Pickwick Lake Elevation 409.9
Water Temp. 61

Bass
The best method for me over the last week has been fishing rip-rap banks with Strike King Series 3 crank baits. Several colors will work right now but crankbaits with a little chartreuse are more produtive.Most fishing trips boat 20-30 bass but they have been smaller fish. If you like to fish with live bait you might be able to catch a few smallmouth anywhere from 1-6 pounds in Pickwick right now but it is not always easy. The best way to catch big smallmouth on live bait here is to take a throw net and catch live minnows, if the minnows are hard to find you are starting off with a tough day. If the minnows are plentiful you still have to locate good smallmouth. When the two come together you can catch some of the biggest smallmouth bass you will see all year.

White bass
White bass are still along the banks in the Shiloh area. If you fish along the bank with a small Series 3 crankbait or small grub you are sure to catch plenty of white bass. They are also on the ends of most of the islands in that area as well.

Stripers
Stripers are not as easy to catch and they will remain hard until next spring. I have caught a few on a large spoons.

Sauger
A few sauger are popping up. I've caught a few while fishing for other species. And a few fishing with sauger jigs. But they are not the easiest fish to catch right now by no means.

Catfish
Catfish have been active and easy to catch. I have caught them in the still water below the dam and in the current downstream. They are in 12' of water and 35' and at least all depths in between. I have caught them on artificial catfish bait and night crawlers. When I fish with a bait hook I always with a Whisker Stickers hook by Strike King, it has two barbs to hold the bait on and the fish hang on to it as well.