Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 66 of 87

Despite a die off reported this spring, white bass remain plentiful at Sardis Lake and this week they can be found schooling on points where they are waiting to ambush migrating shad.

White bass chasing shad at Sardis

November 2, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

The tricks thrown at fishermen by Mother Nature in late October are gone now, and that should produce a treat as the first weekend of November approaches. […]

Sharing a common border with both Alabama and Tennessee, this month we pick the pockets of Shoals Area Crappie Association angler Darrell Keil to find out his favorite 10 crappie fishing hotspots for Pickwick Lake.

Crappie Hotspots – Pickwick Lake

November 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

Located at the most-northern reach of the Tom-Bigbee Waterway, Pickwick Lake is synonymous with crappie fishing to many anglers in the tri-state areas of Northeast Mississippi, Northwest Alabama, and Southern Tennessee.

Pickwick’s clear waters are in stark contrast to most of Mississippi’s other notable crappie lakes, but its reputation as a slab crappie fishery is well earned.

As cooler weather settles in for the season, two things occur that help crappie anglers hone in on their favorite game fish. With flood control as one of the lake’s primary objectives, the Tennessee Valley Authority begins drawing the impoundment down to winter pool. In reaction to both the receding and cooling water, crappie tend to congregate along the main channels of Pickwick’s major tributaries. […]

No need to worry about which side of the state line you’re on as all three of the states that border Pickwick have a reciprocal fishing license agreement that covers the majority of the lake, including all of the hotspots mentioned.

Reciprocal fishing license agreements on Pickwick

November 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

Nobody likes getting a ticket, whether you’re driving a car or fishing in a lake. To avoid both, slow down and know the rules. […]

The bigger the bait, the bigger the catfish that will eat it.

Cold Cats — Tips for catching more November catfish

November 1, 2012 David Hawkins

The surface was still on Ross Barnett Reservoir. I wondered how the view of the boat’s wake appeared to the passengers of an airliner as it banked for the final approach into Jackson-Evers International. […]

The weather should be kicking off some fine crappie fishing in Mississippi Delta lakes, but the fish have veteran anglers confounded.

Delta crappie confounding best perch jerkers

October 23, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

Fishing conditions could not be more ideal in the Delta. The temperatures have fallen to a more comfortable autumn range. Passing fronts are few and far between. […]

Even one leaf from this hydrilla plant is capable of taking root and forming a new colony of the evasive, non-native vegetation that is considered a threat to Ross Barnett Reservoir.

Anglers asked to prevent spread of Barnett hydrilla

October 18, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

Fishermen are being urged to avoid spreading hydrilla at Ross Barnett Reservoir, not only from one place to another within the popular lake but also to other state waters. […]

Not all bass caught are trophies, but this little fella was not shy about hammering this Booyah spinnerbait.

Turn over a new Leaf: Float down this river to catch bass, catfish and bream

October 17, 2012 David Hawkins

The Leaf River narrows so the water flows over just one end of a log jam and into a pool of deeper water. The flow is wide enough for a canoe to pass without problem, and Harold Turner guides the canoe to the shallow side of the bend where it rests in the eddy current below the log jam […]

Missouri’s Travis and Charles Bunting won the 2012 Crappie Masters National Championship held Oct. 5-6 on the Tombigbee Waterway. Photo courtesy of Tim Huffman

Father-son team win CrappieMasters Classic

October 11, 2012 Richard Wiman

For the first time in CrappieMasters history, a father/son team won the circuit’s championship that was held Oct. 5-6 on the Tenn-Tom Waterway near Columbus. […]

A dry box keeps valuables, such as a cell phone, camera, keys, wallet and first aid kit, safe.

The bare necessities for float fishing the Leaf River

October 1, 2012 David Hawkins

A kayak or canoe is just the ticket for a Leaf River float trip. Veterans of such floats have learned what they need and what to leave at home. Less and smaller are the keys to comfort and convenience.

Here are the basics: […]

Lake turnover will shut down the bite for a few days, but eventually bass will have to feed.

The fall transition

October 1, 2012 Hal Schramm

Lakes and reservoirs go through annual cycles. Some of the changes are obvious; others are subtle, even invisible to the angler. These changes affect the distribution and feeding behavior of your favorite game fish. […]

Mike McMurtrey and Paul Johnson show off some Barnett crappie. No State or World Records here, but there is a box full of slab white crappie.

State and world records

October 1, 2012 Paul Johnson

When checking out at the Academy Sports & Outdoors store in Ridgeland recently, the cashier put a free copy of “Mississippi Outdoor Digest” magazine in my sack full of crankbaits. This magazine is produced by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks once a year. […]

Brothers, Ricky and Johnny Smith from the Brookhaven area hold four nice crappie. Can you tell which one is a black crappie?

Some other state records I think I can beat

October 1, 2012 Paul Johnson

The smallest state record fish is the longear sunfish at only 0.21 pounds. How hard can it be to beat 0.21 pounds? I mean, shoot, a good-sized crappie minnow weighs more than that, doesn’t it? […]