The goal of our Community Fishing Assistance Program is to enhance the management and development of lakes and ponds in urban settings so that local residents, especially youth, will be able to experience the joys of fishing close to home.

There are many small water bodies in Mississippi that are owned by counties, cities, and private groups. The quality of the fishing in these waters varies depending on the knowledge of fisheries management techniques possessed by those who own or manage these waters. In an effort to provide quality fishing experiences in these waters, the MDWFP has established the Community Fishing Assistance Program (CFAP).

CFAP Cooperative Agreement

Communities, cities, counties, and other sponsors participate in this program by executing a cooperative agreement with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. This agreement specifies the services each party agrees to provide. In order to enter into a cooperative agreement with the department, the local sponsor must agree to abide by all provisions in the cooperative agreement.

The MDWFP will:

  • Provide technical advice regarding fish harvest regulations, aquatic plant control, management recommendations, and fish for stocking, free of charge.
  • Provide a management plan through periodic on-site sampling of the fish populations.
  • Provide signs recognizing all entities who participated in project development and list the regulations for the water body.

The Cooperating sponsor agrees to:

  • Maintain the grounds around the fishing site.
  • Follow the fisheries management recommendations provided by the MDWFP.

Currently, there are 24 water bodies totaling 442 acres in 19 locations enrolled in the MDWFP Community Fishing Assistance Program.

Map of MDWFP Community Fish Assistance Program lakes

CFAP Lakes

Alcorn State University

More information coming soon.

Ballard Park

Ballard Park Lake - Tupelo

Acreage:

3 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 25
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing, from sunrise to 10:00pm.

Directions:

On west Main Street (Hwy. 6) between Natchez Trace and N. Coley Road.

Bear Pen Park Lake

Bear Pen Park Lake

Acreage:

3 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish
  • Crappie

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 0
  • Bream: 15
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits

Hours of Operation:

This lake is open to fishing daily, from sunrise to sunset.

Directions:

Take Hwy 8 west out of Cleveland, MS. Turn left on Bishop Road. Turn right on College Street. Lake is on the left.

Brookhaven

Brookhaven Fishing Pond - Brookhaven

Acreage:

1.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 0
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily for fishing to persons 14 years old or younger, or handicapped persons of any age.

The term "handicapped persons" means paraplegics; hemiplegic; anyone permanently dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility; anyone who requires the permanent use of braces, full prosthesis, or crutches for walking; or blind individuals.

Directions:

Hwy. 51 in Brookhaven; turn east on Industrial Park Road NE; travel approximately 2.5 miles. Pond is located on the left next to the soccer field.

Chateau Lake

Chateau Lake - Pascagoula

Acreage:

4.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

From Interstate 10, take Hwy 63 south. Pass through Moss Point and Pascagoula. After crossing Hwy 90, go 0.6 miles and take a right on Old Mobile Highway. Go 0.4 miles, and Chateau Lake will be on the right just after Chateau Drive.

Coahoma County

Coahoma County Lake - Clarksdale

Acreage:

3.2 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2
  • Bream: 20
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing, from sunrise to sunset.

Directions:

In Clarksdale on the grounds of Coahoma County Expo Center, located at the corner of State St. (Hwy. 322) and Anderson Blvd.

Duncan Lake

Duncan Lake - Hattiesburg

Acreage:

17 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Duncan Lake is open daily from sunrise to sunset.  Pets must be on a leash.

Directions:

The lake is located at the intersection of South Tipton Street and James Street (Old Hwy 49).

Florewood River Plantation Lake

Florewood River Plantation Lake - Greenwood

Acreage:

5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5

Hours of Operation:

The lake is open on Saturdays from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm.

Directions:

Take MS Hwy 7 west from Greenwood. Take a left on MS Hwy 145. Take a left into Florewood Park. Lake is on the left. 1999 CR 145, Greenwood, MS 38930

Forrest County

Forrest County Lake - Hattiesburg

Acreage:

10.1 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 20
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open to fishing on Thursday and Friday of each week and only to persons 14 years old or younger, or handicapped persons of any age. All minors must be accompanied by a supervising adult, and handicapped persons in need of personal assistance must provide such.

The term "handicapped persons" means paraplegics; hemiplegic; anyone permanently dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility; anyone who requires the permanent use of braces, full prosthesis, or crutches for walking; or blind individuals.

The lake is open to the general public for fishing on Saturday of each week from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Directions:

0.6 miles north of Hwy 98 and Hwy 49 junction (south of Hattiesburg) on Hwy 49 at back of Multiuse Center.

