2015 - Page 24 of 59 - Mississippi Sportsman

It’s important to choose high-quality foods for your plot that deer love, and protein is obviously beneficial to antler growth.

Plots: Consider all factors or pay a price

July 15, 2015 John J. Woods

Sometimes ideas that sound pretty good don’t work out. What is it they say about “the best laid plans of mice and men?” […]

Lake Mary Crawford’s overpopulation of bass makes fishing fairly simple, and working cover along the banks can produce the 30-fish daily limit.

Lake Mary Crawford trip info

July 15, 2015 Phillip Gentry

Getting there: Lake Mary Crawford is a 128-acre lake located in Lawrence County, 5 miles west of Monticello on U.S Highway 84. The street address is 293 Lake Mary Lane, Monticello, MS 39654. The GPS coordinates are N31 34.790, W90 09.353 […]

Slinky weights, built with large split-shot or buckshot pellets stuffed into paracord and sealed inside, are much less likely to hang up when dragged across the bottom for catfish.

Trolling for catfish: Slinky weight is key

July 15, 2015 Phillip Gentry

From late June through November catfish move around a lot due to a number of factors and one of the best ways to target mobile cats is to drift or troll. […]

When summer heat requires a little extra care of live minnows to keep them alive for a day of fishing, Frabil’s Min-O-Life can help.

Frabill’s Min-O-Life keeps minnows lively

July 15, 2015 Phillip Gentry

Summertime fishing frequently means crappie anglers will use either live bait or a combination of plastic jigs tipped with minnows, and keeping the tiny fish alive has been a priority difficult to achieve in the Mississippi heat. […]

Pete Ponds is hoping somebody recognizes the Top Striper Lure featured here and can help him find more. Originally made in Alabama in the 70s and 80s, Ponds uses the feathered plastic jig behind a popping cork to call bass to the top.

Ponds: Help me find Top-Stripers

July 15, 2015 Bobby Cleveland

Bass pro Pete Ponds of Madison has an urgent request for readers of Mississippi Sportsman magazine.

“Please, anybody, if you have any leads on an old lure made in Hueytown, Ala., back in the 80s called a Buck’s Top-Striper, I’ll buy every one you can find,” said Ponds. “I’m online (facebook.com/pondsbassman); just get in touch.” […]

Jaguars are the only known large cat species in North America to exhibit melanism, which produces black skin.

More on ‘black panthers’

July 15, 2015 Louisiana Sportsman

While reports of “black panther” sightings have persisted for years, there is no scientific evidence that such coloration exists in mountain lions.

In fact, most biologists dismiss the possibility. […]

Chotard Lake, an oxbow off the Mississippi River, is famous for producing hand- and ice chest filling catches of bluegill.

Hanging out

July 15, 2015 David Hawkins

Even when bream are not bedding, they congregate in schools near brush or other structure that offers cover from predators. At Lake Chotard, the many trees and tops are great places to begin the search. […]

It’s all about speed control

July 15, 2015 David A. Brown

Spider-rigging requires a super-slow pace to slowly and methodically hang those baits in front of persnickety crappie. […]

Food plots don’t have to cover acres to be effective, if they’re well-located and produce a good crop.

Get major results from micro plots

July 15, 2015 John J. Woods

Micro or mini wildlife food plots work well on hunting properties that are not really large enough to justify full-scale farming practices. […]

A fly rod is a favorite for bream anglers, using bugs and poppers on the surface and slow-sinkers such as black gnats and ants to go after the deeper bream.

The Eagle Lake option

July 15, 2015 David Hawkins

Eagle Lake is another oxbow but far less affected by the changes of the river. It is a well-developed area with many houses and boat houses along much of the lake. With the river restrained by levees, Eagle offers anglers a pretty even shot and getting on bream just about any time. […]

While most bream anglers use live bait, there is the artificial alternative: Small lures come in a variety of sizes and styles. Light tackle for bream is a great way to teach new anglers the fun of using a rod and reel.

Best baits and tackle

July 15, 2015 David Hawkins

There is no shame in using a cane pole with live bait, a combination that has fed many a hungry stomach.

But a Mississippi-based company, B&M Poles of West Point, offers a vast array of poles made of fiberglass and space-age materials. Crappie poles also work well for bream and collapse for easy storage and travel. […]

Don’t overlook Eagle Lake, where this 2-pound bluegill was taken from underneath a boat house. A few of these would make a big meal.

Flat is where it’s at

July 15, 2015 David Hawkins

Bream are renowned for bedding on a full moon. A male will make the nest, a shallow depression in the sand or silt on the bottom of the lake. A new moon causes a similar but lesser bedding period. […]