Pickwick Lake Fishing Report - Feb 17, 2025

Bass - with the water levels on

Pickwick rising to 415, going to 417 mid week and over 200,000 being pulled it’s critical to be careful on the lake.  Lots of debris floating and lots of current.   Saying this, the few people that went out this weekend still caught them.  25 pounds for 5 fish won a winter trail for those that went out.  Alabama rigs with blades like the Jenko 5 wire worked good with the Chartreuse Shad booty shaker.   Also, fishing eddies against the bank with the colored water with a Jenko cd-7 and cd-15 in orange craw caught some real good fish.  High running water can be feast or famine as fish will group up.  Biggest issue this week is the extreme cold temps.  Cold temps and muddy water make it tough but current does help. 

Crappie - the rise in water and high cute t and color in water has shut the crappie fishing down some.  Water really needs to stabilize but when the water starts to fall and clear in coming weeks, look for the crappie fishing to be wide open.  With the little current in water the Jenko tickle fry is a real catcher.  Again use colors with some chartreuse in them for the deep crappie holding on brush and stumps and even rock points.

White bass - blown out below the dam right now but it will be wide open in the next few weeks if you are planning a trip.  March is spawn time and it’s not uncommon to catch over 100 a day.  Crankbaits like the Jenko cd-7 in Orange craw or chartreuse work well as well as basic curly tail 2.5 inch grubs or small swimbaits.

Catfish are biting!

Catfish - they are on fire!   Had a buddy this weekend catch 50 good white cats on the river with redworms anchored in one Eddie.   You must be careful while navigating but down stream away from the dam it is manageable with experience.  Please keep your lifejacket on at all times but you can set up and tie to trees and fish bends in the river or creek mouths.   If you don’t get bit in 10 minutes move.  When you find them they are loaded. 

Overall this will be a tough week and if you are not super experienced and careful I would suggest waiting till the water calms as it can be unforgiving especially with the levels and the temperatures.