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Pickwick

Bay Springs

Pickwick has often been called the best trophy smallmouth fishery in the country. This is due in large part to the numerous beneficial conditions of the river system and its location. The lake is situated at the southern boundary of habitable climate for smallmouth. This southern location allows for a longer growing year, which produces larger fish. Pickwick is also at the northern boundary for threadfin shad, the primary prey for smallies, and contains an abundance of them. Add the strong current of the Tennessee River to these two factors and it is easy to see why Pickwick bass are arguably the largest and strongest bronzebacks around.

Size and Depth

47,500 acres and 53 miles long with a maximum depth of 59 feet.

Shoreline

496 miles long. The shore is approximately 40 percent developed and is comprised of both privately-held land and Tennessee Valley Authority ownership. The remaining shoreline is undeveloped.

Water

Moderately fertile water with a light green to brownish color. In the main river channel the water is lighter colored than the brownish color found in the backwater areas of coves and bays. Visible clarity is between 2 and 4 feet depending on location, rainfall and current.

Cover

There is little submerged vegetation and what is present is sporadically dispersed throughout the lake. The most common emergent plant is water willow, which can be found along the lakes shoreline and in bays and coves.

Bay Springs Lake, the only deep-water lake on the waterway, contains 6,700 acres and has 133 miles of shoreline. The Lake is connected to the Yellow Creek embayment of the Tennessee River by a 25-mile long canal that was dug between the hills that separate the Tennessee and Tombigbee River Basins.

Bay Springs offers many different types of structure including points, creek runs, and flats with standing timber. Three different species of bass swim here with the most predominant being largemouths. The lake has a good population of spotted bass with trophy size ones showing up on occasion. A few smallmouths also are caught here from time to time. A nice population of bream and crappie can also be found in this Tennessee-Tombigbee Impoundment.

Water color is typically relatively clear with visibility in the 4 to 6 foot range. With the varying depth ranges and wide array of cover and structure Bay Springs has lots to offer the fisherman.

Lake Records

Species	Pickwick	Bay Springs
Largemouth	Bigg'in	Bigg'in
Smallmouth	Real Bigg'in	Bigg'in
Spotted Bass	Bigg'in	Bigg'in
White Bass	Bigg'in	Bigg'in
Crappie	Bigg'in	Bigg'in
Bream	Bigg'in	Bigg'in
Sauger	Bigg'in	Bigg'in

Accommodation Information

I will be more than happy to provide information on lodging, cabin rentals, restaurants, shopping, and other area attractions when you book your trip. I will list some accommodations here for your convenience.

J.P. Coleman State Park
613 County Road 321
Iuka, MS 38852
662-423-6515
Website

Victorian Inn
199 County Road 180
Iuka, MS 38852
662-423-9221
800-839-1662

Pickwick Landing State Park
HWY 57
Pickwick Dam, TN 38365
731-689-3129
800-250-8615
Website

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