From Capt. Gary Harlan
September 15, 2020
Pickwick Lake
(Lower end: Natchez Trace to Pickwick Dam)
Level: 413.39
Clarity: Stained (due to recent rain) to gin clear around grass beds
Water temp: 83-85
Things are picking up a bit, we have had trips and multiple trips every day for the past few weeks. There has definitely been an up tick in the activity on the lake. Fish are starting to school and chasing shad and small carp all over the lake. We have also seen big schools of White Bass chasing big schools of bait fish. The White Bass schools have been non existent on this end of the lake for more than ten years now. There are still some fish out on ledges, they have been tough to catch for me. We have been primarily fishing the grass or shallow ledges near the grass. Soft plastics in natural colors (watermelon & green pumpkin variations, use one with flake in it if the sun is out) have been accounting for most of the action. Strike King Game Hawgs, Cutter Worms and Caffiene shads are the baits we are using. Try the Magnum version of the Game Hawgs and Cutters if you are wanting a bigger bite! The bass that are schooling have been hard to catch as well, they are really keyed in on the size of the bait they are chasing, you need to pay close attention to the bait and try to mimic it. We are catching an occasional fish throwing the new Strike King KVD Gurgle Toad around lay downs and grass. As the water cools off the bite should get better as the the shad migrate towards backs of the creeks. TVA will drop the lake level 5ft this month! Please be safe and if you are unfamiliar with Pickwick stay in the channel when running. Check the lake levels at: Lake Levels.
TVA also has an app for phone that will give lake levels and generation schedules. Good Luck!
