Northwest Mississippi

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are cautiously optimistic about fishing success in 2025. Most fishing in this area is on the Corps of Engineers’ flood control reservoirs (FCRs - Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid, and Grenada). They get about 1.5 million hours of fishing annually, mostly for crappie. Since 2023, Arkabutla has been drawn down awaiting dam assessment and repair.

Normal water levels on the FCRs the last three years have resulted in smaller fish populations as they “readjust” to smaller lakes. MDWFP sampling found crappie and bass numbers near long term averages. Trophy crappie were older fish from high water years. Bass and bream numbers go up and down with water levels, but crappie numbers are more stable since they are less shoreline oriented. There were more and larger blue than channel catfish except at Enid. Shad or flavored chicken are better baits for blues than “catfish baits”. Shad and other forage fish were numerous. FCR crappie regulations were changed last year due to higher fishing pressure, enhanced fishing technologies, loss of other area waters (ex. Arkabutla, Lakeview), and the effects of droughts and invasive carps on nearby Delta oxbows.

An angler survey last spring on Tunica Cutoff found low use and harvest (mostly catfish). Other sampling there found low numbers of adult sport fishes but successful spawning. Bream anglers should head to Community Fishing Assistance Program ponds or Spring Lake at Wall Doxey State Park.

Food, lodging, and other amenities are available in Hernando, Batesville, Grenada, Oxford, and other nearby towns. There are MDWFP state parks on Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Reservoirs; book ahead as they fill up quickly during peak fishing times. For more information regarding fishing in Mississippi, visit www.mdwfp.com or call (601) 432-2200.

Northeast Mississippi

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are optimistic about fishing success in 2025. Several of the northeast region State Lakes and State Park Lakes looked great during fall sampling.

Elvis Presley Lake had a successful reopening in May 2024, with the average harvested crappie being 11.3", and Largemouth Bass already in the four to five-pound range. Both bass and crappie are taking advantage of the abundant shad population and are very healthy. Recent bass tournaments and creel surveys have shown that anglers are very satisfied with the fishing at Elvis Presley. Lake Lamar Bruce is still producing trophy bass, and Lake Monroe is producing double-digit bass as well, in addition to big Bluegill and Redear Sunfish. MDWFP personnel added fish attractors in both Trace State Park Lake and Tippah County Lake. Check each lake’s Fishing Reports page for coordinates.

While bass and crappie fishing has been tough over the last couple of years, there were some excellent results from bass tournaments over the winter at Pickwick. It took 29.07 pounds to win the recent MLF tournament, and anglers needed at least 20lbs. to get into the top 18!  Crappie fishing should also be better at both Pickwick and Bay Springs this year. 

Let’s not forget about Aliceville Lake, where MDWFP biologists sampled this winter and found healthy populations of both bass and crappie. Trophy-class crappie were collected, proving the lake to be a hot spot for crappie fishing this year.

Mississippi Delta

The Delta region biologists are looking forward to the spring crappie season this year. Lake Washington is looking for a rebound year with net sampling, and preliminary creel surveys revealing a good number of large legal fish. Crappie sampled in both surveys have averaged over a pound coming out of Lake Washington. Additionally, angler reports indicate a lot of undersized fish being released which bode well for future years. Another lake that showed promising results from the fall sampling season was Moon Lake. Electrofishing samples revealed an increase in crappie catch rates and the lead net samples showed good recruitment, which indicates a good spawn in previous years. Some of the smaller oxbows like horseshoe and Bee Lake should produce a decent number of fish as well.

In general, bass anglers will need patience when fishing the Delta. Moon Lake showed good results from the fall electrofishing survey with a good distribution of largemouth size classes. A good percentage of the bass sampled in the fall were above 11 inches. Moon Lake also had a significant increase in Bluegill catch rates during the fall, which is good news for bream and bass anglers alike. Biologists expect good results from Horseshoe Lake this year as well. With the progress made in the aquatic plant management and restoration project, more of the lake is accessible to anglers. Some anglers have reported good catch rates for crappie this year and we hope to see similar results from bass anglers.

