2013 Fishing Forecast for East Central Mississippi Lakes

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are predicting a banner year for fishing during the upcoming fishing season in East Central Mississippi. Bass anglers who like to catch a lot of 1 to 2 pound fish should travel to Prentiss Walker Lake, Simpson County Lake or Lake Claude Bennett. During fall 2012 population sampling, small bass were abundant in these lakes. If larger bass are your target then fish at Neshoba County Lake or Ross Barnett Reservoir. Neshoba County Lake has produced many bass over 10 pounds the last few years and biologists expect this to continue. At Ross Barnett Reservoir, the bass are in great shape. According to MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Larry Bull, “The bass we saw this fall on the Reservoir are the fattest and healthiest I’ve seen in the last 10 years. We picked up quite a few bass over 5 pounds, and the Twin Sisters area produced three bass over 6 pounds and two over 5 pounds in one sample”.

Panfishing will also be good at area lakes. Quality crappie populations are present in Ross Barnett Reservoir, Okatibbee Reservoir, Kemper County Lake, and Lake Tom Bailey. “Crappie will spawn earlier at the smaller, shallow lakes like Lake Tom Bailey because it warms up quickly in the spring. Anglers should fish around the willow trees in early March”, according to Bull. Big bluegill and redear sunfish can be found at Lakes Claude Bennett, Prentiss Walker, and Simpson County.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).