August 2011 - Page 4 of 5 - Mississippi Sportsman

Team Cheeseburger won the team billfish prize thanks in large part to 11-year-old Cahill Marlone (front, center), who landed a blue marlin to push his team to the lead.

11-year-old steals the show at the Sonny Johnson Memorial Fishing Tournament

August 17, 2011 Christopher L. Eger

An 11-year-old angler boated one of two billfish that earned the top prize in the Sonny Johnson Memorial Fishing Tournament this weekend (Aug. 11-14). […]

With recreational boaters concentrating on one section of the waterway, Tenn-Tom crappie anglers can have a summer fishing hole all to themselves.

Swim baits for crappie

August 16, 2011 Phillip Gentry

Emory, Texas-based Lake Fork Trophy Lures has been making top-of-the-line, tournament-winning bass baits for many years. One of the company’s top producers is their “Live” Magic Shad, a swim bait that has accounted for countless trophy largemouth bass in big-money tournaments. […]

The 2011-12 Mississippi state duck stamp, featuring a wood duck photo by Joe Mac Hudspeth Jr., is now available, the MDWFP said.

State duck stamp and print now available

August 15, 2011 MDWFP news release

The 2011-12 Mississippi duck stamp, featuring a photograph of a wood duck, is now available for purchase, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced. […]

While it’s not required by Mississippi law to put up signs on your property to make it legally posted, doing so will make your case that much more solid against trespassers.

Poacher proof your property for the upcoming season

August 12, 2011 Rob Heflin

As a landowner or leaseholder, you have the right to the peaceful enjoyment of your property. You have worked hard on your land and you have the right to invite or keep out anyone you wish, within the limits of the law. […]

The MDWFP secured an $8,500 grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation to help buy supplies for its Marksmanship Program.

MDWFP’s Marksmanship Program awarded grant

August 12, 2011 MDWFP news release

The state Marksmanship Program has received an $8,500 grant for the third year in a row, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced today. […]

New professional bass-fishing tournament trail created

August 11, 2011 From News Reports

Twenty-four of the nation’s top bass anglers have teamed with the Outdoor Channel to form a new professional fishing circuit designed to test anglers’ prowess in putting together patterns quickly.

The Major League Fishing trail will allow anglers to weigh as many legal fish as they catch, but competitors must begin each event without the benefit of user-generated GPS waypoints or practice. Anglers also will fish on surprise venues, meaning they will have to make on-the-water adjustments to catch bass. […]

Mississippi groups working to get youngsters involved in hunting and fishing can apply for funding through the MDWFP's Youth Participation Initiative.

Youth Participation Initiative deadline approaching, MDWFP announces

August 10, 2011 MDWFP news release

Mississippi groups wanting to help recruit youth into hunting and fishing have until Aug. 15 to apply for funding from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the agency reported.

The Youth Participation Initiative was established to provide funding for the purpose of educating youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation and safety. During 2010, the YPI Program provided a total of $144,999.00 to help fund 23 projects across Mississippi. […]

Hauling a nice largemouth out of lily pads is akin to taking a trophy buck in thick cover.

Lily pad bass busting

August 9, 2011 John J. Woods

“Before you try to pull a largemouth out of lily pads, change out your fishing line to braided line in the 30-pound-test range,” advises Jeff Martella. “Use a high-quality stout rod in the medium-heavy to heavy category over 6 1/2 feet long. […]

MS-Sportsman.com user Troy Helwig landed this 114.2-pound AJ on March 8, 2011, and stands to have his name added to the Mississippi State Saltwater Fish Records.

Make your mark by catching record-breaking saltwater fish

August 8, 2011 Christopher L. Eger

Think you may have caught a record fish on your last trip to the coast? Looking to add your name to sport-fishing history? Well, the procedure to get a record certified in the Magnolia State is straightforward, as long as you follow a few rules and stick to a few tricks of the trade.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has been the caretaker of state saltwater records since 1994. Previously records were kept by the MDWFP dating back nearly a hundred years. As of 2010, 122 species of saltwater fish are being tracked for conventional tackle. […]

Permits for private-land dove hunts are now on sale by MDWFP.

Dove field hunting permits now available, MDWFP says

August 4, 2011 MDWFP news release

Permits for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ private lands dove field hunts are available for purchase beginning today (Aug. 4), the agency reported. Each permit allows a hunter access to one of the MDWFP’s five leased fields during the first two dove seasons. […]

The Trail Cam Contest is back, so load up your photos to be eligible for monthly Sportsman prize packs!

Trail Cam Photo Contest kicks off

August 3, 2011 Mississippi Sportsman

It’s time to show off all the photos from your trail cams in the 2011 Trail Cam Photo Contest.

“Hunting season might not begin until Oct. 1, but scouting begins much earlier than that – and trail cams have become a big part of the scouting scene,” MS-Sportsman.com’s Andy Crawford said. “So we wanted to provide a place for our users to post their photos and compete for monthly prizes.” […]

Accomplished bowhunter Will Rives said patterning deer is impossible in the woods of Mississippi, so he moves often to put himself into position to score big.

Calling deer is no mystery, veteran hunter says

August 3, 2011 Andy Crawford

Pretty much every hunter has a grunt call whenever they sit on a stand, but using that tool effectively is a mystery to most of us. Natchez hunter Will Rives said he’s decoded that mystery. […]