Atkins previews College National Championship

Local to Pickwick Lake is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Justin Atkins…

…who was kind enough to spend a few hours on the lake to preview the upcoming Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Atkins, who was also a college angler at Mississippi State and has had two Top 12 finishes here at Pickwick with B.A.S.S. in previous years, gives us the rundown on what he expects to play out.

Our journey began at the Natchez Trace boat ramp where a slough of anglers were parked.

First, we ventured to just above the Natchez Trace Bridge to look at some matted hydrilla.

“Grass will be a factor this week,” says Atkins. “There are really three baits that will do well in the grass.”

“The first is a big worm like a Berkley Power Worm. Something red, like a cherry seed or plum colored worm that stands out in contrast to the grass.”

“The second would be some sort of topwater, whether it’s a Berkley Choppo or a J-Walker.” said Atkins. “The weather will dictate which bait and what kind of retrieve for a topwater.”

Finally, a big swimbait or glide bait could prove productive.

“The big gizzard shad will get up and run along the edges of the grass. The bites will be slower but when you get bites they’ll be the ones you’re looking for.”

Aside from grass fishing, the offshore fishing on Pickwick will also factor.

“The fish really get on three pieces of structure offshore,” said Atkins. “Stumps, rockpiles and any sort of a current break are the big players offshore.”

“The fish will set up on island heads, ditch mouths and in brushpiles.”

“It’s hard to beat a worm this time of year. If someone gets a school fired up, then a crankbait or swimbait could get some bites, but fishing around any sort of target or structure will be with a worm.”

“A team will likely do really well out of Bay Springs Lake. The lake has grass in it and a lot of brush piles along with several places that can hold schools of fish.”

“This time of year, Bay Springs is always a player. With as tough as Pickwick is fishing, if teams can figure out a way to catch five good fish everyday out of there, they will have a chance to win.”

“During the summer months, largemouth can play at the tailrace,” said Atkins. “If they are running water, they will occasionally come up schooling and guys can catch them that way.”

“Guys that prefer to fish the bank will be able to do it in that region of the river,” said Atkins. “There are laydowns and other current breaks that guys can fish on the bank that fish hold on with the current running.”

“Someone that breaks the norm of fishing offshore and goes to fishing bank targets could possibly do well.”

“If a team can run to say the back of a creek and have it to themselves they could potentially do well if they can manage their fish,” said Atkins.

Atkins shared how he would approach this tournament if he were fishing it.

“I’d spend one whole day practicing grass, looking for places that maybe has a school of fish holding in it. One whole day scanning offshore for schools of fish, brushpiles and stumps. Whichever one I liked better of the two, do that the final day.”