Bay Springs - 9/19/2011
BAY SPRINGS:
Water temps are in the mid 70s. The bass bite is fair to good, but the big bite is proving elusive for some. The shallow pondweed is holding a fair amount of small to medium sized fish, and they are being caught on a number of baits. Try senkos, flukes, or Ribbits for the most bites. Spotted bass are also being caught in good numbers and are being reported both shallow and deep. Main lake points with brushtops are prime areas as are secondary points in the major creeks. Try shakeyheads and drop-shots for those deep water bites. As the water continues to cool, we are starting to see the crappie anglers show up around the Jackson Camp area up to Crow’s Neck pulling or trolling hair jigs and minnows along the creek channel. Any sunken brushtops along the creeks or the points will be good areas to also target. The catfish reports are fair with most anglers still hitting Crow’s Neck area and up into the canal. If there is any current in the canal from TVA pulling water, jugs tipped with cutbait is a good idea.
JP Coleman/Pickwick Lake - 9/19/2011
PICKWICK LAKE/J. P. COLEMAN:
Pickwick Lake elevation: 412.88 ft with water temps are in the low 70s in the morning and warming up to mid 70s during the day. TVA has started their annual drawdown ever so slowly over the past week. The bass reports are good for some and great for others. It took 41 pounds to win the two day Darryl Worley charity tournament this past weekend. The schooling bite is really picking up as shad are starting to group up and go toward the backs of coves. Numerous patterns are working right now. Anglers are still catching some fish on the humps and ledges while others are chasing the schools of shad. For the deep bite, jigs and Carolina-rigs are still working while flukes, zara spooks and spoons are working for the schooling fish. Crappie anglers are starting to show up in Yellow Creek with most catching a few fish by trolling or pulling hair jigs and minnows in 10 to 18 ft of water. The catfish bite is also fair to good right now. Numbers are still fairly high, but the size isn’t. Several anglers are reporting fair catches by targeting flats and shell beds in 20 to 25 ft of water. Anglers are using a variety of techniques such as jugs, trotlines and rod-n-reel baited with cut shad and liver to catch fish.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Lake Ferguson - 9/8/2011
LAKE FERGUSON
Mississippi River stage at Greenville is close to 21.6 ft. and should is on a slow fall for the next several days.
Anglers are still catching lots of bream at Ferguson. Most are fishing early in the morning and getting off the lake before the heat of the day. Bream are still being caught deep, from 6-8' down, along the outside edge of trees. Other people are still catching bream near Archer Island or near the piers on the northern sections of the lake.
Most bass anglers are also targeting the piers north of the boat ramp and catching good fish early in the morning.
A few anglers are catching lots of catfish south of the boat ramp underneath the grain elevators. Tightlining, trotlines, and jugs can all be used to catch these big, well fed fish.
Arkabutla - 9/19/2011
Water level 217.85 ft, falling about 0.1 ft/day, murky. For water level information, call (662)562-6261 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/arkaplot.jpg for rule curve and current water level trends. The lake was 0.6 ft below rule curve Monday; it is on fall drawdown.
For crappie, best luck has been trolling crankbaits or jigs and/or minnows about 6 to 10 ft deep. (A scarcity of keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some folks have been landing crappie jig fishing in the ditches with the water falling. The best spot for catfish lately has been in the river at the Hwy 51 landing fishing natural baits, although other creeks should be good. Little largemouth bass can be caught about anywhere on about any lure. White bass have been schooling on main lake points and have also been mostly incidental catch crappie or bass fishing. Fish shad-imitating jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits to catch all you want; there are no size or number limits on white bass.
Tunica Cutoff - 9/19/2011
The Mississippi River at Memphis was at 5.0 ft Monday and is predicted to fall to 2.3 ft by Sunday. Flood stage is 34 ft. Best fishing is usually on a slow fall from 15 to 10 ft. The river will be below the weir all week and the lake should be falling slowly. For the river level and 5 day forecast, call (901)544-0408 (press 2) or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/riverstage/bullet.txt.
The last report from Charlie’s Camp was that the lake was still up in the trees, and that's where folks have been catching fish. For bream, fish crickets or redworms in the north end of the lake near the bottom in cover; a few catfish may also be caught like this. Crappie have been running small, but can best be taken trolling down the lake around the houseboats. For catfish, best luck has been fishing beef blood on rod-and-reel. Best luck for bass this time of year and water level is to fish soft plastics or crankbaits around any cover on steep points or banks. Look for white bass on sandy, steep points and fish shad-imitating lures like jigs or small crankbaits. No bait shops on the lake are open. Charlie’s ramp is cleaned off; please use the honor box if no one is around.
