Spring fishing trip suggestions

[PAT92B]

1 hour ago, jdmidwest said:

Pickwick has been a favorite of mine, but this year has been the worst.  Big flood early and something blowing thru every time down.  Just got back from a 2 day trip last nite.  Weather was nice and pre front.  But the winter draw down was going on and lake was falling.  Fishing was really slow.  Only one decent smallie, 4 lbs and 3 oz right at the end yesterday before the storm rolled in.

Guntersville has been fishing well I have been reading, but have not tried it yet.  Cordell Hull is nice, Dale Hollow is on the list for next year.  Center Hill gives you trout on the tail water, but the lake is tough.  Muscle Shoal and Wilson Dam is also a target for next year, stories of big smallies there on the upper end of Pickwick.

Weather is the key.  Play by ear and don't make solid reservations and you can have a decent trip, somewhere.

Where do you stay when you go to pickwick? Doesn’t seem to be anything on the lake near muscles shoals. If your fishing down the lake are you fishing the banks or out on the ledges. 

 

6 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Might be a stupid recommendation but Lake of the Ozarks wouldn't be a bad choice.  Produces a lot of big bass and you can fish instead of drive.

 

6 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Might be a stupid recommendation but Lake of the Ozarks wouldn't be a bad choice.  Produces a lot of big bass and you can fish instead of drive.

I’ll be fishing lake of the Ozarks this spring a bunch just looking for something diffrent. 

[jdmidwest]

5 minutes ago, PAT92B said:

Where do you stay when you go to pickwick? Doesn’t seem to be anything on the lake near muscles shoals. If your fishing down the lake are you fishing the banks or out on the ledges. 

 

 

I’ll be fishing lake of the Ozarks this spring a bunch just looking for something diffrent. 

Spring fishing is points or shallow bedding areas.  Fishing varies, points, walls, channel drops, grass, trolling, or topwater if it seems right.  Current is the key on Pickwick.  They keep lake level stable for the most part, it never varies much due to the Tombigbee.  Not a normal lake, fish are used to the current and stable.  If that is out of whack, fishing sucks.

I have the luxury of a friends lake house.  The State Park near the dam offers camping, cabins, golf course, marina, and a motel on the lake.  Several others in Counce, Savannah, Selmer, or Iuka.  Resorts there too, just never paid much attention to them.  I took a day trip down to Muscle Shoals but did not look into a place to stay.  I usually get by just by being close to the lake, not on the lake.  I enjoy tent camping if weather is nice.