Pickwick May forecast

April has been an anomaly of sorts; we may never have these conditions again. The water level has been up and down 9 feet and the temps dropped over 9 degrees twice this month. But the fish are still biting! We had some good stringers during the high water as well as the falling water. Bass fishing has been good and should continue on into May. I would imagine there are some big females still waiting to go shallow. The first full moon in June will decide this. You’ll have 2-3 patterns working. The post-spawn fish will be making their way out to the river and the pre-spawn will be coming in. Soft plastics like the Strike King Game Hawg, Rage Hawg and Ocho are producing good catches. By early to mid may there should be a good topwater and spinnerbait bite going on. I saw large schools of shad a few days ago up on top so the Bass won’t be far behind them. I don’t look for the grass patterns we have become so used to emerge til probably late June or on into July if they show up at all. The high murky water has definitely stunted if not totally stopped the grass from growing. (If that would only work on my yard!)
Crappie fishing has been fair, numbers have been down due to the water fluctuations but the size is good. Thrown only 2 fish back so far that were less than 10”. If you are coming to Pickwick and need accommodations or bait check with:
Mill Creek Marina @ 662-423-9801 or 662-423-1215 www.millcreekmarina.org
Good Luck and be safe! Please keep a look out for other boaters and children playing in the water, as the weather improves boat traffic will increase.

4/20/2011- lake is back up 2' over summer pool, temps are holding around 60....fish are biting...bass and catfish hitting crakbaits and spinnerbaits on river