So, I'm heading out for this year's road trip and have no clue as to the spawning habits of smallmouth. I'm thinking that water temps on the lower end of Wilson will be in the upper 50's or low 60's, but what is the prefered water temp. for them to spawn? The other thing I was wondering is if a smallie's pre and post spawn movements mirror those of their cousin? 

If you haven't come to the conclusion that I'm clueless on this topic, I can put you in touch with my brother. He thinks I should know everything there is to know about bass fishing......    Like anybody could.

My prespawn smallie action starts to slow once the surface temps hit 60 degrees. Unlike many other "lakes" Erie does have underlying current west to east. She flushes herself 13 times a year and keeps Niagara Falls beautiful.

according to a guide I spoke with last week..... the smallies are already moved up on pickwick/wilson.

 

if this current warming trend continues down here, the smallies should be about done by roadtrip time, as far as I know as the water temps are beginning to get 60 now in many places.

 

but, for the Road trip and the shot at the best smallie possible, you will need to find the fastest current possible,fish the edges of that current and be a little deeper.

I am not a big smallie guy by no means, but talking to the guides down here, they will spawn in 10-14 foot and hang deeper when it is all said and done.

 

If Dwight disagrees with any of this, then take his word over mine and dont worry about it.

according to a guide I spoke with last week..... the smallies are already moved up on pickwick/wilson.

 

if this current warming trend continues down here, the smallies should be about done by roadtrip time, as far as I know as the water temps are beginning to get 60 now in many places.

 

but, for the Road trip and the shot at the best smallie possible, you will need to find the fastest current possible,fish the edges of that current and be a little deeper.

I am not a big smallie guy by no means, but talking to the guides down here, they will spawn in 10-14 foot and hang deeper when it is all said and done.

 

If Dwight disagrees with any of this, then take his word over mine and dont worry about it.

Wow, thats deep. I was about to give some really bad smallmouth advice never fishing Pickwick. But even here in WA after they spawn they do tend to group up on those channel edges with current.

 

But we can still catch big singles right on or near their spawning flats well into postspawn. They just wont be grouped up like they were during the spawn and they wont be the healthiest fish either. I think the ones that linger need more time to recover in the slack water.

All the action is below Joe Wheeler Dam, technically upper Wilson Reservoir.

Tournaments are being won with all smalljaws and bags of +/- 27 lbs. The bite

is hot and jerkbaits rule!

RW is correct,  during the road trip fish below the Wheeler dam..... it is right there are the resort.

 

if we have current, you can drift live bait like we do below pickwick dam, GOOD TIMES!

I just checked out Google Earth and found both the dam and the resort. It's a great location, not only for spring, but I imagine the area below the dam is a good summer spot also.  Between the big island and the tower islands, fish holding structure is at a premium. Add to that the two big feeder creeks in close proximity and I can see why this is a favorite destination. 

Getting really pumped about heading down for the trip.  Thanks for the info.

http://www.tva.gov/lakes/wlh_r.htm

 

use that link to see the current flow on Wilson.

 

if you are fishing on Wilson, BELOW Wheeler dam, you want to look at the inflow..... that will tell you what is coming INTO Wilson... and what will be coming into Wilson is what will produce current right there at the resort.

 

any current is good, per say...... but steady 45-50k+ is really what you want.

Of course last year on Pickwick, the TVA was rolling 180k to 220k !!!! current=lots of bites

Silly me. For some reason, I thought the flow was FROM Wilson TO Wheeler.  I knew something didn't add up in my head.  Of course when we're talking my head............................Never mind. Let's just chalk it up to old age.

I have made the mistake too......... I remember PMing roadwarrior early in my day on the boards asking which way the water flowed, LOL.

 

looking on a map your first instinct without knowing the TN rive is that water flows north to south....... but the TN river makes a U.

 

south through TN, then heading west through AL, then turning North through TN again to Kentucky, spilling into the Ohio River.