Located in northwest Alabama on the Tennessee River, Pickwick Landing Dam sits in Tennessee, but the majority of the reservoir floods Alabama. The total surface area at full summer pool is 47,500 acres. Pickwick Lake runs 50 miles from Pickwick Dam to the Shoals area in Alabama and Wilson Dam. McFarland Park at Florence can host major tournaments.

Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the most sought after species by anglers. Pickwick Reservoir greatest reputation is its superb smallmouth bass fishing. A 14-inch minimum size restriction limits harvest of smallmouth bass in Alabama controlled waters. One of the most popular smallmouth fishing areas is the "Shoals" reach directly downstream of Wilson Dam to the end of Seven-Mile Island. Generation discharge from Wilson Dam creates a strong current in this area that smallmouth bass love. The lower reaches of Pickwick provide excellent habitat for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass habitat in Pickwick Lake is so good that several line class records have been certified by the International Game Fish Association.

Crappie are another favorite fish species sought by anglers. The majority of the crappie angling in Alabama occurs during the spring on Bear Creek and Second Creek embayments. Most of the successful anglers drift jigs and minnows along the creek channels to find concentrations of crappie. Crappie must be longer than nine-inches to be harvested from Pickwick Lake.

The tailwaters of Wilson Dam provide excellent opportunities to catch sauger during the winter months when they migrate upstream to spawn. Blue catfish and channel catfish are also found in high numbers during the summer. Bank access is available on the south side at Sheffield and Muscle Shoals and on the north side in McFarland Park and Waterloo. Boat anglers can use Wilson Lock to fish Wilson Lake.