2019 Spring Fishing Forecast
3/1/2019 8:15:22 AM
From MDWFP
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are optimistic about fishing success in 2019. Springtime can be the best time of year to fish, as warming water temperatures lead to fish being more active and feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn.
Northwest Forecast
Most fishing in the region occurs on the Corps of Engineers’ flood control reservoirs (Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Reservoirs). They support about 1.5 million hours of fishing annually, mainly for crappie.
High water in 2018 reduced angler catches, but increased fish survival and produced good spawns. Crappie have had good spawns since 2013, and most “short fish” last year were from the 2016 year class. It takes five to seven years to grow a trophy white crappie.
Largemouth bass numbers have risen in recent years; surveys showed the best bass fishing at Enid Reservoir. Sampling found a big 2013 year class with many fish near five pounds and a big 2016 year class with fish from one to two pounds. White bass numbers were average. Threadfin shad on Sardis died out in the 2017/2018 winter, but gizzard shad had a good 2018 spawn. Bream size and numbers improved in 2018. Blue catfish were common except at Enid, but they were increasing there. Blues were larger than channels, with some over 20 pounds. Shad or flavored chicken are better baits for blues than typical “catfish baits”.
Tunica Cutoff also had high water and low fishing pressure in 2018. Sampling in 2017 found abundant channel catfish and big spawns of bream and crappie, which should be harvestable sizes in 2019.
Food, lodging, and other amenities are available in Hernando, Batesville, Grenada, Tunica, and other nearby towns. There are MDWFP state parks on Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Reservoirs; book ahead as they fill up quickly during peak fishing times.
Northeast Forecast
Another good year is expected for anglers in Northeast Mississippi. “Supplemental forage stockings of bream and threadfin shad in 2018 should enhance the bass populations at lakes Lamar Bruce, Monroe, and Elvis Presley,” said MDWFP fisheries biologist Trevor Knight. “Last year, Lamar Bruce started producing bass over 10 pounds, and we anticipate that Monroe will do the same in 2019.” Lamar Bruce is also very popular with bream anglers in the region.
Anglers that do not want to fight the crowds should consider checking out Lake Lowndes State Park. “Our fall electrofishing surveys indicated a healthy crappie population that is often overlooked by anglers,” according to Knight. Trophy size bass and catfish are present due to an abundant gizzard shad population.
The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway will continue to provide consistent results for crappie, bass and catfish anglers. Bay Springs and Columbus Lake boast healthy populations of bass and crappie. “We are seeing more crappie anglers, from all over the country, visiting these lakes to get away from the crowds on the Big 4,” according to Knight.
Pickwick Lake should continue to produce quality bass, crappie, and catfish in 2019. Crappie anglers should expect Bear and Yellow Creeks to produce good numbers of crappie, as they have in years past. Knight stated that, “the heavy rainfall, the region has been experiencing for the past year, may result in less aquatic vegetation coverage in 2019. This may lead to bass anglers focusing more on fishing Pickwick’s famous ledges to catch largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.”
Delta Forecast
Recent fish population sampling revealed healthy populations of largemouth bass, crappie, and bream in most Delta oxbow lakes.
The flooding of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers has impacted many oxbow lakes, and many boat ramps are currently underwater. "Spring flooding is always something we will have to deal with in the Delta," says Nathan Aycock, MDWFP fisheries biologist. "Periods of high water make fishing difficult if not impossible, but these times are normally beneficial to the fish population. Once the floodwaters go back down, fishing on the oxbows should be great."
Lake Washington, a 3,000-acre oxbow lake in Washington County, should provide excellent fishing opportunities this spring. This lake, well known for its trophy crappie fishing, also ranked number one in overall quality in MDWFP's Bass Tournament Report for 2018. MDWFP's electrofishing sampling in 2018 showed improving largemouth bass numbers at Moon Lake in Coahoma County.
MDWFP has public boat ramps on many Delta oxbows, including smaller oxbows that are often overlooked but can be good fishing such as Belzoni Cutoff, Lake George, and Log Loader Lake. For a complete list of oxbows with public boat ramps in the Delta, visit the ramps and piers page on our website.
Central Forecast
Fall 2018 electrofishing revealed a healthy largemouth bass population on Ross Barnett Reservoir with an abundance of fish over fifteen inches. Trophy bass can be caught at Neshoba County Lake, Simpson County Lake, and Lake Calling Panther. These lakes produce lunkers over 10 pounds every year. The month of March is a great time to catch these big spawners as they move shallow to their spawning beds. According to MDWFP fisheries biologist Ryan Jones, “The Claude Bennett State Lake fishery in Jasper County has really taken off after recent additions of supplemental forage. Largemouth bass and crappie are abundant. Anglers can enjoy relaxed fishing in a beautiful setting while targeting the new fish attractors.”
Central Mississippi bream anglers do not have to travel far for some of the best bream fishing in the state. According to Jones, “Bream averaged over half a pound at Prentiss Walker State Lake, Shadow Lake at Roosevelt State Park, and Eagle Lake during spring angler creel surveys.” Ross Barnett Reservoir is not the only location in Central Mississippi to catch crappie. Okatibbee Reservoir, Neshoba County Lake, and Eagle Lake also contain healthy crappie populations. According to Jones, “While Okatibbee Reservoir is known for producing good numbers, Eagle Lake and Neshoba County Lake produce quality crappie every year.”
South Forecast
After the high water subsides and our spring rains diminish, the south region lakes and rivers should be primed for our anglers. Anglers have already caught trophy bass ranging from 8 to 12 pounds at Lake Bill Waller during the last few weeks and one angler recently harvested a 1.9-pound lake record black crappie from Lake Columbia. These catches provide an early indicator of fishing success for anglers this spring and summer. “Population sampling during fall 2018 revealed catch rates dominated by quality-sized largemouth bass and sunfish in the south region state fishing lakes,” said MWDFP fisheries biologist Stephen Brown. Fall sampling in Lake Bogue Homa produced numerous crappie over a pound and more quality sunfish than in previous years. "With increased boat accessibility due to the continued reduction of water hyacinth, great electrofishing survey numbers, and larger bass being caught during tournaments in 2018, expect the numbers and sizes of fish caught to increase this spring at Lake Bogue Homa,” said Brown.
The state lake to target for largemouth bass this spring is Lake Jeff Davis. Tournament catches were at or near the best in the state with tournament anglers weighing in large five fish creels and lunkers at 10 pounds or better throughout the 2018 tournament season. Our fall electrofishing survey produced numerous bass over five pounds with a few reaching almost 8 pounds. Lake Jeff Davis is one to watch.
Biologists saw the highest catch rates of largemouth bass since 2009 in the Pascagoula Marsh during fall electrofishing. Increased numbers during surveys should bode well for anglers on the Pascagoula River and marsh this upcoming fishing season. In addition, the associated oxbows of the Pascagoula River will be popular and should produce large crappie and sunfish this spring.
