Clean your boat trailers! Giant Salvinia is a highly invasive floating aquatic plant that is present in this lake. Please remove all vegetation from your boat trailer before leaving the launch areas.
Lake Tom Bailey is a 182-acre lake 8 miles east of Meridian on Hwy 11 in Lauderdale County. The lake was originally built and opened to the public in the early 1960’s, closed in 2000 for repairs, and was reopened in 2005. This lake is recognized for its large bream and holds the state record for Channel Catfish at 51 pounds and 12 ounces.
Address: Lake Tom Bailey, 3222 Northshore Dr, Toomsuba, MS 39364
Phone: (601) 632-4679
Fees: Daily and Annual
Weekly fishing reports will return in February. Below are some tips for fishing in winter and early spring.
| Bass | Locate bass by using deep diving crankbaits and other deep water lures around the drain structure and along the creek channel. Bass should be holding in these areas at 8 - 12 ft. On warmer days fish may be in shallower water around willow stubs or along the rocks at the dam. Soft plastics and jigs can be productive in these spots. |
| Crappie | Crappie will be in deep water around submerged structure and creek channels. Ledges along the channel prove to be crappie hot spots during the winter months. Fish may be anywhere in the water column so fish at different depths until crappie are located. Minnows or jigs tipped with a nibble should produce some nice fish. |
| Bream | Tom Bailey has a good population of quality size readear and bluegill. These fish can be located around deep structure during the winter months. Fishing on the bottom with worms are best bets for bream this time of year. |
| Catfish | Try for catfish along creek channels and deep structure. Brush piles in 8 - 10 ft of water that were added in January should be holding catfish this time of year. Tightlining with stink baits, liver or worms are best ways to harvest late season catfish. |
Water temperature: °F
Water visibility (inches):
Clean your boat trailers!
Giant salvinia is a highly invasive aquatic plant that is present in Lake Tom Bailey. It is critical that anglers visiting the lake clean their boats and boat trailers to reduce the possibility of transferring this plant to other water bodies. Giant salvinia is extremely difficult to eradicate once it becomes established.
Lake Tom Bailey Special Regulations
Lake Tom Bailey Special Regulations
Creel and Size Limits
| Species | Lengths to Release | Daily Creel Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Catfish | No Length Limit | 10 per angler |
Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species
Lake Regulations
- Rod and reel or pole fishing is allowed. No trotlines, FFFD’s, jugs, yoyo’s, limblines, throwlines, or set hooks are allowed.
- Sport fishing licenses and fishing permits are required except on designated days during National Fishing and Boating Week.
- Fishing is not allowed from courtesy piers adjacent to boat ramps.
- Night fishing is allowed from the bank or boats which are in compliance with state and Coast Guard regulations.
- Skiing is allowed on Sunday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
- Lake is designated as No Wake all other times.
Amenities
Amenities
Campgrounds are first come first served, please call the State Lake office for information.
- Boat ramp
- Handicap accessible fishing piers
- 22 developed camping sites with electrical/water hookups
- Primitive camping
- Restrooms with showers
- Picnic tables
- Barbecue grills.
Fish Attractors
Fish Attractors
GPS Coordinates for brush piles that were added 1/12/16 are listed below.
N 32.42285 W 88.51477 N 32.42555 W 88.51812
N 32.42404 W 88.51488 N 32.42561 W 88.51801
N 32.42430 W 88.51518 N 32.42553 W 88.51788
N 32.42408 W 88.51507 N 32.42570 W 88.51792
N 32.42408 W 88.51528 N 32.42561 W 88.51780
N 32.42440 W 88.51548 N 32.42528 W 88.51798
N 32.42427 W 88.51527 N 32.42521 W 88.51812
N 32.42352 W 88.51484 N 32.42564 W 88.51766
N 32.42377 W 88.51519 N 32.42551 W 88.51769
N 32.42409 W 88.51606 N 32.42573 W 88.51742
N 32.42399 W 88.51614 N 32.42510 W 88.51762
N 32.42411 W 88.51629 N 32.42495 W 88.51744
N 32.42420 W 88.51608 N 32.42518 W 88.51726
N 32.42412 W 88.51650 N 32.42524 W 88.51730
N 32.42398 W 88.51634 N 32.42522 W 88.51714
N 32.42540 W 88.51815 N 32.42543 W 88.51722
N 32.42547 W 88.51802 N 32.42524 W 88.51759
Record Fish
Record fish must be weighed and verified by the lake manager, lake supervisor, or fisheries biologist. Anglers who catch a lake record fish will receive a certificate acknowledging their catch.
| Species | Weight | Angler |
| Bass | 10.06 lbs. | Trey Tanner |
| Crappie | OPEN | |
| Redear | OPEN | |
| Bluegill | OPEN | |
| Catfish | 51.75 lbs. (Current State Record Channel Catfish) | Tom Edwards |
Lake Tom Bailey Interactive Map
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