The river connected oxbows like Ferguson and Whittington are looking to have another down year. Fishing on these water bodies will be tough, and anglers will need patience to find fish. With consecutive low water years and the persistence of Asian carp in these systems, sport fish populations have shown little recovery.

Central Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks fisheries biologists are predicting that 2025 will be a good year for fishing across the central region. Look for Ross Barnett Reservoir and Eagle Lake to provide high quality crappie fishing throughout the year, easily competing with the “big 4” up north. The Rez typically produces numerous two-pound crappie and even some fish better than three pounds. We don’t expect 2025 to be any different. Crappie averaged over one pound during spring 2024 creel surveys and winter 2025 lead net surveys showed all size classes were present, indicating a healthy population. Eagle Lake had a record year in 2024 numbers wise, and that’s likely not going to be replicated for a few years as crappie recruitment can be sporadic on boom-and-bust cycles. Based on winter 2025 lead net surveys, the crappie population is abundant and healthy going into the 2025 spawn. Look for fishing pressure to be high during the spawn before tapering off as summer approaches. Anglers should expect to catch fewer but larger crappie this year. For anglers looking to catch a limit of perfect eating size crappie, head to Okatibbee Reservoir outside of Collinsville. While Okatibbee isn’t known for trophy crappie, it produces good numbers with angers catching an average of 4 crappie per hour during 2024 spring creel surveys.

For anglers targeting trophy bass, look at the Rez once more. Fall 2024 electrofishing showed an extremely healthy largemouth population with numerous fish in the twelve-to-nineteen-inch range. Biologists collected seven fish over four pounds and three over six pounds. While Pelahatchie Bay results didn’t match previous years, likely due to warm temperatures during sampling, the coves on the Rankin County side and upriver backwaters shined. Other lakes with the potential to produce lunkers include Lake Calling Panther and the recently renovated Simpson County Lake. For bass anglers who want to make the grease stink, plan a visit to Lake Claude Bennett in Jasper County. With an overabundance of small bass, and a 30 fish daily creel limit, you can stock the freezer while having a great time!

Bream anglers looking to wear out an ultralight or flyrod should point their trucks towards Smith County and Prentiss Walker Lake, formerly known as Ross Barnett. Big Bluegill and Redear Sunfish that average half a pound are common. Another great lake for bream anglers is Shadow Lake at Roosevelt State Park right outside of Morton. During fall 2023 electrofishing the largest Bluegill weighed almost half a pound and the largest Redear weighed a pound. 

For anglers looking to spend time on the Delta oxbows such as Wolf Lake, Lake Geroge, Chotard, and Albermarle, fishing will once again be tough. Low water levels due to drought conditions in 2023 and 2024, combined with Silver Carp, have made locating sportfish difficult for biologists. Catch rates for Largemouth Bass and crappie were low on George, Chotard, and Albermarle during the most recent sampling. Fall 2022 sampling on Wolf Lake yielded moderate catch rates for crappie but low catch rates for Largemouth Bass. 

South Mississippi

Fishing season is quickly approaching for south Mississippi waters and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are anticipating a productive 2025 season. Anglers have already caught trophy bass in the seven to eight-pound range at Lake Bill Waller during the last few weeks and recently harvested several quality crappie. These catches provide an early indicator of fishing success for anglers this spring and summer. “Population sampling during fall 2024 revealed catch rates dominated by quality sized Largemouth Bass and sunfish in the south region state fishing lakes,” said Stephen Brown, MDWFP Fisheries Biologist. The annual bass tournament report indicated that Lake Bogue Homa produced numerous bass in the three to five-pound range and was ranked 3rd overall for the state. "With great tournament report numbers, expect the numbers and sizes of fish caught to increase this spring at Lake Bogue Homa,” said Brown. 

The state lake to target for Largemouth Bass this spring is Lake Mary Crawford. Five years post lake renovation, the fishery is continuing to grow and thrive and will produce great fishing through this fishing season.  Three to five-pound bass should become a regular catch this spring and will continue to get better. 

Bream fishing will be picking up on our south region’s state lakes, being best just before every full moon this spring throughout the summer. The state lake to target for quality bream in south Mississippi is Lake Perry.  It has historically been our best bream lake and should continue with this trend. 

Fishing and Boating