Lake Dockery

Lake Dockery - Byram

Acreage:

43.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 25
  • Catfish: 5
  • Crappie: 30
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Lake Dockery is open daily from 30 minutes before dawn to 30 minutes before sunset. No swimming, alcohol, glass containers, overnight camping, outboard gasoline engine use or ATVs, tobacco products, unleashed pets, or firearms. Contained fires only.

Directions:

Siwell Road in Byram. Turn north on Lake Dockery Drive and travel 0.5 miles. Lake is on the left and parking is available at the boat ramp across the dam.

Bench overlooking the water at Lake Dockery
Lake Patsy

Lake Patsy - Oxford

Acreage:

7.6 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 0
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open to fishing for persons 15 years old and younger or handicapped persons of any age. Fishing hours are from sunrise to sunset each day.

The term "handicapped persons" means paraplegics; hemiplegic; anyone permanently dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility; anyone who requires the permanent use of braces, full prosthesis, or crutches for walking; or blind individuals.

Directions:

Hwy 314 W in Oxford; turn on Country Club Drive. Lake is at rear of City Park.

Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit Park Lake - Hernando

Acreage:

1.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 0
  • Bream: 100
  • Crappie: 30
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing, from sunrise to sunset.

Directions:

On Monteith Blvd. in Lee's Summit Park off McIngvale Road (just south of Walmart).

McAlpine Lake

McAlpine Lake - Amory

Acreage:

2.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 1
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 2
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

McAlpine Lake is open to fishing to persons 15 years old and younger on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. One pole per youth.

Directions:

From Main Street in Amory, travel east on 8th Avenue. Turn left onto McAlpine Drive.

McMillan Park

McMillan Park Pond - Carthage

Acreage:

1.5 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2
  • All other species combined: 8

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

In Carthage, from the intersection of Hwy 16 and Hwy 35, travel 0.6 miles on Hwy 16 E. Turn right at the National Guard Armory (entrance to McMillan Park). Pond is at rear of park.

Olive Branch City Park Ponds

Olive Branch - Amphitheater Pond

Acreage:

3 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2; release all bass 15 inches and under.
  • Catfish: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Crappie: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

Olive Branch City Park on City Park Drive near intersection of Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd) and Hwy 305.

Olive Branch - Main Pond

Acreage:

4 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2; release all bass 15 inches and under.
  • Catfish: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Crappie: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

Olive Branch City Park on City Park Drive near intersection of Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd) and Hwy 305.

Olive Branch - Middle Pond

Acreage:

1 acre

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2; release all bass 15 inches and under.
  • Catfish: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Crappie: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

Olive Branch City Park on City Park Drive near intersection of Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd) and Hwy 305.

Poplar Springs

Poplar Springs Lake - Poplarville

Acreage:

5.2 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 2
  • Bream: 20
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open to fishing Thursday through Sunday, from sunrise to sunset.

Directions:

On Hwy 26, west of downtown Poplarville.

Whitehead Lake

Whitehead Lake - Pascagoula

Acreage:

13 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5
  • Bream: 10
  • Catfish: 5
  • All other species: Follow statewide daily bag limits.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily to fishing.

Directions:

Take Interstate 10 west and exit at Franklin Creek south (exit #75). Take a left on Hwy 90. Turn south onto Chicot Road and then turn left at the first light onto Nathan Hale Ave. Go 0.1 miles and turn right into I.G. Levy Memorial Park.

White's Creek Lake

White's Creek Lake - Eupora

Acreage:

280 acres

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish
  • Crappie

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 5; release all bass 15 inches and under.
  • Bream: 25
  • Catfish: 10
  • Crappie: 15; release all crappie 10 inches and under.

Hours of Operation:

Open daily from sunrise to 9:00pm.  No campfires, firearms, fireworks, explosives or jug fishing allowed.  Bank fishing is allowed in the park area only. Boating is allowed. Boat launching fees may apply. Camping allowed in designated areas. See posted rules at the lake.

Directions:

Hwy 9 north of Eupora.

Willow Lake

Willow Lake - Walnut Grove

Acreage:

1 acre

Species Stocked:

  • Bass
  • Bream
  • Catfish

Daily Bag Limits:

  • Bass: 0
  • All other species combined: 8

Hours of Operation:

Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from sunrise to sunset.

Directions:

From Carthage, take Hwy 35 South and travel 7.7 miles; turn left onto TrueLight Drive, go 0.8 miles; turn right on School Street.

Contact Information

Fisheries Bureau (601) 432-2200