By: Mike
McClain
First, there is good news and
bad news--there has been a major shad die-off (due to extremely cold
water)--the bad news is that catching shad to fish with will likely be
non-existent. The good news is that
there won't be many shad for the fish to eat, so spring fishing should be awesome--the
fish will be chasing anything that moves, so store bought shiners and artificials should bring them in!
For those unfamiliar with the
problems that can be caused by the wind on Wilson and Pickwick, be aware and
cautious. When the wind is blowing up-river
toward the dam (on both lakes) and the current is on, conditions can get
dangerous. Bass boats have sunk because
of the high waves that can come up (it really is unbelievable). Last year, I launched downriver, went
up-river to fish, the waves got up and I could not get back to the launch--I
had to pay someone to drive me to my car and then I had to pull out on a
private launch--and I have a Ranger, which is a good rough water boat.
If the water is rough, launch
on the lower end of Wilson (at the TVA launch, Fleet Harbor) and fish on the
lower end--it will be much less dangerous than the upper end.
Smallies spawn in March and April and fishing during that time
through the end of May can be totally awesome!
Here is what I would do during that time:
First, I would buy a couple
of pounds of shiners from Bass Plus (256-383-2611, 100 Francis Ave, just off
Hwy 133, in Muscle Shoals)--reason--price is $3-$4 cheaper than the bait shop
at McFarland's). Spring is definitely
the time to throw live bait--you will catch more fish and have a much better
chance at a trophy.
If Pickwick has enough water
in it, especially the upper end toward the dam (above the new bridge) I would
launch at McFarland's, and head toward the dam.
I would drift shiners starting below the tip of
Use 6-8 pound line, with
Eagle Claw style 84 hooks, # 2 and # 4 (not 2/0 or 4/0). Put a split shot about 18" up from the
hook--bump that off the bottom (note: I use # 4 split shot and if the current
is ripping, I use 2 # 4's)--just follow the current. Sometimes I use a cork (yeah, I know it looks
funny, but sometimes that's what the smallies want--I
have had days when I do this, and catch a lot of fish and folks who don't use a
cork, don't catch anything--you will likely vary that during the day, depending
on what's happening).
I also like to pay attention
to the flow of the current and fish the reverse flow up against the bank--that
can be really good. Also, I like to
drift going down the bank (with and without a cork).
There have been lots of
trophy smallies caught drifting, but I think there
have been even more caught in the slack water area to the left of Jackson
Island. Put on live bait with a BB split
shot (or a # 7) and SLOWLY troll ( or drift with the
wind) all over that area. Some people
have one rod in their hand and let out another rod, with a cork, pretty far
behind the boat.
If the flood gates are open,
don't let that scare you (it is not dangerous and I love to fish there when the
gates are open). Do the same thing and
make sure to fish the rocks up toward the dam (still in the slack area, which
is also called the Horseshoe). Also make
sure to have a big spinnerbait ready to roll. There are times those smallies
get in eddy's and a spinnerbait
will tear them up.
Artificials will also work in the slack area.
If nothing is going on
up-river (which is very doubtful), head down toward 7 Mile Island and perhaps
even Koger Island (it's not really that far to Koger Island, if your boat moves out). Same baits, but I think I would concentrate
on crankbaits and jerkbaits. See if you can find some humps and some eddy's.
Places to catch shad: 1) the
barge canal just around the corner, up-river, from McFarland's, all the way to
the back and 2) the sewer dump on the right bank going downriver, probably a
mile or so--you won't see a sewer pipe coming from the bank, but you will see
the water churning up--it's just past a rock pile on the bank, about 1 mile
from the launch.
I spend most of my fishing on
Pickwick because 1) there is no doubt that PW has bigger fish and 2) if there
is good water up-river, especially in the slack area, you can spend all day
there, catch a lot of fish, and not have to run all over creation.
Now to Wilson:
I like to launch at the lower
end (Fleet Harbor, just above the dam).
Sometimes you can catch shad back to the right of the launch, toward the
back--but always have shiners. However, what
I will do is to fish the point on the right just before going out to the
river--there is a grass bed there and I will throw a spinnerbait,
crankbait, and a Carolina rigged worm. Also, on the left, there is a big point
(right where the sign is about Dangerous Waters) In the spring, throw a suspending jerkbait off that point--a BASS tourny
was won by doing this.
Then head up river, hitting
the points. Throw crankbaits
and jerkbaits (remember, live baits are good
anywhere, anytime) up and down and ACROSS the points. Late March will be a good time for the crankbaits. You can
also fish the bluffs on the other side, but use live bait and jerkbaits for that.
After you get tired of
hitting the points, head up to drift below the dam--if it's on, spend some time
there (shad can be caught on the right bank, just up from the culvert, and up
by the dam). Also, remember this--when
you hear the siren blow over by the lock, head toward the blow-hole (round
brick edifice)--put on a live bait, run close to the blow-hole, and drift
back--always good for some fish, and not many people know that--it is a scary
sight, but, it is not dangerous--unless you jump in the dang thing.
When you
are ready, head down river on the right side. Hit the
points, docks, seawalls and bluffs. You
might also enjoy going back in Shoal Creek, which is on the lower end. Be extremely careful when first going into
this area--stay close to the bluff side when entering the creek--DO NOT get
close to the "low-land" side--there is an old lock or dam underwater
(really shallow--has warning signs) and one can tear up a boat real fast.
Go back in the creek and hit
points and weed beds. Throw trick worms
and Zoom Super flukes in the beds. Oh, I
almost forgot--those flukes can be real good on points, off the banks, and in
the slack area on PW--throw them weightless, let them sink down, and if bit,
hold on until you feel the fish before setting the hook. Crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits should
also do good.
My preference is to fish PW, but
I have been known to do this. Launch at
the TVA Rock Pile, fish PW, then pull out (unless things are doing good on PW) and launch at
For my friends who live up
north, you can call 1-888-848-6887 to get an Alabama fishing license--heck of a
lot easier than trying to find a Wal-Mart.
If you need some maps,
Atlantic Mapping, Inc. has the best ones, with detail, contours, and GPS
co-ordinates. Go to their website at
www.fishingGPSmaps.com. There is general
agreement that their maps are the best for the
Let me know when you are
going to be there--I just might be fishing there also. This spring should be awesome and I plan on
fishing as much as I can. Look for a 50
year old guy in a 364 V Ranger with a Yamaha 150 Pro V, with a white shad tank
in the middle of the boat--that'd probably be me.