Pickwick Lake has been one of the best lakes in the country lately, and 32 Top Rod Solo Trail anglers found out first hand how good it is on Sunday.
The weather was perfect for fishing, with partly cloudy skies and temps in the 60s. The anglers found water temps around 60 degrees and plenty of bass. Both smallmouth and largemouth were biting their lures. The full moon this week has the fish on the move into shallow waters and nearly all the anglers reported catching them in water twelve feet deep and shallower. The weights were impressive with at least three smallmouth over five pounds and three largemouth over six pounds coming to the scales along with 13 bags that weighed 15 lbs. or more.
Big Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Ruled the Day
When the final fish was weighed, it was Jacob Gibbs of Baileyton, AL coming out on top for the second straight tournament. Gibbs won last month’s tournament on Guntersville with a homemade Alabama Rig and used the same lure again for the win on Pickwick. He finished with 23.57 lbs. of bass including a 7.28 pounder that took over for big fish of the year and won the $160 big fish pot. Gibbs caught his fish, which were all largemouth, in 10 feet or less. He used 1/4 oz. jigheads with Lake Fork Magic Shad swimbaits on 65 lb. braid. He pocketed $570 for the win and also extended his lead in the Angler of the Year race.
In second place with an impressive 22.80 lb. bag of smallmouths and largemouths was Donny Miller of Florence, AL. Miller had a 5.90 lb. largemouth and four solid smallmouths on the day and collected $228 for his efforts. He caught his big largemouth on a spinnerbait and the four smallies fell to a Storm swimbait. All of his fish were caught in 10 feet or less.
Taking third place was North Alabama guide, Brent Crow of Hartselle, AL. Crow had 19.96 lbs., which were all smallmouth and included a 6.26 lb. brute. He caught his fish on a homemade Alabama Rig in eight to ten feet of water and used Reaction Innovations’ Little Dippers in White Trash and 1/4 oz. jig heads on his rig. Crow threw the bait on a Dobyns 795ML Swimbait Rod and a Shimano Curado filled with 65 lb. P-Line Braid. He won $171 for his catch.
In 4th place was Wade Thorp of Florence, AL with a mixed bag that weighed 17.88 lbs.. Thorp was fishing his first Top Rod Event and took home $114 for his finish. He caught his fish jigging a fluke on a 1/4 jighead and throwing a KVD 1.5 crankbait on shallow banks.
The final check went to another first time entrant, Brad Weaver of Sheffield, AL. Fifth place paid Weaver $57 on the day. His pattern details were not available.
Remaining places:
6th: Dwayne Kelso, Moulton, AL 16.62
7th: Thomas Tucker, Sheffield, AL 16.60
8th: Lee Black, Danville, AL 16.26
9th: Ike Rogers, Florence, AL 15.61
10th: Rex Chambers, Baileyton, AL 15.60
10th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, AL 15.60
Follow the 2012 Season at www.toprodtrail.wordpress.com.
