Picking up at Pickwick
Fourth, final Stren Series event in Southeast Division finishes up at Pickwick Lake
FLORENCE, Ala. – It used to be that tournament bass anglers shuddered at the words “Pickwick Lake.”
The famed Alabama reservoir has had a reputation for being a stingy fishery over the last decade.
But then, about two years ago, something at Pickwick changed, and the TVA lake turned into a prolific bass garden, producing a bumper crop of fish.
The last time the Stren Series visited Pickwick was in November 2005 for the Stren Series Championship. At that event 9 pounds a day was a big catch, and a 14-pound limit was considered tournament-leading material.
By October 2007 things had changed substantially when the Wal-Mart FLW Series stopped at Pickwick. In that event, 12 pounds per day became the lake’s par score and several limits in the 18- to 19-pound range crossed the stage.
And according to several pros fishing the Southeast Stren Series event on Pickwick this week, things could get even better.
“It’s going to be a good tournament; they’re biting pretty well,” said National Guard pro Jonathan Newton of nearby Rogersville, Ala. “This lake has impressed me all year. I think weights will be up even more than at the (FLW) Series event here last fall. Fish are bunched up on the grass edges and river ledges – plus there’s still a decent topwater bite in the morning. It should be fun.”
As for why Pickwick has bounced back so strong in the last two years, Newton surmised it’s the cyclical nature of TVA lakes. A host of factors, including abundant grass growth, fishing pressure, weather and successful year-class spawns, all come together to cause fluctuations in productivity.
“That’s the way this whole TVA chain is,” Newton said. “Pickwick, Wheeler, Wilson, Guntersville and even Kentucky-Barkley cycle. Some years Wheeler will be red hot and Pickwick will be terrible. Then things will reverse. But overall, all these TVA lakes have impressed me this year, especially Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick.”
Speaking of Wheeler and Wilson, pros fishing the Stren Series event this week will be allowed to lock into Wilson, but not Wheeler. Also, Tennessee waters to the far northwest are off limits.
“The fish are bunched up, and as a result, the fishermen will be too,” Newton added. “This tournament will be about having a spot or two to yourself. A lot of guys will be sharing sweet spots – finding one that no one else has found will be the ticket to winning.”
This event marks the fourth and final event of the Stren Series Southeast Division. At the conclusion of this event, the top 40 pros and 40 co-anglers, based on points, will be invited to the no-entry-fee Stren Series Championship to be held on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8.
Logistics
Each day anglers will take off from McFarland Park located at 200 James M. Spain Drive in Florence, at 6:30 each morning.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins also will be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m.
Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 3100 Hough Road in Florence, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:38 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 75 degrees
Expected high temperature: 93 degrees
Water temperature: 80 degrees
Wind: SW at 10 to 20 mph
Day’s outlook: hot and breezy