The cold water hasn’t slowed down the bass bite much on area lakes. Pickwick headwaters continue to produce good strings of bass and stripe in the lower tailrace area. When the flood gates are open search for fish in eddy pockets off the main current flow in 2-6 feet of water. If current allows drop baits just behind wing walls and dikes for the best smallmouth bite. Wilson has been slower but the bite should improve with warming temperatures later in the month.

                Crappie have been slow with the rising flooding waters. A few fish are being caught down river in the Indian and Yellow Creek areas in 20-30 feet of water. Shoreline anglers are picking off a few in McFarland Harbor and the Rockpile Recreation area below the Wilson Dam.

                Sauger have slowed dramatically from the flurry we saw back in November. A few fish are being picked up at night and early morning by shoreline anglers. Red / Yellow hair jigs tipped with a minnow is best option.

                Catfish have been hard to come by lately. A few fish are being picked up in the deep waters of Wilson Lake but not many. Eating size cats are hit and miss in the Cane Creek area on Pickwick and around the Shoals Creek bridge on Wilson Lake.

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                The smallmouth bite should continue to be really good in the Wilson and wheeler tailraces. Good strings were caught again this week. Start your search in eddy pockets near the dam. Fish have been holding in 3 to 7 feet of water. Humps and wash holes below Wheeler Dam have been yielding both big catfish and smallmouth bass. A few spots and largemouth are being caught in the backwater flats below both dams. Jigs, crank baits, and small swimbaits have been the ticket.

                Crappie are still biting well on lower Pickwick Lake. Bear Creek and Yellow Creek areas the best bet. Fish creek channel ledges in 18-30 feet of water. Look for fish on wood structure along creek ledges and other isolated cover. The Second Creek area near Waterloo and Little Bear Creek in the upper lake have also produced good numbers of fish.

                Catfish bite has been slow all winter and continues to lag. For big fish go to Wilson Lake and search for wood cover in 40-60 feet of water. The Jackson Island ledges near the dam has also produces some smaller fish. To fill the coolers with eating size fish try bridge piers in Shoals Creek, Town Creek, and the Natchez Trace Parkway bridge. For what ever reason small er fish are on the bridges very well right now.

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            Fishing has been a little slow so for this month. With the lake levels dropping so rapidly, it’s changed many of the fishing patterns. Bass are still holding between the Wilson dam and Pride Landing in good numbers. When moderate current is running concentrate on gravel bottoms along the main channel. Rock piles ands dikes in 4 to 10 feet of water are holding fish.

For crappie Second Creek and Coffee slough has been the go to’s lately. Look for stumps or submerged logs in 4 to 7 feet of water. Best presentation is a minnow or no action lure fished vertical right in their face.

Catfish are biting good in the mid to upper lake region. Blue cats are hanging out in deep holes or depressions in the main channel, while channel cats are numerous in the shallow rocks beow the dam.

Striper bite is slow so for but it should turn on anytime in the tailrace. Big live shad and hair jigs are always your best choice.

Sauger bite is getting better everyday. Good reports from bank fisherman in Cypress Creek, McFarland Park beach area, and Riverfront Park in Sheffield.