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Guide to fishing in the Magnolia State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Aberdeen Lake
  • Arkabutla Lake
  • Barnett Reservoir
  • Enid Lake
  • Grenada Reservoir
  • Lake Bogue Homa
  • Okatibbee Lake
  • Pickwick Lake
  • Sardis Lake

Mississippi is a fishing paradise that offers a wide variety of fish species to target, making it a favorite destination for anglers of all skill levels. The state boasts abundant warm water fisheries, cold water fisheries, as well as numerous ponds, lakes, and rivers that provide excellent fishing opportunities. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.

In the warm water fisheries of Mississippi, anglers can target popular species such as largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and sunfish. These fish thrive in the warm, fertile waters of the state's lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers. Anglers can enjoy the thrill of hooking into trophy-sized largemouth bass, filling their coolers with tasty crappie, or battling with hard-fighting catfish. The warm water fisheries of Mississippi provide ample opportunities for anglers to pursue their favorite species and create lasting fishing memories.

Mississippi is also home to several cold water fisheries, particularly in the northern part of the state. These fisheries offer anglers the chance to target species such as trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Cold water fisheries typically have cooler water temperatures, providing suitable habitats for these species. Anglers can enjoy the challenge of fly fishing for trout in pristine mountain streams or casting for smallmouth bass in scenic rivers. The cold water fisheries of Mississippi provide a unique angling experience and attract fishing enthusiasts looking for a different kind of adventure.

Apart from lakes and rivers, Mississippi is dotted with ponds that offer excellent fishing opportunities. These ponds are often stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Anglers can enjoy fishing in a peaceful and secluded environment, often without the crowds found in larger bodies of water. Ponds provide a great opportunity for beginners and youth anglers to learn the basics of fishing and develop their skills.

From the vast waters of the Mississippi River to the tranquil ponds scattered throughout the state, Mississippi offers diverse fishing experiences for all anglers. Whether you prefer the excitement of warm water fisheries, the challenges of cold water fisheries, or the tranquility of pond fishing, Mississippi has it all. With its variety of species and fishing environments, Mississippi is a true angler's paradise.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Mississippi

The state of Mississippi offers excellent bass fishing, crappie fishing, catfish, stripers and more in lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. Listed here are the major fishing lakes in Mississippi. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, stripers, alligator gar, bowfin, chain pickerel, longnose gar, paddlefish, sauger, saugeye and spotted gar in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams.

Major Mississippi Lakes & Species

Mississippi major lakes and fish chart

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in MS, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Aberdeen Lake is a 4,100-acre lake in the northeast section of the state at Aberdeen.

Arkabutla Lake is an 33,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, 2 miles northwest of Coldwater.

Barnett Reservoir is a 33,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Ridgeland.

Bay Springs Lake is a 6,600-acre lake in the northeast corner of the state, 5 miles west of Dennis.

Columbus Lake is an 8,900-acre lake in eastern Mississippi, at Columbus.

Enid Lake is a 28,000-acre reservoir in the north-central part of the state, at Enid.

Grenada Reservoir is a 64,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Grenada.

Lake Beulah is a 1,030-acre lake on the western border of the state, at Beulah.

Lake Bogue Homa is a 882 acre lake in the southeast section of the state, 8 miles east of Laurel.

Lake Washington is a 5,000-acre lake near the western border of the state, at Hampton.

Lake Whittington is a 2,300-acre lake along the western Mississippi border, at Bolivar.

Moon Lake is a 1,900-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Lula.

Okatibbee Lake is a 4,100-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, 3 miles northeast of Collinsville.

Pickwick Lake is a 43,000-acre lake in the northwest cornet of the state, at Waterloo.

Sardis Lake is a 58,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, 5 miles northwest of Oxford.

Tunica Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Austin.

Fish Species & State Records in Mississippi

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 18.15 lbs

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 15 oz

Spotted Bass

Spotted bass

World record: 9 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 8 lbs 2 oz

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

World record: 58 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 51 lbs 12 oz

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish

World record: 123 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 77.7 lbs

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

World record: 143 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 95 lbs 0 oz

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 4 oz

White Crappie

White crappie

World record: 5 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 5 lbs 3 oz

Walleye

Walleye

Walleye

World record: 25 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 9.66 lbs

Sauger

Sauger

World record: 17 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 2.52 lbs

Saugeye

Saugeye

World record: 15 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 4.66 lbs

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 5.03 lbs

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 3.45 lbs

Green Sunfish

Green sunfish

World record: 2.2 lbs

State Record: 1.26 lbs

Hybrid Sunfish

Hybrid sunfish

World record: N/A

State Record: 1.23 lbs

Longear Sunfish

Longear sunfish

World record: 1.75 lbs

State Record: 0.39 lbs

Redear Sunfish

Redear sunfish

World record: 5.4 lbs

State Record: 3.33 lbs

Soptted Sunfish

Spotted sunfish

World record: N/A

State Record: 0 lbs 2.3 oz

Warmouth

Warmouth

World record: 2.4 lbs

State Record: 1 lbs 8 oz

White Bass

White Bass

World record: 6.8 lbs

State Record: 5 lbs 6 oz

Yellow Bass

Yellow bass

World record: 2 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 2.24 lbs

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 1.46 lbs

Striped bass

Striped Bass

Stripers

Inland world record: 64 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 39.6 lbs

Hybrid Stripers (Wipers)

Striped Bass

Hybrid Stripers

World record: 27 lbs 5 oz

State Record: 17.77 lbs

Other species

Alligator Gar

Alligator gar

World record: 279 lbs

State Record: 215 lbs 0 oz

Bowfin

Bowfin

World record: 21 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 18 lbs 14 oz

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

World record: 9 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 6 lbs 4 oz

Longnose Gar

Longnose gar

World record: 50 lbs 5 oz

State Record: 48.08 lbs

Paddlefish

Paddlefish

World record: 144 lbs

State Record: 65 lbs 0 oz

Spotted Gar

Spotted gar

World record: 9 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 8.1 lbs

Click the images and links above for species details.

Catch Mississippi bass in lakes and ponds throughout the state. There are plenty of other species residing in MS waters to fulfill most any anglers' wish list.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Mississippi and other boating information.

State of MS Fishing Information

For additional information about fishing in Mississippi visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks website. Click here to acquire a Mississippi fishing license.

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

 

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