ROGER STEGALL ON PICKWICK LAKE

Seeking Pickwick's Smallmouth

EDITOR'S NOTE: Few anglers see or ever catch a 7-pound smallmouth bass. However, in 13 years of guiding and fishing Pickwick Lake, which borders Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, Roger Stegall of Iuka, Mississippi, has caught more than 50-smallmouth bass weighing more than 7-pounds each. This week Roger Stegall talks with us about how to fish Pickwick Lake.

Question: Where do most people who fish Pickwick Lake live?
Answer: Fishermen travel from Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; all parts of Mississippi and from around the world to fish at Pickwick.

Question: How should an angler fish the humps for smallmouth and largemouth?
Answer: I fish from the shallow side of the hump down the hump to the deep side. Many of the humps I fish are on the river's ledge. So, when I fish those humps, I fish from the shallow water to the deep water. If you position your boat on top of the hump and fish from the deep water to the shallow water, you probably will get hung up on trotlines, stumps and/or other structure on the river's ledges.

Question: Can you easily spook the fish on these humps?
Answer: Yes, I never idle my big motor over the humps. I usually go over the humps with my trolling motor. I fish most of these places so often that I probably can line up on these holes without using my depth finder.

Question: If you could only fish one lure on Pickwick Lake during the summer, winter, spring and fall, what lure would you chose?
Answer: I'd pick a smoke-colored grub with a 3/16-ounce head and a Mustad hollow-point hook. I like a small-bodied, 4-inch grub. I'll cast that bait on 8-pound, High-Vis yellow Stren line. That bait will catch any fish that swims in this lake, and it will catch any fish on any day you fish it. You can catch a catfish or a 10-pound smallmouth using that smoke-colored grub.

Question: Do most people fish Pickwick for smallmouth?
Answer: Yes, they do. Although we have outstanding largemouth fishing, people come from all around to fish for Pickwick's smallmouth. More than likely you'll have more of an opportunity to catch a smallmouth that will weigh from 6 to 9 pounds at Pickwick than at any other lake in the U.S.

Question: On average, how many days must most anglers fish to catch a smallmouth that weighs 5 pounds or more at Pickwick?
Answer: Depending on the time of the year, the anglers probably will have to fish one to three days to catch a big bass. In July, you can catch a 5-pound or better smallmouth on 75 percent of our trips. In October and November, you probably need two days to catch a smallmouth that weighs 5 pounds or more, but you'll catch a lot of 3-pound fish. In January and February, you'll need to fish at least two to three days to catch a 5-pound smallmouth. On that same trip, you probably will catch a 7-pound smallmouth.

Question: When can you catch a really big smallmouth?
Answer: You can catch a really big smallmouth during the first of March before the first full moon. If you can fish before the full moon and before the water temperature reaches 58 degrees (the temperature of water required for the smallmouth to spawn), you can catch a really big bass. At that time of the year, the fish will eat crankbaits, grubs and spinner baits. The bass will be holding on small humps.
Question: Roger, how much do you charge for a day of fishing on Pickwick Lake?
Answer: I charge $250 per day for either one or two fishermen for an 8- to 9-hour fishing trip. I furnish everything except your food and your drinks. You can bring your own rods, or you can use mine. To schedule a trip, I require a $100 deposit. If you need a place to stay, you can sleep in my house trailer that sleeps four people for $60 a night.

Question: Do you have a webpage?
Answer: I've got a page that tells you about me and my fishing. To check out my webpage, go to www.fishpickwick.com. The photo page on my site has pictures of clients with their catches. I also include a lot of information about the lake and the things to do around the area.

For more information on staying at Pickwick Landing State Park on Pickwick Lake, contact the Hardin County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at info@tourhardincounty.org, call (731) 925-8181 or (800) 552-3866, or visit www.tourhardincounty.org. Pickwick Landing State Park offers fishing, boating, hiking, camping, swimming and golf. Lodging includes the lakeside inn with over 100 rooms, cabins that sleep eight and a campground that contains 48 sites with grill and electric/water hookup at each site. A restaurant at the park offers delicious southern cuisine. Call (731) 689-3135 or (800) 250-8615 to learn more.