Pickwick 10/26/13

[MNfisher]

Well when you get a report like Alpha posted yesterday, and you already had plans to go fishing. You leave 2 hrs earlier and drive 135 miles! lol! My buddy and I showed up at the dam at 6:55 am. One guy was making his way to the catwalk when we pulled in. We got down there with him with high hopes, well the first 30 min, there wasn't a fish in sight, I tried top, bottom, everything! All 3 of us couldn't buy a bite, i started to think my pickwick curse was still going on... then it happened, about 100 yards out the fish went CRAZY! The school quickly made it within casting distance and it was fish busting constantly! I bet there were 5-10 fish airborne at any given time. Well when the kastmaster spoon hit the water, you barely had time to close the bail to set the hook. It was awesome! This lasted for about 20 minutes and then they disappeared. But would pop up every so often for a few seconds. And we picked up one here and there on the bottom with 3/8 oz jigs and crappie magnets and sliders. We probably caught 50 or so whites and I did catch 6 striper. Pictured is the biggest, but i had another on that took my 10 lb test to the knot on my spool 3 times! And i had a lot of line on it. I was finally gaining on her and she swam up in the generator and I instantly felt the line rub on the concrete...and it was all over. Never saw it, but i was owned for most the battle. The one pictured i got in pretty easily. "The big one that got away" lol.

All in all, it was a great day and Alpha is right, they whites are BIG!! And when hungry they sure pack a punch on those spoons! A few guys were there throwing tennessee rigs and were catching several striper, 3-5 lb range. It wasn't constant action like Alpha had yesterday, but he is a better fisherman than me and he would probably still had caught one every cast today:D

[Alphahawk]

Good deal Mike! The Pickwick curse is broken...LOL. I'm no way a better fisherman than you. I had better water and I had two hours of cloud cover...one hour of partly cloudy and last hour sun shine. Those whites will drive you nuts when they start that showing up every 10 minutes and then disappear for 10 minutes. You are fishing a jig deep and you hurry to get that in and start throwing spoons...it becomes pandemonium.....LOL. I noticed the water started dropping out before 10:00 AM. They have the oddest schedule going on now for a week. I hope they get it back to what it usually is so I can get them again next week. Wow!......6 stripers....on 10# test. I know it had to be a fun day. That should last like that down there for the next 3 to 4 weeks. Just an awesome fishery. I hate it when a fish heads up into the generator holes....that concrete will cut the line in a heart beat.



Regards

[MNfisher]

Thanks Alpha! Yep, I had the spoon rod right next to me, and several times reeled that jig in as fast as I could while fish were busting everywhere, to have them disappear just before I got the spoon out....so frustrating! Lol

[jad2t]

Wow nice rockfish and that's a good sized white bass! One of these days I'll make the haul down to Pickwick. One of these days.

[XxthejuicexX]

Good looking fish, I am looking up pickwick dam at the moment to see how far of a drive it is for me and if I can put the stratos in and catch some of those fish.

[XxthejuicexX]

Nevermind 2 hours and 45 minutes..... If I am driving that far I'm going the G'ville. You boys have fun down there.

[MNfisher]

Good looking fish, I am looking up pickwick dam at the moment to see how far of a drive it is for me and if I can put the stratos in and catch some of those fish.

Thanks, and yes, you absolutely can put the stratos in just down from the dam.

[XxthejuicexX]

It would be nice to come down that way and catch some of those fish but it's tough to justify spending over 100 bucks in fuel to come fish for a day. I might just have to try and find some rock fish on priest, I used to be able to catch them every fall by hotel-motel island.

[MNfisher]

It would be nice to come down that way and catch some of those fish but it's tough to justify spending over 100 bucks in fuel to come fish for a day. I might just have to try and find some rock fish on priest, I used to be able to catch them every fall by hotel-motel island.

Yeah, it's easier when driving a focus that gets 35 mpg.

[creekcrappie]

Wow those look like tons of fun! That is a huge white!

