Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake has often been called the best trophy smallmouth fishery in the country. This is due in large part to the numerous beneficial conditions of the river system and its location. The lake is situated at the southern boundary of habitable climate for smallmouth. This southern location allows for a longer growing year, which produces larger fish. Pickwick is also at the northern boundary for threadfin shad, the primary prey for smallies, and contains an abundance of them. Add the strong current of the Tennessee River to these two factors and it is easy to see why Pickwick bass are arguably the largest and strongest bronzebacks around.

LAKE PROFILE

Size and Depth - 47,500 acres and 53 miles long with a maximum depth of 59 feet.

Water Source - An impoundment of the Tennessee River, Pickwick Lake is defined by the Wilson Dam in the south Pickwick Landing Dam in the north. With a short exception near its inflows at Florence, the current primarily flows north.

Shoreline - 496 miles long. The shore is approximately 40 percent developed and is comprised of both privately-held land and Tennessee Valley Authority ownership. The remaining shoreline is undeveloped.

Bottom - Sand, gravel, bedrock, mud and muck. The main river channel is mostly bedrock and mud. In tailwater areas and coves, sand, gravel and muck bottoms are found.

Water - Moderately fertile water with a light green to brownish color. In the main river channel the water is lighter colored than the brownish color found in the backwater areas of coves and bays. Visible clarity is between 2 and 4 feet depending on location, rainfall and current.

Cover - There is little submerged vegetation and what is present is sporadically dispersed throughout the lake. The most common emergent plant is water willow, which can be found along the lakes shoreline and in bays and coves.