I'm heading to pickwick Saturday night and I'll be putting in at McFarland. Can anyone give me some information on night fishing below the dam?

If you don't know the river like the back of your hand, STAY OFF THE RIVER AT NIGHT.

This is especially true around the dam, it is VERY DANGEROUS. A much better option

is to fish the riprap just outside the harbor down to the first creek. I have caught tons of

fish, both largemouth and smallmouth along that bank.

What Roadwarrior said. You won't find many people fishing the river below the dam at night. I would recommend fishing the Yellow Creek area of the lake at night. Black jigs or spinners equal large smallmouth and largemouth from stateline ramp on down the Tom Bigby and out to the mouth of Yellow Creek. Just be prepared for large wakes sneaking up without warning from yachts and barges. Also be careful of idiots sitting out in the middle of the lake with no lights on!!

I've heard the barge channel is pretty good?

Try the channel edges and especially the stump flats on either side. The rock ledges seem to produce better numbers for me but the flats are usually where the big ones are, especially Smallies seem to be at night.

The barge canal can be productive. But be careful.

Me and a bud are going to launch at Goat Island early in the a.m. And give it a try (3 a.m.)

Post back your results. Maybe at least the rain and storms will be quite during the morning hours. You don't have to stray very far from Goat island to catch nice fish either!!!

Where is goat island located.

Pickwick Lake (Yellow Creek) basically at the beginning ot the TennTomBigby Waterway.

Caught three smallmouth early that morning around 4 a.m. And nothing the rest of the day!!!

LOL I guess fish have to sleep sometime. I have never fished there between 3 A.M and sunrise. Usually from before dark to 3 am. I love being out there however. It has been several years since I have fished that lake but with my new bigger boat I plan to start back almost immediately as soon as I get a few minor bugs worked out and know this boat is going to be dependable.

A friend and I have been fishing pick wick for over a year now and we fish it a lot and still just came seem to catch fish it's so frustrating

It really really helps to fish with a few people that know how to catch them at Pickwick. Whole lotta hiding places on that big water. Ledge fishing seems to be the ticket there so often but is a total mystery to me. I beat the banks LOL

yea we do as well. i've tried opening up and learning about the ledges but don't have the best of electronics to help find what im looking for. have to stick to the points and beating up the banks till i can drop off the cash on another depth finder or someone that'll take us out there...hard to get fishermen to show you where they're catchin em though ha