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To see what tournaments are taking place or scheduled for Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake, please visit our Fishing Tournaments section. To download a pdf of the Pickwick Lake map click here. To download a pdf of the Wilson Lake map click here. The Colbert County area offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the nation with well-known Pickwick, Wilson and Wheeler Lakes! The lakes were formed beginning in the 1940s when the Tennessee Valley Authority began construction of a series of massive dams along the Tennessee River in north Alabama. This unique combination of the natural-made deep channel of the river and the man-made reservoirs of flooded fields, bluffs and marsh areas has generated excellent habitats for a large variety of game fish. In addition to the three major lakes in our area, anglers also have the opportunity to fish for rainbow trout in the clear waters of Spring Creek in Tuscumbia. The creek is fed by an underground spring and is stocked regularly by the State of Alabama Game & Fish Division. Many professional organizations have recognized the high quality of fishing in the area. Recent circuits hosted by our lakes include the Cabela's Crappie Classic and KingKat Classic, B.A.S.S. Pro-Am and Top 150, Southern Fishing-Russell Sporting Center Top Rod Championship and the EverStart Series Championship, among others. To help you plan your trip to Colbert County, following is a thumbnail sketch of each reservoir. WILSON LAKE Wilson impounds 15,930 acres of water along the Tennessee River, stretching 15 miles between Wilson Dam at Muscle Shoals, Ala. and Rogersville's Wheeler Dam. Fishing conditions include rocky points, grassbeds, deep dropoffs with many ideal shallow water areas, and good night fishing in the summer. PICKWICK LAKE Pickwick impounds 30,175 acres of water along the Tennessee River, stretching 46 miles between Muscle Shoals, Ala., and Pickwick Landing, Tenn. Fishing conditions include shallow stump flats, well-defined channels, active feeder creeks, steeply falling bluffs, rocky ledges and long grassbeds. WHEELER LAKE Wheeler impounds 67,100 acres and extends roughly 60 miles between Guntersville and Wheeler Dams. It is basically a shallow reservoir, but mixes shallow banks with deep drop-offs, wide-open spaces and narrow tributaries. Milfoil makes for great top water fishing in the spring and fall. SEASONAL PATTERNS Spring Season: March-June Spring is the time to fish the gravel points and bars, bluffs and rip rap banks. Best baits are small jigs (buck tails), crank baits, spinner baits and grubs. Recommended tackle are spinning rods with 6 to 8 lb. test line in clear water and 8 to 10 lb. test line in stained water. With jibs and grubs, use bait casters spooled with 10 to 12 lb. test in clear water and 12 to 14 lb. test in stained water for cranks and spinners. Summer Season: June-September Summer is the time to fish shell mounds, Indian mounds, and underwater humps. River ledges can also be good this time of year. Best baits include jigs, big crank baits, spinner baits, Carolina rig lizards and if that doesn't work, live shiners will! Equipment includes bait casters, 12 to 14 lb. test line, spinning reels for jigs and live bait. Fall Season: September-December Fall means wonderful foliage on the river banks and a fishing paradise as the smallmouth reach peak feeding for winter. Come early and stay late! Smallmouth can be found on wood and rocks and just about any place you can find bait fish. Success can be reached with top water baits, spinner baits and live baits. Catch fish from early morning to late afternoon. Bait cast with 14 to 20 lb. test line. Winter Season: December-March Pickwick Lake is the best place to be for winter smallmouth. They are big and mean when the water gets cold. Fish the tail races below the dams and use large willow leaf spinner baits in white or white/chartreuse and hold on! (Please check the current restrictions on fishing in close proximity to dams as set by the federal government.) STATE FISHING LICENSE State fishing licenses are available at tackle and bait shops throughout Colbert County or from the License Commissioner at the Colbert County Courthouse. They may also be purchased on the internet at www.outdooralabama.com and by phone (1-888-848-6887). Alabama Resident Fees: Annual Freshwater Rod & Reel $9.50 Annual Fresh/Saltwater Combination: $24.50 7-Day Trip Freshwater: $6 Disabled (Lifetime): $1 Lifetime Freshwater: $150 64 Lifetime License (residents 64 years old) $9.50 Lifetime Combination Hunting/Freshwater Fish: $450 Residents 65 years of age & over are exempt from buying fishing licenses Non-Resident Fees*: 7-Day Trip Freshwater: $11 (except Florida & Tennessee residents fee is $16; Mississippi residents fee is $17.85) Annual Freshwater Rod & Reel: $31 (except Louisiana residents fee is $61; Mississippi residents fee is $33.85) Annual Fresh/Saltwater Combination: $61 *All non-residents 16 years of age or older who fish in any fresh, salt or brackish waters of the State of Alabama must have a valid annual or trip fishing license. All military personnel are required to have proper licenses to hunt or fish. (Rates subject to change.) AREA FISHING RECORDS Wilson Lake is the holder of three previous World Records, Smallmouth Bass - 10 lbs. 8 oz; Freshwater Drum, 41 lbs., 8 oz., and Sauger, 5 lbs. 2 oz. Other Alabama records for area lakes are: Other area records include: Bass, Smallmouth (3) 10 lbs, 8 oz Wheeler Dam Tailwater Carp 35 lbs Bear Creek Catfish, Blue (2) 111 lbs Wheeler Reservoir Drum, Freshwater (2) 41 lbs, 8 oz Wilson Reservoir Muskellunge 19 lbs, 8 oz Wilson Dam Tailwater Paddlefish (now protected) 52 lbs, 12 oz Wilson Dam Tailwater Perch, Yellow 1 lb, 15 oz Wheeler Reservoir Redhorse, Silver (3) 14 lbs, 14 oz Wilson Dam Tailwater Sauger 5 lbs, 2 oz Wilson Dam Tailwater 1 - World Record 2 - Previous World Record 3 - World Record, Any Method |
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