If you have questions about purchasing a license call 1-800-5GO-HUNT.
*Pickwick Lake is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and is owned and managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The MDWFP Fisheries Bureau manages the lake's fisheries resources and provides weekly fishing reports.
Covering 43,100 acres, Pickwick Lake, which borders Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, is the 4th largest impoundment on the Tennessee River. It is owned and managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The reservoir extends 52.7 miles from Wilson Dam (river mile 259.5) in Florence, Alabama to Pickwick Landing Dam (river mile 206.7). The lake is nationally recognized as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country.
Per a reciprocal agreement, a Tennessee fishing license is valid in parts of Mississippi.
Fishing Report - 3/26/2025
| Species | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass bite is good. Some anglers are having success while others are struggling to get a bite. Bass seem to be in a transition from winter and pre-spawn. The consistent warm weather will improve the bite as the water temperatures increase and fish move shallow. Target offshore humps, points, and river ledges with 1 oz. spinnerbaits, Alabama rigs, suspending jerkbaits, jigs, rattletraps, and grubs. Good electronics are a must for the off shore bite. Grubs, blade baits, and jigging spoons are good choices for a vertical presentation, but casting Alabama-rigs, suspending jerkbaits, Ned rigs, or spybaits may get you some bites as well. Live minnows/shiners, Alabama-rigs, and single swimbaits can also work well. |
| Crappie | Crappie action may be slowly picking up in the creeks. The bite is fair to good. It may be useful to target the bigger creeks and hollows (Indian, Yellow) and look for crappie suspended near the creek channels. Most anglers typically target 5 - 25 feet of water. Most crappie anglers will start in Yellow Creek and make their way to Indian Creek and Bear Creek. |
| Catfish | The catfish bite is slow, with the exception of periods with good current flow. Kool-aid flavored chicken or liver can have some success. Tight lining cut/whole shad along the deeper gravel bars and shallower river ledges is typically the best technique during this time of year. A reminder that Pickwick is a shared waterbody with Alabama, so the 1 catfish over 34 inch rule applies here. |
Pickwick Lake Special Regulations
Pickwick Lake Special Regulations
Creel and Size Limits
| Species | Lengths to Release | Daily Creel Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass (combined largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth) | 15 inches and under | 10 per angler |
| Crappie (combined black and white) | 9 inches and under | 30 per angler |
| Catfish | No Length Limit | 1 over 34 inches per angler, no creel limit under 34 inches |
Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species
*Pickwick Lake (JP Coleman State Park) Interactive Map
Find and learn more about *Pickwick Lake (JP Coleman State Park)...