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Fishing & Boating

Alert

 

Information about Ross Barnett Reservoir facilities can be found here: 

BARNETT RESERVOIR PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT

 

 


Fishing Report

Ross Barnett Reservoir - 4/16/2024 11:22:55 AM
Species Detail
Largemouth Bass Bass fishing has been fair. Bass are in the shallows and the bite should pick up as the water stabilizes. Try throwing hollow body frogs, chatterbaits, and Texas rigged lizards right at the shorelines.
Crappie Crappie fishing is good and should really start to pick up this week. Anglers have been targeting crappie along the spillway rocks and near the grass on the Rankin County side. Try starting out shallow and working out with hair jigs or live minnows.
Bream Bream fishing has been slow with few anglers targeting bream. Try targeting bream around cypress trees and vegetation with crickets or worms.
Catfish Catfishing has been fair. Try tightlining or running jugs with kool-aid soaked chicken or cut bait.

Special Fishing Regulations


Species

Species Type Length To Release
Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) Minimum Length Limit 14 inches and under

Creel Limits (per person, per day)

Type Amount Additional Information
Black Bass (combined largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) 7 Ross Barnett Reservoir only

Spillway


 

 From the Ross Barnett Reservoir spillway outlet to the end of the riprap.

  • 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. 

From the Ross Barnett Reservoir spillway outlet to the City of Jackson water intake in the Pearl River.

  • The daily bag limit for Striped and/or Hybrid Striped Bass is 6 per person per day.
  • All fish 15 inches and under must be released and only 1 fish longer than 24 inches maybe harvested.


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.

 


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