Fishing Report
Tunica Cutoff - 5/23/2023 5:55:21 PM| Species | Detail | |
| Bass | Fish soft plastics, spinnerbaits, or jerkbaits near any deeper cover or off sandy points dropping into deeper water. | |
| Crappie | Tracey at the Levee Commissary (662)363-2408 has been selling some minnows but has had few reports back. Water conditions are perfect this week. Jig, troll, or drift 4 to 8 ft deep with jigs and/or minnows in the edges of any shoreline cover. Yo-yo's may work with the slow fall but check them often. If you use minnows, be aware there are lots of gar. | |
| Bream | Water conditions are perfect this week. Fish redworms or crickets near any cover (live willows with lots of branches are best) 4 - 8 ft deep. | |
| Catfish | Tracey at the Levee Commissary (662)363-2408 reports that catfish are feeding on various natural baits in the runout and vegetated main lake flats on rod-and-reel or trotlines. Check passive gear (trotlines, limblines, yo-yos, etc.) often with the water falling. | |
| White Bass | Fish jigs or small crankbaits near the ramps, off sandy points, or in the runout. There are no size or number limits on white or yellow bass. However, with the lake connected to the river, you might land a striped bass or hybrid, both of which have to be over 15 inches long with a daily limit of 6 fish per person. The best way to tell these fish apart is by their stripes. White bass have 1 stripe running to the tail; stripers and hybrids have 2 or more stripes running to the tail. | |
The river is falling slowly and will be in the 10 to 15 ft "good fishing" range all week. Memorial Day weekend is the normal date crappie and bream are spawning on the Cutoff. It may be next weekend on the full moon, though.
Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise. If the water is rising, fish shallower on the inside edges of cover. If the water is falling, fish deeper on the outside edges. Move stationary gear (lines, yo-yos, etc.) frequently if the water is rising or falling quickly.
Special Fishing RegulationsSpecies |
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| Species | Type | Length To Release |
Creel Limits (per person, per day) |
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| Type | Amount | Additional Information |
Water Level
The Mississippi River was at 14.4 ft (Memphis gauge) Tuesday and is predicted to fall slowly to 11.6 ft by Sunday. With the weir, the Mississippi River will not enter the Cutoff until it rises over 6 ft (Memphis gauge), but the weir will hold the lake near 6 ft if the river drops below that level. Flood stage is 34 ft. Best fishing is usually on a slow fall from 15 to 10 ft. For the river level and 5-day forecast, call (901)544-0408 (press 2) or check https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=ORN&product=RVA&format=txt&version=1&glossary=0
Charlie's Camp and Bordeaux (Tait) ramps are the only ones open to the public. Use the honor boxes. Bait is now available across the levee.
Memphis District Corps personnel allow placement of artificial fish habitat. Remember to save GPS waypoints if you have the capability.
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.
