Occupying just over 43,000 acres of exceptionally fishy water in southwest Tennessee, Pickwick Lake has long been known as one of the country’s hotspots for tournament bass fishing. Blessed with an abundance of smallmouth and largemouth, and ample access up and down its 53-mile length, Pickwick is a bucket-list destination for anglers pursuing both brown and green bass.
But for the residents of Counce, Tennessee, and the other small towns that rest on its banks, Pickwick Lake is much more than a handy location for a fishing derby. It’s the lifeblood of communities whose very identities are deeply connected to the bass, catfish, bluegill and crappie that swim in its waters. It’s the reason why generations of anglers from around the world find themselves in the Volunteer State year after year, chasing both the fish and the sense of community that only a true fishing town can offer.
“Pickwick is a special place, I’m proud to call it a Bill Dance Signature Lake,” says Bill Dance, whose name he proudly lends to lakes around Tennessee through the Bill Dance Signature Lakes program. “I’ve been fishing this lake for over 60 years now, and it’s created some of the best memories of my life. When YOU come to Pickwick and spend some time here, it’ll become a special place to you, too.”
In this episode of Fishing Towns, follow along as we shine a light on the diverse fishing opportunities of this Tennessee River waterway, and why places like Counce are proud to call themselves “fishing towns.”