April 2014 - Mississippi Sportsman

Kim Ponds, wife of bass pro Pete Ponds, holds up a pair of big largemouth, the results of a double they caught on a seawall on a 500-acre residential lake in Madison County. Seawalls attract fish when it's time to fatten back up after the spawn.

Seawalls provide spring action

April 29, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

BAM!

There was nothing subtle in the bass’ attack on the crankbait, which had been thrown down the seawall behind houses on the subdivision lake and retrieved parallel to the bank. […]

The lips on the Scatter line of Rapala crankbaits give the lures action that drives bass to bite.

Two new standout crankbaits

April 29, 2014 Don Shoopman

A proven Rapala crankbait moved to the forefront of bass fishing on the biggest stage when it helped produce the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion three months ago in Alabama. […]

The Ruger SR22 is fun to shoot, and it’s a perfect weapon to carry.

Ruger’s SR22 — Small, accurate, fun

April 24, 2014 Gordon Hutchinson

I’m going to let you in on the next big thing in handguns. You get the opportunity to get in on this before the rush, like what happened with the Ruger LCP and the Smith & Wesson Shield. […]

This record-breaking gator was caught during the 2013 alligator season. The application period for the 2014 season will be open June 2-9.

Gator application period June 2-9

April 23, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Mississippians will enjoy the same statewide opportunities afforded last year under the proposed 2014 alligator season regulations posted on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks website (MDWFP.com). […]

Rebecca Hall killed this trophy gobbler on April 12 in Simpson County. The big bird had an 11 ½-inch beard and 1 ¼-inch spurs.

Silent approach nets Hall’s trophy tom

April 23, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Three days into chasing a wily gobbler, with absolutely no success, Rebecca Hall and boyfriend Timothy Fox knew they had to make some drastic changes in strategy. […]

Don Wheeler of Laurel broke a Mississippi recreational saltwater conventional tackle record with a greater amberjack weighing 126 pounds.

Amberjack record broken

April 22, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Add Don Wheeler’s name to Mississippi’s saltwater fishing records. […]

A series of six open house meetings will be held by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for public input on proposed regulations for the 2014-15 hunting seasons.

WMA public meetings set

April 21, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Hunters and other users of the state’s public Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) are being asked for their input on proposed regulations for the 2014-15 hunting seasons. […]

Crappie fishing is already good at Lake Washington, but a state tagging program is aimed at making it even better.

Tagged crappie program starts at oxbow

April 21, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Lake Washington, recently ranked by the website Fishhound.com as one of the top 10 crappie fishing lakes in the country, could see even better fishing soon. […]

New Humminbird ONIX and ION units equipped with certain LakeMaster maps can use a plug-in SmartStrike program to help you pattern a lake.

Manufacturing luck

April 21, 2014 Allan Tarvid

The Dallas Fire Fighters Bass Club was formed in the 1970s and as a casual angler just turned serious fisherman I was a charter member. […]

The author’s son and grandson have spent time together in the field ensuring the youngster learned how to hunt and handle a gun safely.

Our kids are the future of hunting

April 17, 2014 Bill Garbo

The proper training of kids to be safe and responsible hunters and gun handlers can be as challenging as it can be rewarding. […]

Bass pro Pete Ponds got an assist on this bass, diving on the deck of his boat to secure it after it jumped aboard while trying to sling a lure after breaking Bobby Cleveland's line.

The ones that wouldn’t get away

April 16, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

The bass was jumping. Then it was diving.

Then it was racing for the boat. Then it went under the boat, and even made a run at the big motor at the back of the boat. […]

Bass pro Pete Ponds caught this 6-pounder April 11 on a Bull Shad 6-inch Floating Gizzard Shad swimbait.

Swimbaits in the spring? You bet

April 16, 2014 Bobby Cleveland

Pete Ponds never hesitated when he pulled the front end of his bass boat close to the seawall of a 500-acre lake. […]