There was a kill of mostly silver (Asian) carp recently. MDWFP and the MS Dept of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) investigated Friday, Sept. 2. Sick fish were transported to the lab in Stoneville, MS. A similar kill happened about the same time last year. Tentative diagnosis is a bacteria that affects the brain.
Sardis Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 253.71, stable, clear to murky. For water level information, call (662)563-4531 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt. See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/sardplot.jpg for water level trends. With the spillway cut off and recent rains, expect the lake to rise this week. The lake was 0.8 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is temporarily stopped.
Best reports on crappie have been trolling crankbaits 8 to 16 ft deep from above Holiday Lodge to the dam on the north side of the lake. Fish larger lures to keep from tempting the big 2009 year class that is not keeping size yet. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some crappie have been landed around standing timber at the same depths (where Blackwater Creek hits the river is good). Keeper black crappie can be caught fishing timber or deep brush piles. There are 2 largemouth bass patterns working: creek or river channels and main lake points. Bass will hit crankbaits on windy points; they’re on the bottom under schools of white bass and it’s been tough to get the cranks past the whites. However, the largemouths are reluctant to hit a worm that the whites won’t bother. You can avoid the white bass by fishing channel edges where the water is pulling into the channel off the flats. Or, you can fish for white bass that are averaging about a pound with small, shad imitating lures (jigs, spoons, small cranks). There are no size or number limits on white bass. For catfish, fish natural baits in river and creek channels as long as this week's runoff continues.
Enid Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 246.07, falling about 1.6 ft/day, clear, tributaries murky. For water level information, call (662)563-4571 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/enidplot.jpg for water level trends. The lake was 1.6 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is underway.
Best luck for crappie has been trolling crankbaits 8 to 18 ft deep. Some folks are using jigs and/or minnows. There are a lot of short fish being caught; use bigger baits to catch more keepers. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some folks are catching keeper black crappie fishing standing timber or deep brushpiles. For largemouth bass, fish crankbaits or soft plastics off main lake points (WaterValley, Chickasaw) or other deepwater structure (river channel edges, drop-offs, brush piles, etc.). Bass should be stacking up in creeks and the river where the lake has pulled into the channel. For catfish, fish natural baits in creek and river channels as long as this week's rainfall runoff continues. White bass have been schooling early and late in the day off sandy points in the main lake; fish shad-imitating jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits. There are no size or number limits on white bass.
Grenada Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 209.41, falling about 0.2 ft/day, murky. For water level information, call (662)226-5911 or check www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/grenplot.jpg for water level trends. The lake was 0.8 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is underway.
Collins’ Bait Shop (662)226-3581 and MDWFP creel surveys report best luck for crappie trolling crankbaits or jigs and minnows 9 to 12 ft deep from Choctaw landing around the main lake point to Skuna-Turkey landing. With the water falling, a few fish can also be caught in the timber in both arms of the lake. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) A two-day crappie tournament this past weekend was won with 23.68 lbs (14 fish): big fish was 2.41. Best luck was fishing cover next to creek or river channels with big minnows about 11 ft deep. Largemouth bass are on main lake points, humps, and old roadbeds; fish crankbaits until the bite slows, then try Carolina-rigging soft plastics. Bass should be stacking up in creeks and rivers where the lake has pulled into the channel. Catfishing has been good on trotlines baited with worms. About the best fishing right now is for white bass; they've been blowing up on points all over the lake with the greatest concentration from Redgrass Creek to the natural beach. Fish anything silver in small, shad imitating lures (jigs, spoons, small cranks). There are no size or number limits on white bass.
Okatibbee Reservoir - 9/14/2011
The lake level is 343.7 ft. The water temperature is 86o at the dam. Outflow through the dam is 50 cfs. Crappie are in deep water near or in the creek channel. Try fishing the deepwater fish attractors. Trolling with jigs and minnows is the best method to catch a mess. Don't forget that any size crappie can be taken out, and the limit is 30 fish per angler per day. The best time to fish for bass is early in the morning or in late evening. Some fish were caught on buzzbaits and devil's horse. During the day fish for bass on deep points with Carolina rigged worms.
BAY SPRINGS:
Water temps are in the mid 70s. The bass bite is fair to good, but the big bite is proving elusive for some. The shallow pondweed is holding a fair amount of small to medium sized fish, and they are being caught on a number of baits. Try senkos, flukes, or Ribbits for the most bites. Spotted bass are also being caught in good numbers and are being reported both shallow and deep. Main lake points with brushtops are prime areas as are secondary points in the major creeks. Try shakeyheads and drop-shots for those deep water bites. As the water continues to cool, we are starting to see the crappie anglers show up around the Jackson Camp area up to Crow’s Neck pulling or trolling hair jigs and minnows along the creek channel. Any sunken brushtops along the creeks or the points will be good areas to also target. The catfish reports are fair with most anglers still hitting Crow’s Neck area and up into the canal. If there is any current in the canal from TVA pulling water, jugs tipped with cutbait is a good idea.
