2013 Fishing Forecast for Mississippi Delta Lakes

As the days become longer and temperatures climb, springtime months are some of the best times of the year to catch fish. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are optimistic about fishing in the Mississippi Delta this upcoming year. Many oxbows of the Mississippi River suffered from low water during the majority of 2012 which severely limited access, but recent rains and a rising Mississippi River have re-filled most lakes, including hot spots such as Lake Ferguson and Lake Beulah, which should improve the fishing and also lead to a good spawn this spring.

Fish population sampling in the fall of 2012 showed healthy populations of bass and crappie on most oxbow lakes. “Our electrofishing surveys have shown increasing numbers of largemouth bass in Moon Lake in recent years. Starting March 21, the creel limit for largemouth bass on Moon Lake will increase from 2 fish per day to 5 fish per day,” says Delta fisheries biologist Nathan Aycock.” Also, catch rates of adult crappie have increased in many lakes, especially Little Eagle Lake and Lake Washington. All in all, the next few months should offer anglers exciting fishing opportunities in the Delta, especially for crappie and largemouth bass.”

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.).