Alert
Clean your boat trailers!
Giant Salvinia is a highly invasive floating aquatic plant that is abundant in the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Please remove all vegetation from boat trailers before leaving launch areas.
Fishing Report
Columbus Lake - 5/24/2023 3:32:12 PM| Species | Detail | |
| Bass | The bass reports have been good. Anglers are hitting the backwaters to catch their fish. The gravel pits, Hwy. 50 slough, Tibbee Creek, and the old river runs are all holding fish. Look for shad in the shallows near grass or other vegetation and target those areas with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Otherwise, anglers are throwing lures like buzzbaits, frogs, and poppers early in the morning around both grassy and woody cover. During the day, anglers are switching to Texas-rigged plastics, jigs, and spinnerbaits. As fast as the water is warming up, look for shaded areas to play a big role in fish location. | |
| Crappie | The crappie bite is slow, but a handful of anglers are still catching good numbers. A few anglers are still catching shallow crappie in the gravel pits with both minnows and jigs catching fish. Others are targeting the old river runs and deeper backwaters around laydowns. | |
| Catfish | The catfish bite has picked up some. Most anglers are using jugs and trotlines baited with cutbait to catch their fish. | |
Special Fishing RegulationsSpecies |
||
| Species | Type | Length To Release |
| Black Bass (combined largemouth, spotted and smallmouth) | Minimum Length Limit | 14 inches and under |
| Crappie (combined black and white) | Minimum Length Limit | 9 inches and under |
Creel Limits (per person, per day) |
||
| Type | Amount | Additional Information |
| Black Bass (combined largemouth, spotted and smallmouth) | 10 | |
| Crappie (combined black and white) | 30 | |
Spillway
From Columbus Lake dam spillway downstream to Mile Marker 334, including the auxiliary spillway and associated bank fishing access areas in the Tombigbee River cutoff below the dam.
- Anglers can only use one pole or rod per person.
- Artificial lures with no more than 3 treble hooks no larger than #2 may be used anytime.
- The use of baited or bare treble hooks is illegal.
- No other gear can be used in these waters except that dip or landing nets, cast nets, boat mounted scoops, wire baskets, minnow seines, and minnow traps may be used to capture bait. Anglers keeping minnows, shad, nongame gross fish and non-native fish caught with these gear types must immediately place their catch on ice or in a dry container.
- From Dec 1 until the last day of February - Anglers can only fish with 2 single hooks no larger than #2. Hooks must be secured at least one inch apart.
- From March 1 to Nov 30 - Anglers can only fish with 2 single hooks of any size. Hooks must be secured at least one inch apart.
Additional Information
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Fisheries Biologists use various sampling methods to assess the fish populations in the State’s waters. Sampling results for selected water bodies are summarized in Reel Facts Sheets.
Share this
