July 2012 - Page 4 of 6 - Mississippi Sportsman

Black drum fishing heats up right along with the weather and they readily attack cracked crab fished near pilings and bridge structures.

July prime time for big black drum

July 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

If there’s one kind of fishing that stands out in Capt. Bryan Cuevas’ mind this time of year it’s targeting big black drum on the bottom and around pilings. […]

Fish like this heavy red invade Back Bay in droves because of the smorgasbord of food that it offers.

Back it up

July 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana last year, Capt. Bryan Cuevas with Mega-Bite Fishing Charters out of Biloxi saw an interesting phenomenon take place.

As fresh water from the Mississippi River pushed farther and farther to the east out Lake Pontchartrain, through the Rigolets and eventually into the Mississippi Sound, Cuevas saw the size of his speckled trout increase. […]

This screen shot from a Humminbird unit indicates the appearance of a pod of striped bass lurking beneath a school of shad at Ross Barnett Reservoir.

Side imaging

July 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

The original design and purpose of sonar hasn’t changed much, despite the growing tide of newer sonar units that offer side imaging, structure scan and even down scan. […]

Stocking a put, grow and take striped bass fishery in Barnett is more than just dumping fish in the lake, a number of variables must take place to be successful.

Make it, take it

July 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

Establishing a put, grow and take fishery in an impounded reservoir might sound easy, but there are challenges. […]

Plano Alabama Rig Box

July 1, 2012 Mississippi Sportsman

Alabama and other umbrella-style bass fishing rigs have earned a permanent place among many bass fishermen’s tackle arsenals, but the wire-frame contraptions don’t always fit into traditional tackle boxes. […]

Berkley Gulp! Mullet

July 1, 2012 Mississippi Sportsman

Rig it for trolling, jigging or swimming. The Gulp! Alive! 6-inch Swimming Mullet from Berkley is sure to grab the attention of saltwater predators with its huge curl tail. […]

Taylor Odom holds a lunker bass that he caught recently on Okatibbee Lake.

Odom on docks

July 1, 2012 Michael O. Giles

Mississippi State Fishing Team member Taylor Odom has been battle-tested through a rigorous tournament series while competing against some of the top collegiate anglers from around the Southeast, and has learned a thing or two in the process. […]

Bucks with tight narrow racks and a gritty disposition are famous for wreaking havoc on older mature bucks with wide spread antlers.

Dominance dilemma

July 1, 2012 Tommy Kirkland

In today’s age of whitetail management the understanding and practice of mandatory antler restrictions is under way. This approach primarily allows yearling bucks protection so the animals can reach whitetail maturity with sizeable racks, as well as sound age structures and buck-to-doe ratios.

Hunters afield are also starting to pass on legally harvestable bucks — giving these deer the opportunity to reach full antler growth. […]