April 25, 201511 yr My annual spring foray to Pickwick Lake, Tennessee (Mississippi and Alabama) has come to a conclusion. Arrived Easter Sunday (April 5th) and concluded earlier today (April 24th). I am happy to say that my partners and I were able to get out each day, with each day being an 9 hour day with the exception of Monday, April 13th when it rained all day, and we stayed out in it from 9am to 5pm and seem to be still drying out from that effort. Often it threatened, but we dodged the bullet. The water was extremely low when I arrived (2 feet below winter pool) and went to flooding at two feet over summer pool here in week three. Week one and two were outstanding with quality fishing resulting in numerous 17 and 18 inch smallmouth and largemouths. Week three got downright tough, with only scattered fish to show for our efforts. I fished week one solo, week two with Bill and Chris Hagedorn, and week three with Paul Rauch - all Pickwick veterans. Chris Hagedorn probably caught the most fish in his week here. Chris uses finesse tactics which were productive. I caught the big bass of the trip - a 6.1lb, 21 1/2 inch largemouth during week two, which is a lifetime best for me. Paul Rauch caught the overall big fish of the trip a 34 pound buffalo that he insist we land, weight and photo. The smallmouth were active this trip which made me happy, since they are my species of choice. I've attached a few pics from the trip. In addition to great fishing we ate well with good greasy southern fixins. We (Bill Hagedorn and myself) will rest up and then head to Canada for a few weeks of fishing on the North Channel of Lake Huron. Edited April 25, 201511 yr by Mustang
April 25, 201511 yr We (Bill Hagedorn and myself) will rest up... Resting up from the rigors of a 3-week fishing trip. I feel your pain.
April 25, 201511 yr Author We (Bill Hagedorn and myself) will rest up... Resting up from the rigors of a 3-week fishing trip. I feel your pain. LOL - Don't confuse a fishing trip with a vacation. Cruises are vacations. Fishing trips can be taxing and not at all relaxing, especially when you have guys who have come a long way to fish with you for a week and are expecting to catch fish and have a good time. What with having to get up at the crack of dawn (7am) every morning, fish until 2pm, take a nap till 5pm, hit it hard again until dark, dinner and in bed by midnight - over and over again. You have to hope the weather and fish cooperate and that the boat and motor get you up and down in one piece. Actually taking a vacation following a three week fishing trip might be a good idea.
April 25, 201511 yr Author [ Loved following the trip on the website! Actually wore my CBU shirt the first week. Unfortunately, it was several layers down and never came to the surface to be photographed. I'll have to try again with it in Canada. On my "day off" I took a ride over to Muscle Shoals and Florence, Alabama to check out Wilson Dam. On the way back stopped at J.P. Coleman, the State Park where they were hosting a 170 boat FLW Tournament. I caught part of the weigh-in. I think we could have held our own in that tournament. Most bags were 11-16 pounds (5 fish). I didn't see them, but there were two 9 pounders rumored to be weighed in - now thats out of my league. Heading home in the morning. ATTACH=CONFIG]50332[/ATTACH] Edited April 25, 201511 yr by Mustang
April 26, 201511 yr Author When I grow up, I want to be Mustang When you grow up to be 67 like me, maybe it will work out for you. Oh, and SINGLE, I forgot to mention.
April 26, 201511 yr When you grow up to be 67 like me, maybe it will work out for you. Oh, and SINGLE, I forgot to mention. OK, you're in the perfect no attachment mobile situation, so with that, we need to make a weekend stay at Cumberland and it'll be my pleasure to be the boater, you can be the passenger and we'll attack the smallies. You say the word, I'll make it happen. It would be my honor.
April 28, 201511 yr Author OK, you're in the perfect no attachment mobile situation, so with that, we need to make a weekend stay at Cumberland and it'll be my pleasure to be the boater, you can be the passenger and we'll attack the smallies. You say the word, I'll make it happen. It would be my honor. Whoa! Somebody wants to take ME fishing????? That's a first. I'd love to fish Cumberland with you - would certainly learn something. Off to Canada on May 13th and won't be back until June 7th. Am running Brossart basketball camp June 15-18th. Beyond that I'm a free man.
April 28, 201511 yr Whoa! Somebody wants to take ME fishing????? That's a first. I'd love to fish Cumberland with you - would certainly learn something. Off to Canada on May 13th and won't be back until June 7th. Am running Brossart basketball camp June 15-18th. Beyond that I'm a free man. They may be played out after that and more difficult to catch. Maybe we could squeeze a couple of days in before you head to the great North.
April 30, 201511 yr Author Spindoc: I would LOVE to fish with you for smallies at Cumberland. I would learn something about your tactics and about Cumberland at the same time. Win-win for me! Unfortunately, I'm committed to a family function the weekend of May 8,9,10, and am off to Canada on the 13th. I will be happy to free up anything I have going this upcoming week during the week to make the trek down if that would be possible. Again, THANKS FOR THE OFFER. If we don't make it happen this spring, I will be sure to set something up next spring for sure. I've signed on for the Weeks of April 10, 17, and 24th at Pickwick for 2016. Let me know, Thanks, I tried to send this PM, but you've exceeded your capacity.
April 30, 201511 yr Spindoc: I would LOVE to fish with you for smallies at Cumberland. I would learn something about your tactics and about Cumberland at the same time. Win-win for me! Unfortunately, I'm committed to a family function the weekend of May 8,9,10, and am off to Canada on the 13th. I will be happy to free up anything I have going this upcoming week during the week to make the trek down if that would be possible. Again, THANKS FOR THE OFFER. If we don't make it happen this spring, I will be sure to set something up next spring for sure. I've signed on for the Weeks of April 10, 17, and 24th at Pickwick for 2016. Let me know, Thanks, I tried to send this PM, but you've exceeded your capacity. Dang, I hate when my capacity is exceeded. Well, I'll happily take a rain check. I'm leaving in the morning for the lake and hoping to fill the boat with brown fish tomorrow.
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