JP Coleman/Pickwick Lake - 9/19/2011
PICKWICK LAKE/J. P. COLEMAN:
Pickwick Lake elevation: 412.88 ft with water temps are in the low 70s in the morning and warming up to mid 70s during the day. TVA has started their annual drawdown ever so slowly over the past week. The bass reports are good for some and great for others. It took 41 pounds to win the two day Darryl Worley charity tournament this past weekend. The schooling bite is really picking up as shad are starting to group up and go toward the backs of coves. Numerous patterns are working right now. Anglers are still catching some fish on the humps and ledges while others are chasing the schools of shad. For the deep bite, jigs and Carolina-rigs are still working while flukes, zara spooks and spoons are working for the schooling fish. Crappie anglers are starting to show up in Yellow Creek with most catching a few fish by trolling or pulling hair jigs and minnows in 10 to 18 ft of water. The catfish bite is also fair to good right now. Numbers are still fairly high, but the size isn’t. Several anglers are reporting fair catches by targeting flats and shell beds in 20 to 25 ft of water. Anglers are using a variety of techniques such as jugs, trotlines and rod-n-reel baited with cut shad and liver to catch fish.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Columbus Lake - 9/19/2011
COLUMBUS LAKE (TENN-TOM):
Crappie anglers are still reporting a fair to good bite. Most of the anglers the last week or so have been hitting stumps, laydowns and brushpiles in the old river runs. Best depths have been 5 to 10 ft of water with minnows being the best bait. The bass reports are still fair. Numbers of smaller fish are being caught, but the quality bite is tougher to find. Some topwater action is being reported on the lower end around riprap with buzzbaits and zara spooks. Some of the backwater areas around Tibbee Creek has also been a popular area. Target laydowns and grass beds along the flats and where they meet the creek with shallow cranks and jig-n-pig combos. Throwing a frog early and late around those same grass beds is a good tactic. The catfish reports are fair with fish biting along the channel and also below the dam. Cut shad, nightcrawlers and liver have been the best baits.
Lake Ferguson - 9/8/2011
LAKE FERGUSON
Mississippi River stage at Greenville is close to 21.6 ft. and should is on a slow fall for the next several days.
Anglers are still catching lots of bream at Ferguson. Most are fishing early in the morning and getting off the lake before the heat of the day. Bream are still being caught deep, from 6-8' down, along the outside edge of trees. Other people are still catching bream near Archer Island or near the piers on the northern sections of the lake.
Most bass anglers are also targeting the piers north of the boat ramp and catching good fish early in the morning.
A few anglers are catching lots of catfish south of the boat ramp underneath the grain elevators. Tightlining, trotlines, and jugs can all be used to catch these big, well fed fish.
Arkabutla - 9/19/2011
Water level 217.85 ft, falling about 0.1 ft/day, murky. For water level information, call (662)562-6261 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/arkaplot.jpg for rule curve and current water level trends. The lake was 0.6 ft below rule curve Monday; it is on fall drawdown.
For crappie, best luck has been trolling crankbaits or jigs and/or minnows about 6 to 10 ft deep. (A scarcity of keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some folks have been landing crappie jig fishing in the ditches with the water falling. The best spot for catfish lately has been in the river at the Hwy 51 landing fishing natural baits, although other creeks should be good. Little largemouth bass can be caught about anywhere on about any lure. White bass have been schooling on main lake points and have also been mostly incidental catch crappie or bass fishing. Fish shad-imitating jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits to catch all you want; there are no size or number limits on white bass.
Tunica Cutoff - 9/19/2011
The Mississippi River at Memphis was at 5.0 ft Monday and is predicted to fall to 2.3 ft by Sunday. Flood stage is 34 ft. Best fishing is usually on a slow fall from 15 to 10 ft. The river will be below the weir all week and the lake should be falling slowly. For the river level and 5 day forecast, call (901)544-0408 (press 2) or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/riverstage/bullet.txt.