[nomad60]

So THAT's what a striper looks like! :D

Nice going and nice pics! Keep 'em coming.

[white95v6]

Yeah, it's easier when driving a focus that gets 35 mpg.


or a tdi jetta that gets 60mpg. haha now I just gotta stay out of the woods and go fishing. lol.

[agelesssone]

On the gas thing, not so good driving a big SUV towing a fiberglass bass boat. Estimated MPG 10.6. Could get expensive.

Just checked mileage, it would cost $98.00 for me......and that's not even starting the boat. Like was previously stated, hard to justify a one day trip.

[white95v6]

On the gas thing, not so good driving a big SUV towing a fiberglass bass boat. Estimated MPG 10.6. Could get expensive.

Just checked mileage, it would cost $98.00 for me......and that's not even starting the boat. Like was previously stated, hard to justify a one day trip.

this is true. when we man up and decide to tow the bass boat it will be a 3day trip for me. if I just wanted to I could tow our john boat with the jetta and get 38mpg(not same car that gets 60mpg).

[Pookie]

Nevermind 2 hours and 45 minutes..... If I am driving that far I'm going the G'ville. You boys have fun down there.
Check the mileage to Wilson Lake/Joe Wheeler Dam. Same water, same fish, same action. I've already planned a trip this coming Friday.

[SAMBOLIE]

Check the mileage to Wilson Lake/Joe Wheeler Dam. Same water, same fish, same action. I've already planned a trip this coming Friday.

I would rather fish either of those lakes. Big smallies at Wheeler below the dam. Second creek also holds good fish.

Wheeler is about 20-25 miles closer from my house. The cost of AL license boosts the trip cost unless you go frequently.

[Alphahawk]

I would rather fish either of those lakes. Big smallies at Wheeler below the dam. Second creek also holds good fish.

Wheeler is about 20-25 miles closer from my house. The cost of AL license boosts the trip cost unless you go frequently.

All of that is true. Wilson is 28 miles closer for me than Pickwick...the problem is you can't access all the tailrace from the bank there...as a matter of fact you can't come remotely close to getting behind the boils from the bank. If I could fish it I would as it would save me lots of money and time...but I either fish from the bank or kayak...as does MNfisher. Wilson tailrace is just like fishing Pickwick tail race..you just can't do it from the bank.




Regards

[XxthejuicexX]

Check the mileage to Wilson Lake/Joe Wheeler Dam. Same water, same fish, same action. I've already planned a trip this coming Friday.

It's about a 2 hour drive to the dam. I think pulling my boat I get about 9.5 MPG so it sucks pretty bad. I am not opposed to driving that distance for a day or weekend trip usually,but I am about to replace my HVAC unit this coming week so my trips are on hold for a little bit plus my son is due next month so most of my spending as slowed to a crawl.

[Alphahawk]

Understand about that gas. I bought a Nissan Versa 6 years ago for that very reason. Took the back seats out and made it a fishing car..... LOL. Sold a truck I had put 320000 miles on fishing. Wish I had never sold it. Will get a new one fairly soon. My long distance trips will most likely be only 2 or 3 trips a week now.....of course if I get into a bunch of fish somewhere I will go until they quit.....LOL. I know I am very blessed to be retired and able to fish as I do.






Regards

[XxthejuicexX]

Alpha, you are blessed to be retired and able to fish as much as you do. I have been trying to retire for the last 5 years but no luck so far, I am afraid I have another 35 years or so until I can call it quits. My grandfather does what you do, fishing 2-3 times a week but he also travels around to the casinos trying to win a little money.

[SAMBOLIE]

All of that is true. Wilson is 28 miles closer for me than Pickwick...the problem is you can't access all the tailrace from the bank there...as a matter of fact you can't come remotely close to getting behind the boils from the bank. If I could fish it I would as it would save me lots of money and time...but I either fish from the bank or kayak...as does MNfisher. Wilson tailrace is just like fishing Pickwick tail race..you just can't do it from the bank.
Regards

I was referring to fishing from a boat. I should have stated that.