Mississippi Latest Report

Nichor02

Senior Fisheman
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Location
Byhalia, Ms.
Boat
Polar Craft
#1
BAY SPRINGS: Bass reports are fair to good right now. It took a little over 9 lbs to win a local tournament there this past weekend. Some anglers are targeting some shallower fish around timber and stumps with spinnerbaits and jigs, while others are hitting either mainlake points or secondary points and using Carolina-rigged plastics, drop-shot rigs and jerkbaits. The crappie reports are good as is the average size of fish caught. Target sunken brushtops and standing timber in 20-23 feet of water with crappie jigs. Popular areas for crappie right now are the mouths of McDougal Branch and Jackson Camp with a few other reports coming from the back of Piney Grove. The catfish reports are still fair with a few folks using rod-n-reels techniques in the canal between Bay Springs and Pickwick. Shad and cutbait should produce the most bites

ALICEVILLE LAKE (TENN-TOM): The bass reports are fair to good. The mouths of any creeks or old river runs are holding good numbers of fish. Most of the reports are coming from the lower end of the lake like the old river at Pratts Camp, James Creek, and Big Coalfire. Best baits have been t-rigged plastics, shallow crankbaits, and white spinnerbaits. This time of year a shad pattern is usually the best option. Try a jig-n-pig combo for a bigger bite. The crappie reports are fair. Most anglers are working the timber and brush at Pratts and Swedenburgs along with a few reports from Oswalt slough around the standing timber. Some good crappie are being reported along the grass lines in Pumpkin Creek. Both bass and crappie seem to be holding in the same areas. Try jigs and minnows to see what the fish prefer that day. Catfish reports are still fair with most folks are hitting the channel and the mouths of the old river runs with cut shad. The bite for all species may slow later in the week due to expected rainfall.

Arkabutla

Crappie fishing is usually the best winter action. Troll or drift in the main lake with jigs and/or minnows or jig remaining cover in the main lake or tributaries. For largemouth bass, look for clearer water and fish soft plastics or a jig-n-pig around any cover. Catfishing is normally best using cut bait on trotlines over mudflats or on worms or stink baits in tributaries after rainfall. For white bass, fish jigs or small crankbaits off sandy main lake points. Best luck in the spillway is when some water is being released. For crappie, fish out of the current in Elbow Creek or right against the rocks. Catfishing is best in eddies on cut bait. White bass will be in the current. Drift a 2 jig rig just off bottom (watch the rocks!) or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures.

Sardis Lake:

Winter crappie fishing can be good drifting or trolling jigs and/or minnows around the dam, marina, or main lake or jigging in cover. White bass usually stack up around Engineer's Point and in front of the spillway gates where jigs or small crankbaits work best. White bass and catfish are also good in the river in the upper end of the lake. Largemouth bass also stack up on Engineer's Point, the dam, and any cover in the main lake. Fish soft plastics, jigging spoons, or a jig-n-pig. Catfishing is normally best using cut bait on trotlines over mudflats or on worms or stink baits in tributaries after rainfall.
Best luck in the spillway and Lower Lake is when some water is being released. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnow out of the current or right on the rocks. Trolling from a boat is effective in the Lower Lake. Catfishing is best fishing eddies with cut bait. White bass will be in the current where you can drift a 2 jig rig just off bottom (watch the rocks!) or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures. For largemouths, cover in the old river run is the best bet, or fish right on the rocks with crankbaits or a jig-n-pig. MDWFP fall, 2010, electrofishing showed a good crop of last year's crappie just under 10 inches, plus a good proportion of keepers, and good numbers of blue catfish (white river cats) in the 5 to 25 pound range. Bass were fairly abundant with a lot of fish near 15 inches but some up to 6+ lbs. Generally, bigger bass were on main lake cover, while smaller bass were in the coves.

Grenada Lake:


Best luck for crappie will be trolling or drifting in the main lake or jigging in cover with jigs and/or minnows. For largemouth bass, fish soft plastics or a jig-n-pig around cover in the clearest water available, usually near the dam. White bass can be taken on jigs or small crankbaits fished off sandy main lake points. Catfishing is normally best fishing cut bait on trotlines over mudflats or on worms or stink baits in the rivers after rainfall. For up-to-date information contact Collins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581. Best luck in the spillway is when some water is being released. For crappie, fish quieter water out of the current either right on the rocks or in the old river run with jigs and/or minnows. Catfishing is best in eddies on cut bait. White bass will be in the current where you can drift a 2 jig rig just off bottom or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures. For largemouths, fish crankbaits right on the rocks.

Tunica Cutoff:

With the weir, the Mississippi River will not enter the Cutoff until it rises above 6 ft (Memphis gauge). 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. Charlie's Camp ramp and bait shop will be open. Fishing is usually best here when the water is stable or on a slow fall between 15 and 10 ft on the Memphis gauge. Fish steep banks near deeper water. If the water is rising, fish shallower on the inside edges of cover. If the water is falling, fish deeper on the outside edges. Best winter fishing here is for crappie or white bass. For crappie, troll or drift in the main lake or jig in shoreline cover or planted brush tops, etc. with a jig and/or minnow. For white bass, fish jigs or small crankbaits in or near the runout or off sand points. For largemouths, fish soft plastics or a jig-n-pig around cover. Best luck for bream is with waxworms or redworms fished around cover near bottom. For catfish, fish trotlines on mudflats, but rod-and-reel action will be better in the runout. Cut bait or blood bait usually works best.