Fishing Archives - Page 178 of 342 - Mississippi Sportsman

June 17, 2026

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. […]

When four bream, three bluegills and a redear, are big enough to cover the lid of a cooler, you know there’s a delicious meal waiting at the end of a fun day of fishing.

Having a nose for bream

July 15, 2015 David Hawkins

Fish long enough and you will notice a pungent smell near bedding locations. Some anglers compare it to the smell of ripe watermelon. It will appear in conjunction with a thin, oily film on the surface of the water. […]

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. […]

According to Pete Ponds, these eight lures average about 40 years in age, and yet all are still very productive.

Old lures pros prefer

July 15, 2015 Bobby Cleveland

Ever wondered what old lures top bass pros carry in their boats? You know what, so do they. […]

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 Originally made in Alabama in the 70s and 80s, Ponds uses the feathered plastic jig behind a popping cork to call bass to the top.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.” […]

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. […]

Dump kahle hook, guide urges

July 15, 2015 Patrick Bonin

Why Capt. Jakamo Laboureur, a longtime user of a No. 1 kahle hook, switched to the No. 2 live bait hook to catch speckled trout out of Shell Beach. […]

Summer is a peak time for catching striped bass on Barnett Reservoir, with an equal chance of catching crappie while trolling for the bigger fish.

July hot spots

July 14, 2015 Bobby Cleveland

It’s only too hot to fish in the summer when the fish aren’t biting — or when you forget the water and sunscreen.

It’s funny how when the fishing action is as hot as the weather anglers don’t seem to feel the heat. Try fishing at these proven summer hot spots in July. […]

Live bait logistics

July 13, 2015 Sam Davis

Live bait can make a world of difference during the summer. The favored option for coastal anglers is live shrimp under a cork or on a Carolina rig. […]