Stegall also said the smallmouth bass appear to him to be a cyclic species, with peak cycles coming every 10 years. He is also convinced Pickwick is on an upward swing of this cycle.
“In the 1990s and early 2000s, we witnessed more large fish than any time in the decade that followed,” Stegall said. “Now we are starting to see bigger fish once again.
“The past several years are enough to make me believe we are again on a strong upward trend. Pickwick has a tremendous number of smallmouths. I have to consider it one of the top-five smallmouth lakes in the United States.”
Mississippi Department of Wildlife and fisheries biologist Tom Holman praised the dynamics of Pickwick Lake, saying it is the most-diverse freshwater habitat in Mississippi — and not just for smallies.
“Pickwick has every kind of bass, catfish and sunfish found anywhere,” Holman said. “In addition, there are populations of southern walleye, sauger and some yellow perch.”
Holman believes Stegall’s cyclic theory is rather a reaction of the overall fishery to environment and other influences. Those being factors that result in poor spawning years that leave gaps in age classes of fish.
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