Did not hit pickwick but went to wilson, same story thousands of birds and shad floating everywhere.

Pickwick was tough today.  Water temps 45-50, birds everywhere, no dead shad visable, lake is still way down, WIND was aweful in the afternoon.

Man, I bet it was mean, wind was in the 15-20 range here in Memphis today. 

Pickwick was tough today. Water temps 45-50, birds everywhere, no dead shad visable, lake is still way down, WIND was aweful in the afternoon.

I had seen something i never seen before saturday, which I have never fished a whole lot this early in the year but  I pulled up in a pocket for a bit to eat a sandwich and rest for a minute and i kept hearing a "thump"

Like corks poping out of the water. I started investigating and it was shad popping up to the surface and rolling to their backs it must have been hundreds up them, it was almost scary.

I went out on the point and tried to throw a jerk bait but could not even get it to work right because i was catching shad on the trebles, they were so thick and lethargic i could troll through them and they would not move.

Hopefully this storm system that's about to move through will wash the shad kill out.  If we get 3 inches of rain like projected the dam should be spilling a lot of water.

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

I heard that this past Sat. (Feb 26th) a tourney was held out of J.P. Coleman state park.  5 places were paid as follows: 

1. 29 pounds (with 9.5 oz big fish)

2. 28 pounds (8.2 oz big fish, w/ another 8 even big fish).

3. 26 and some change

4. 26 and some change

5. 25 pounds and some change

Anyone hear the same results?

Yes, that is correct. Also this past Saturday on Kentucky Lake the Tn River Trail had its first tournament out of Mason's Dock, just north of New Johnsonville. It took 26 lbs to win with top 5 coming in 24, 23, 22, 21. The big fish was 11.39, second bf 10.7, third bf 10.07. There were several fish over 6 lbs weighed in. You can check it out on tnrivertrail.com.  Things are looking good on the Tenn River system !

Did those JP results come out of Bay Springs?

No New johnsonville area and Yellow Creek I believe

do you mean the kentucky lake sacks were outta new johnsonville and the jp coleman sacks were outta yellow creek?  i dont know much about ky lake but thats a strange area for 20+ lbs to come outta pickwick this time of year........or anytime of year for that matter.

No New johnsonville area and Yellow Creek I believe

Those sacks came fom Yellow Creek? Are you sure?

No New johnsonville area and Yellow Creek I believe

Those sacks came fom Yellow Creek? Are you sure?

They came from different places but I could of sworn someone told me they were huge bags coming out of yellow creek as well as everywhere else. I maybe wrong tho

Okay. I was just curious.

i know it is possible for a 20+ sack to come outta yellow creek but very rare.  i was guessin everyone of those guys made the run to bay springs.

i know it is possible for a 20+ sack to come outta yellow creek but very rare. i was guessin everyone of those guys made the run to bay springs.

All I know is that I don't think anyone went to bay springs. My club had a tournament there 2 weeks ago and the largest bag was only 9 lbs but I don't think that really matters much.

Mark Rose did the run and won there but again.... it's Mark Rose 

im not doubting you its just surprising. 

UPDATE:

13 flood gates open yeasterday, but we still managed

more than a dozen bass 2 1/2 -4 1/2 lbs. The fish

were about half and half, brown and green plus

a drum and full grown whitey.

Water flow 58,000 CFS early, MUCH greater,

later. Water temperature ranged 49* - 52*;

visibility ~3-4'.

We fished a range of lures both hard and soft. Winners

included a grub on jig head, Kut Tail on a MegaStrike

Shak-E2 Pro Series, Rage Tail Baby Craw and

Swarming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad.

No strikes on jerkbaits or any cranks other than

the white bass on a lipless Spro Aruku.

8-)

UPDATE:

13 flood gates open yeasterday, but we still managed

more than a dozen bass 2 1/2 -4 1/2 lbs. The fish

were about half and half, brown and green plus

a drum and full grown whitey.

Water flow 58,000 CFS early, MUCH greater,

later. Water temperature ranged 49* - 52*;

visibility ~3-4'.

We fished a range of lures both hard and soft. Winners

included a grub on jig head, Kut Tail on a MegaStrike

Shak-E2 Pro Series, Rage Tail Baby Craw and

Swarming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad.

No strikes on jerkbaits or any cranks other than

the white bass on a lipless Spro Aruku.

8-)

Thanks for the info. Going to put in at Stateline tomorrow I believe.

Anyone been in the past couple days??  Gonna be camping there all weekend.  Hoping the catfish and bass will be biting!

Anyone been in the past couple days?? Gonna be camping there all weekend. Hoping the catfish and bass will be biting!

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.

Roger Stegal won the FLW tournament on

Pickwick with 24 lbs 12oz last Saturday:

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/bfl/tournament/2011/6661/pickwick-lake-bo...

I heard the technique was slow rolling 1 oz

spinnerbaits.

8-)

going tomorrow. Does anyone know if McFarland is open?

One of the ramps is open.  I will be going Thursday.

planning on putting at jp coleman and camping either on the water there somewhere.  gonna put up a tent and do it old style.  thinking of doing noodles for the catfish.  and then chasing the bass for the rest of the time!  hopefully the weather will cooperate and it will be a great weekend!