The last report from Charlie’s Camp was that the lake was still up in the trees, and that's where folks have been catching fish. For bream, fish crickets or redworms in the north end of the lake near the bottom in cover; a few catfish may also be caught like this. Crappie have been running small, but can best be taken trolling down the lake around the houseboats. For catfish, best luck has been fishing beef blood on rod-and-reel. Best luck for bass this time of year and water level is to fish soft plastics or crankbaits around any cover on steep points or banks. Look for white bass on sandy, steep points and fish shad-imitating lures like jigs or small crankbaits. No bait shops on the lake are open. Charlie’s ramp is cleaned off; please use the honor box if no one is around.
There was a kill of mostly silver (Asian) carp recently. MDWFP and the MS Dept of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) investigated Friday, Sept. 2. Sick fish were transported to the lab in Stoneville, MS. A similar kill happened about the same time last year. Tentative diagnosis is a bacteria that affects the brain.
Sardis Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 253.71, stable, clear to murky. For water level information, call (662)563-4531 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt. See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/sardplot.jpg for water level trends. With the spillway cut off and recent rains, expect the lake to rise this week. The lake was 0.8 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is temporarily stopped.
Best reports on crappie have been trolling crankbaits 8 to 16 ft deep from above Holiday Lodge to the dam on the north side of the lake. Fish larger lures to keep from tempting the big 2009 year class that is not keeping size yet. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some crappie have been landed around standing timber at the same depths (where Blackwater Creek hits the river is good). Keeper black crappie can be caught fishing timber or deep brush piles. There are 2 largemouth bass patterns working: creek or river channels and main lake points. Bass will hit crankbaits on windy points; they’re on the bottom under schools of white bass and it’s been tough to get the cranks past the whites. However, the largemouths are reluctant to hit a worm that the whites won’t bother. You can avoid the white bass by fishing channel edges where the water is pulling into the channel off the flats. Or, you can fish for white bass that are averaging about a pound with small, shad imitating lures (jigs, spoons, small cranks). There are no size or number limits on white bass. For catfish, fish natural baits in river and creek channels as long as this week's runoff continues.
Enid Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 246.07, falling about 1.6 ft/day, clear, tributaries murky. For water level information, call (662)563-4571 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/enidplot.jpg for water level trends. The lake was 1.6 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is underway.
Best luck for crappie has been trolling crankbaits 8 to 18 ft deep. Some folks are using jigs and/or minnows. There are a lot of short fish being caught; use bigger baits to catch more keepers. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) Some folks are catching keeper black crappie fishing standing timber or deep brushpiles. For largemouth bass, fish crankbaits or soft plastics off main lake points (WaterValley, Chickasaw) or other deepwater structure (river channel edges, drop-offs, brush piles, etc.). Bass should be stacking up in creeks and the river where the lake has pulled into the channel. For catfish, fish natural baits in creek and river channels as long as this week's rainfall runoff continues. White bass have been schooling early and late in the day off sandy points in the main lake; fish shad-imitating jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits. There are no size or number limits on white bass.
Grenada Lake - 9/19/2011
Water level 209.41, falling about 0.2 ft/day, murky. For water level information, call (662)226-5911 or check www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt . See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/grenplot.jpg for water level trends. The lake was 0.8 ft above rule curve Monday. Fall drawdown is underway.
Collins’ Bait Shop (662)226-3581 and MDWFP creel surveys report best luck for crappie trolling crankbaits or jigs and minnows 9 to 12 ft deep from Choctaw landing around the main lake point to Skuna-Turkey landing. With the water falling, a few fish can also be caught in the timber in both arms of the lake. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.) A two-day crappie tournament this past weekend was won with 23.68 lbs (14 fish): big fish was 2.41. Best luck was fishing cover next to creek or river channels with big minnows about 11 ft deep. Largemouth bass are on main lake points, humps, and old roadbeds; fish crankbaits until the bite slows, then try Carolina-rigging soft plastics. Bass should be stacking up in creeks and rivers where the lake has pulled into the channel. Catfishing has been good on trotlines baited with worms. About the best fishing right now is for white bass; they've been blowing up on points all over the lake with the greatest concentration from Redgrass Creek to the natural beach. Fish anything silver in small, shad imitating lures (jigs, spoons, small cranks). There are no size or number limits on white bass.
Okatibbee Reservoir - 9/14/2011
The lake level is 343.7 ft. The water temperature is 86o at the dam. Outflow through the dam is 50 cfs. Crappie are in deep water near or in the creek channel. Try fishing the deepwater fish attractors. Trolling with jigs and minnows is the best method to catch a mess. Don't forget that any size crappie can be taken out, and the limit is 30 fish per angler per day. The best time to fish for bass is early in the morning or in late evening. Some fish were caught on buzzbaits and devil's horse. During the day fish for bass on deep points with Carolina rigged worms.