+ lb browns were caught. Plan on going again Wed not sure if it will be above the dam or below it. Plans are if its the lake to fish the pea gravel banks in Al and Tn. Always did well on those this time of year. Found one of my old fishing logs and this time of year was when we loaded the boat with big Small Mouths there. So plan on fishing until I find them. Pete

How much has the brown fishing changed over the last 15 years or so? Its been that long for me to fish the lake for them. Went Wed and only came up with 5 good large mouth but no Smallmouths. I know the water was falling out and had fallen 3ft in a few days. Buy even with that we used to have great days this time of year.. Had days where 100 browns were caught, Guess I need to just spend a few days per week chasing them for the next year or so... Now I still fish the river for them in the fall, Grew up below Pickwick dam and the whole family fished for living.. I had dumped fish pushing 10 lbs + out of bait nets and it was so nice to hold one up and dream about catching them on R&R... Just getting back into bass fishing and Wed was such a great day even though it was only 5 17"+ large mouth and a 12 lb drum.. PEte

Meeting a buddy at The State Park Boat ramp at Pickwick at 10 am this morning. Were going to see if we can find a few brown fish today. He fished Monday for 6 hours and did not get a hit. But then again hes not fished a lot, but out on spring break from College so its fishing time. Been a lot of years without fishing Pickwick for bass. But used to have 100 fish days this time of year on Pickwick 20 years ago. And I have the itch to get back into bass fishing... Not many bass fishing out of a Lund tiller boat on Pickwick LOL But tired of chasing those Big Catfish and Striper's. So going back to brown fish again. Got my Bandits and secret spinner baits hooked up. Used to make spinner baits and painted my own Cranks may have to get back into this.. Pete

Where are you camping? And what part of the lake are you planning on fishing? Catfish should be easy. for the most part you should be able to fill a big cooler with them above the dam from the second cove on the Savannah side to the lower docks below the last cove.. Just don't go any lower with 200,000 CFS spilling. Fish should eat up the rooster livers or worms.. I hope to have a bass report Wed. Going for brown fish . Also sounds like they may have put in at yellow creek to catch those big bags of bass but run out to the main lake to catch them.

Pickwick has 8 flood gates cracked open just a little there only letting 58,000+ down stream. Fishing should be good, as even the sauger fishing is hot right now. Pete