Pickwick Lake is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) chain of lakes and, in my mind, is one of the best. Especially if you're after BIG smallmouths! I will be the first to admit that I have not had the chance to spend enough time on Pickwick to become confident in chasing those beautiful brown fish, but I have witnessed several tournament weigh-ins where the local "sticks" (and I mean that with all due respect!) are toting sacks full of 4 and 5 pound smallies!

Don't be fooled, however. This lake is full of some monster largemouths as well. My personal best, a 9 lb. 6 oz. beauty, fell prey to a black Stanley jig with black Guido Bug trailer several years ago. That weigh-in bag also included a 6-6 and several 2's and 3's. What a great memory! The best part was watching those beauties swim away after weigh-in.

There are excellent facilities all over the lake, to include Pickwick Lake State Park near the dam, J.P. Coleman State Park several miles down, and McFarland Park just below Wilson Dam.

I know the locals up there love to fish for the smallies in the dead of winter--AT NIGHT!! I guess a 5 lb. smallie pulling your string definitely wards off the cold!!