Pickwick Lake Fishing
A 34,470-acre reservoir in Lauderdale and Colbert counties, shared with Mississippi.
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Getting oriented on Pickwick Lake
The USGS hydrography outline of Pickwick Lake takes in about 34,470 acres, centred in Lauderdale and Colbert counties. Part of the water is in Mississippi, with roughly 68% of the outline on the Alabama side. Its dam belongs to TVA. It also goes by Pickwick Reservoir. From the lake point, Waterloo is around 7 miles away.
ADCNR lists 8 public ramps on it. Anglers on foot get 16 bank sites on the ADCNR bank map. Read 1 water exception before you keep fish here. ADCNR files it with ADCNR Fisheries District I.
USGS NHD High Resolution (Alabama) outlines and flowlines, read November 1, 2026; operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
Trailering onto Pickwick Lake
- Buzzard's Roost (Margerum) boat ramp on Pickwick Lake1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, paved parking
- McFarland North boat ramp on Pickwick Lake2 lanes, 1 dock, 14 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- McFarland West boat ramp on Pickwick Lake3 lanes, 3 docks, 51 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- Pride Station boat ramp on Pickwick Lake1 lane, 1 dock, 20 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- Riverfront Park (Sheffield) on Pickwick Lake2 lanes, 1 dock, 59 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, paved parking
- Rose Trail (Riverton) boat ramp on Pickwick Lake2 lanes, 1 dock, 25 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, paved parking
- Waterloo Creekside boat ramp on Pickwick Lake1 lane, 20 trailer spaces, ADA access, paved parking
- Waterloo Riverside boat ramp on Pickwick Lake1 lane, 1 dock, 30 trailer spaces, paved parking
Riprap, piers and banks at Pickwick Lake
- Riverton Rose Trail on Pickwick Lakebank access, ADCNR/TVA
- Pride Landing on Pickwick Lakebank access, ADCNR/TVA
- Cane Creek on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA
- Spring Creek Boat Ramp on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA
- Colbert County Rose Trail Park on Pickwick Lakebank access, ADCNR/Colbert County Commission, Courtesy pier for boaters
- Colbert Ferry Park on Pickwick Lakebank access, US Dept of Interior/TVA
- TVA Rockpile Recreation Area on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA, several fishing locations
- Riverfront Park on Pickwick Lakefishing pier, ADCNR/TVA, several fishing locations
- Shoreline along CR 14 on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA, several areas along CR 14
- Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge (north) on Pickwick Lakebank access, US National Park Service
- Port of Florence on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA
- Panther Creek Boat Ramp on Pickwick Lakebank access, TVA
- Waterloo Biat Ramps (2 areas) on Pickwick Lakebank access, ADCNR, on North and South side of CR 14
- City of Florence Rest Stop (Hwy 157) on Pickwick Lakebank access, City of Florence
- Brush Creek Boat Ramp on Pickwick Lakebank access, Lauderdale County Commission, Courtesy pier for boaters
- McFarland Park on Pickwick Lakefishing pier, City of Florence, see website
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
What the digest lets you keep from Pickwick Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
On Pickwick Lake the statewide digest rows are the default.
Rules unique to Pickwick Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pickwick Reservoir | Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass | It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass or largemouth bass less than 15 inches in total length. |
Size and creel exceptions as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition), limits page, read November 1, 2026.
Where Pickwick Lake crosses into a neighbouring state
Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee have a reciprocal agreement for fishing the Tennessee River. See Reciprocal Fishing License Map.
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
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For Pickwick Lake trail stops and results, open the tournament page.
How Pickwick Lake compares with nearby reservoirs
Among the five closest Alabama lakes with pages, Wilson Lake is the biggest at about 15,500 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickwick Lake | 34,470 | reservoir | 8 | 16 | |
| Cedar Creek Reservoir | 23 miles south | 4,200 | reservoir | 0 | 5 |
| Wilson Lake | 23 miles east | 15,500 | reservoir | 1 | 10 |
| Sloss Lake | 30 miles southeast | 56 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Bear Creek Reservoir | 33 miles south | 670 | reservoir | 0 | 3 |
| Little Bear Creek Reservoir | 39 miles southeast | reservoir | 0 | 4 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Around Pickwick Lake: towns, shops and more water
Other lake pages around Pickwick Lake
- Cedar Creek Reservoir23 miles south
- Wilson Lake23 miles east
- Sloss Lake30 miles southeast
- Bear Creek Reservoir33 miles south
- Little Bear Creek Reservoir39 miles southeast
Where anglers fill the livewell before Pickwick Lake
- Marina Marmarina, Florence, 12 miles
- Action Bait Co Incbait and tackle shop, Florence, 14 miles
- Florence Harbor Marinamarina, Florence, 17 miles
- Gray's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Sheffield, 17 miles
- Profound Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Muscle Shoals, 18 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Florencesporting goods store, Florence, 18 miles
Guides and charters who fish Pickwick Lake
- SouthernCats Guide Servicecatfish guide, Decatur
- Brian Barton Outdoorsfishing guide, 256-412-0969
- Crappie Connection Guide Servicefishing guide, 256-483-0834
- Davis Whitten Fishingfishing guide, 256-702-5417
- Shoals Bass Guidesfishing guide, 256-577-6962
Towns to bunk in close to Pickwick Lake
- Underwood-Petersville14 miles
- Sheffield16 miles
- Florence16 miles
County guides for the land around Pickwick Lake
- Lauderdale Countyseat: Florence
- Colbert Countyseat: Tuscumbia
A Piscifun setup to pack for Pickwick Lake
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Pickwick Lake
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
What folks ask before a trip to Pickwick Lake
Which Alabama county map shows Pickwick Lake?
Alabama maps it in Lauderdale and Colbert counties, about 7 miles from Waterloo.
What acreage is listed for Pickwick Lake?
Roughly 34,470 acres on the USGS outline, about 68% of it in Alabama.
Which ADCNR ramps put a boat on Pickwick Lake?
Try Buzzard's Roost (Margerum) boat ramp on Pickwick Lake, one of 8 public ramps.
Which fish has an ADCNR source tied to Pickwick Lake?
ADCNR names no species for it.
Which Alabama rules apply on Pickwick Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day. The digest also prints a rule for this water, shown in the limits band.
What are the 2026-27 Alabama fees for fishing Pickwick Lake?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt. Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee have a reciprocal agreement for fishing the Tennessee River. See Reciprocal Fishing License Map.
Is there shore fishing at Pickwick Lake?
ADCNR maps 16 bank sites, such as Riverton Rose Trail on Pickwick Lake.
Which shop serves Pickwick Lake?
Try Marina Mar, about 12 miles away,.
Which name is right for Pickwick Lake?
They are the same lake; Pickwick Reservoir is the other name.
Plan a Saturday on Pickwick Lake
Check the limits, then pick the ramp nearest your target.