FLORENCE, Ala. – You wouldn’t know it by the temperature at takeoff at McFarland Park, but it’s winter on the Tennessee River. That means the fish are about the heaviest they’ll be all year, and right now on Pickwick Lake, that’s saying a lot. All fall and winter, it took huge weight to win local events, and coming out of a tremendous cold snap, expectations are high for the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division opener.
While not everyone in the event will come to weigh-in with eye-popping bags, many in the field are shooting for 30 pounds, and the idea of a three-day winning weight around 80 pounds has been bandied about. So, buckle up, because it might get western in north Alabama.
The full wintertime buffet is on the table
While modern wintertime fishing starts with a jighead and a minnow, it’s probably a little early to say the Top 10 Baits will be a treble-free zone. Between the tailrace and its legendary productivity, as well as grass fish and a lower-end ledge and LiveScope bite, anglers will have options.
Lately, Clint Knight has made a habit of driving down from Kentucky and catching big Pickwick bags. With some solid experience across the Tennessee River, Knight expects some variety to play.
“I think it’ll be a mix, because there are going to be a bunch of guys that do very well at the tailrace because they’re pulling all kinds of current,” said Knight. “I think there’ll be some guys doing that, and I think some guys will be in the grass. The whole lake will definitely play, I think it’s one of those tournaments where guys will fish their strengths. Because the guys that fish the grass, I think they’re gonna be left alone, because everybody’s chasing the ‘Scope bite, but I guarantee there’ll be a couple guys that catch them on the grass three days in a row.”
As far as things go for the more tech-forward anglers, there are obviously a lot of possibilities. While there are enough fish on bait to look like B-roll in an ad for sonar, there are also bass on current-washed places and offshore structure.
Brody Campbell, coming off a win in Texas, explained some of the options.
“There’s some fish really deep, out on deep structure,” said Campbell. “There’s fish out here on bait balls right now that you can catch, and there’s fish just doing the traditional stuff — current break, ledge fishing deals. So, you can come out here and catch them any way you want.”
Knight explained that the fish have transitioned from being easily accessible and suspended in the fall, to a more classic setup.
“They were visible and ready to be caught,” said Knight. “I think they’re setting up on this old ledge stuff. I think it’s because the water got so cold. When we were here last week, the water was 39 to 40, and, I mean, they were like dead to the world. With the cold water and the current, it is like they just went straight to a summertime pattern. It’s one of those where I think a local that’s good, that’s really good in the summer here, will do really well.”
Given the field list, which includes the Nutt twins and a host of more senior locals and Tennessee River experts, that’s a pretty scary thought.
Watching the wind
As far as conditions go, the water is in the 40s and the daytime highs are in the 60s and 70s this week, with some rain but not too much. The thing of prime concern for many is the wind on Day 2 – which is forecast to be fairly strong and out of the south.
“It’s going to get this place rolling pretty bad,” said Laker Howell, who has a pretty good amount of experience on the Tennessee River despite his age. “I mean, you’re not going to see huge waves, but it’s going to be enough to where it will really eliminate anybody that’s not used to ‘Scoping in the wind. ‘Scoping when it’s not windy, pretty much anybody that spends enough time doing it can do it, let’s be honest. Day 1 is going to be the slugfest day. Everybody’s going to bring a big bag in, but then Day 2 is going to be survival.”
Campbell said much the same.
“The wind might mess it up a little; it definitely makes them a lot harder to catch,” he said. “You have to position your boat with the current where you present the bait coming downstream. So, if you get a wind against the current, it might make it a little challenging.”
Of course, the ever-confident Ohioan believes he can adjust accordingly, but, he’s also one of the best anglers in the game these days.
Compare and contrast
The idea that someone could top 80 pounds naturally makes the mind wander toward records. On that front, things are probably out of reach — although, considering some of the talent in the field, you never want to completely count them out. Still, the three-day Toyota Series weight record was set at Falcon in 2010, by Michael Yoder with 93-8. The runner-up weight is also from Falcon, in 2009 – a strong 92-2.
However, it’s not totally out there to consider a Tennessee River record. In late February of 2013, James McMullen blasted 86-6 on Guntersville in an event that featured two other pros over the 80-pound mark.
Fishing in a small creek behind a bridge, McMullen torched bass on an umbrella rig for three days in a row.
“All I know is that bass were funneling in there by the truckloads, I guess getting ready to spawn,” he said. “Each day I was amazed at how many new fish were in there.”
It’s maybe a little early for some sort of massive prespawn move, but these days, anglers aren’t throwing blind. To shoot for 86 1/2 pounds and a new high-water mark for the Tennessee River, an angler has to average “only” 28.8 a day. Last year in the winter at Guntersville, Hayden Marbut didn’t come close in his Central Division win, so, it’s a lot to ask. But, the possibility is at least out there.
What’s the true potential?
While Knight has been blasting fish on Pickwick almost every time he’s dropped the boat in, his practice day on Monday was anything but a whackfest – he caught three bass. Still, this event has some of the highest potential we’ve seen in recent years.
“I’m actually not getting that many bites a day, but the ones I’m getting are really big,” said Knight. “It’s very hard to get a bite. A month ago when we were here, we were catching 30 to 50 a day, and now I’m catching five to 10. I think it’s a little bit of pressure. And then all the posts from the winter trails showed this place and what’s living in here now.”
Knight thinks that a winning weight of 80 pounds or better is totally within reach for someone.
“I think it’ll take 27 to 28 a day to win,” said Knight. “I think someone’s going catch 30. You’re not going to get a bunch of bites, so you’ve got to capitalize, but someone will have 27 or 28 a day on average.”
Campbell holds the same high opinion of Pickwick.
“Pickwick is on fire,” he said. “I expect it’s going to take some monster bags to compete in this tournament. I’ve had a couple over 30 now being here just a week or two. But, I’m thinking probably around 27 a day, I would think. Every fish is so fat and healthy; if you catch one, it’s a 4-plus. Like, there are no little fish out here right now.”
Fingers crossed for an epic week!