Plains Region Archives - Page 16 of 20

Bay Springs has produced spotted bass over 7 pounds, but anglers stand a better chance of landing 4- and 5-pound spots.

Back to the Future: Spotted bass are the stars on Bay Springs Lake

October 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

Although he didn’t know it at the time, Roger Stegall got a glimpse into the future while he frantically tried to find a fifth fish to finish a limit during a Red Man tournament back in 1991.

After launching at Bay Springs that morning, the Iuka-based professional bass angler ran up to Pickwick Lake to catch most of his fish.

That effort left him one fish short.

He made the 35-mile run back to Bay Springs hoping he could catch just one more bass. […]

Roger Stegall shows that anglers fishing for spots at Bay Springs are sometimes surprised by smallmouth bass.

Smallmouth bass a pleasant Bay Springs Lake surprise

October 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

Bay Springs Lake doesn’t harbor very many secrets when it comes to the spotted bass fishing, but Iuka bass pro and guide Roger Stegall said it might surprise some anglers to learn that they have a good chance of catching a smallmouth bass on some of the same baits they throw for spots. […]

During October, lots of spotted bass will be up shallow where they will smash small crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Featureless canal between Pickwick and Bay Springs lakes full of spotted bass

October 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

With Pickwick Lake on its north end and Bay Springs Lake directly to its south, the narrow canal connecting the two shouldn’t feel too badly if it flies completely under the radar. […]

Ricky Sullivan poses with Pea Vine, the deer he and his buddy, Duke Wilson, had been after for two seasons.

Unlikely Lauderdale: How the county’s biggest buck was killed

October 1, 2012 Otha Barham

It was Jan. 18, 2012 — the last day of Mississippi’s zone 1 rifle season. And Ricky Sullivan knew immediately when he saw the buck at 210 yards that it was Pea Vine. […]

Duke Wilson (left) is Sullivan’s partner on their deer lease.

How did Lauderdale County’s poor soil, produce a record book deer?

October 1, 2012 Otha Barham

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ Wildlife Management Area Statewide Coordinator Jeff Mangrum said there are a few factors to growing a trophy buck. […]

Sullivan’s strategy

October 1, 2012 Otha Barham

Duke Wilson and Ricky Sullivan quickly realized that they had a potential record-book buck on their new lease. Some hunters might have used tree stands in the thick woods where the deer bedded and spent most of its time, gambling on wind direction favoring them and depending on being close to give them an advantage. […]

Sullivan and his wife Becky at the presentation of the four wheeler he won in a local contest.

The payoff

October 1, 2012 Otha Barham

According to Rick Dillard, U.S. Forest Service Fish and Wildlife coordinator and coordinator of the Magnolia Records Program, Sullivan’s buck is the highest-scoring typical buck ever taken with a modern rifle in Lauderdale County in the Magnolia Records book. […]

This game camera photo captured the wide-antlered buck known as Pea Vine standing in a pea patch in August 2010.

Story lessons

October 1, 2012 Otha Barham

• Use scouting cameras.

• Find the trophy you want to hunt. […]

Calling Panther Lake gave up a 20-inch plus bass to Dan Smith's ScumDog plastic frog.

Frog provides dessert at Panther

September 24, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

As we have many times in the past few years when we need fillets quickly for a weekend fish fry, my partner and I hooked up the boat and headed to Calling Panther Lake near Crystal Springs Wednesday (Sept. 19).

The 500-acre Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks lake didn’t let us down. Using spinning gear, 8-pound fluorocarbon leader off 10-pound braid, and drop shot worms, we quickly started picking off our targets — undersized bass that are in great number in Panther.

So much so that MDWFP biologists urge fishermen to take as many as they want, up to 30 apiece a day, of bass under 20 inches. […]

Brittani Downey, Scott Lemmons, Todd Downey, Danny Lynn and Angie Roberts with the monster gator.

Brandon hunter kills 12-foot, 600-pound alligator

September 12, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

Nearly two hours into the battle, Scott Lemmons of Brandon had the cane pole and hoop snare in his hand, ready to put the clincher on what he thought was a pretty good alligator. […]

September is a great time to be on Ross Barnett because fish will move shallow again to feed.

Get shallow in September for Ross Barnett bass

September 10, 2012 Paul Elias

The bass are moving out of their deepwater summer patterns and into shallow water in September. Two patterns — fishing the riprap and the lily pads — will work all month, but they’ll probably produce better in the middle and at the end of the month. […]

Rabbit Rogers is able to deal with the heat and put together a good stringer of crappie on Barnett Reservoir.

Barnett crappie by the clock

August 9, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

When Rabbit Rogers plans a summer crappie trip on Barnett Reservoir, he dresses for heat, brings a lot of water and plans to fish all day, no matter how torrid the dog day gets. […]