Pickwick Lake Elevation 413.5
Water temp 82.

Bass
With the hot weather and heavy boat traffic it is better to stick with early morning and late afternoon. You can count on big bass exploding the surface to hit top water baits in the morning but because you can also count on no current flow from the Dam during the morning hours the activity is usually short lived. If you are out of the wind and the water is calm you should first throw Strike Kings new walking bait. If you are tempted to fish a windy bank, use a Buzz Bait. After the top water bite is over you will find the better bass are in 12'-20' throughout the day and that is the depth I would fish right after the first hour of daylight. I have had good results on big crank baits along deep bluffs and on open water humps and ledges. Carolina rigging is working well with plastic Strike King Rage Tail worms and lizards. Rage Craws have been working well in the lake and the river. As the sun goes back down you get a chance at some more top water action. Now is the time to catch a large number of bass on small baits in the cooler times of the day with small top water baits and Texas rigged worms and grubs around shallow grassy areas. If you fish these baits around grassy flats in the morning and afternoon you should find bass feeding in and around the grass areas.

Stripers
Rockfish are busting top water baits throughout the day. You can expect to catch several fish 8-12 pounds. Like bass fishing you will find the first hour of daylight exciting with top water baits and jerk baits. As soon as you see the fish are deep try fishing with sassy shad or live bait. Use a three ounce sinker to reach the bottom faster. Over the last two weeks I have seen several fish over ten pounds. You can usually count on catching several big fish if you stay out and try different methods.

Catfish
Catfish are in deep water channels and are also showing up in shallow water again. Night crawlers are picking up most of the fish we have caught.

Compliments of Clagett Talley 731-607-5266
www.pickwickareaguide.com