Crappie Fishing the Mississippi State Fishing Lakes

Mississippi operates 20 “State Fishing Lakes” that are managed primarily for bass, crappie, redear, bluegill, and catfish. Each lake offers good to excellent bank fishing opportunities and many allow boat fishing (from kayak to water skiing).

Each lake tracks water body records for bass, crappie, redear, bluegill and catfish. Once every two years, it also conducts electrofishing Below is a summary of catfish records, electrofishing surveys, and fishing tips from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and FishBrain.

Below are some Mississippi State Fishing Lake crappie tips and things to consider.

Six Blank Slates

Six State fishing lakes have an open record as of January 2019. There is no minimum weight for open records so if you catch a crappie in Elvis Presley, Holmes County, Monroe Lake, Simpson County, Tom Bailey, or Walthall, check it with the Lake Manager or Fisheries Biologist for a certificate recognizing your achievement.

5 pounds 3 oz

Current Mississippi white crappie state record and world record, caught at Enid Reservoir.

62 adult fish per mile

That’s the Bogue Homa Fall 2017 electrofish black crappie catch rate and its the highest in the state according to the published MDWFP Reel facts.

The Records

Current crappie records at all Mississippi State Fishing Lakes as of January 2019

(State Fishing Lake/weight in pounds)

  • 3.50 lbs Perry Lake

  • 3.40 lbs Claude Bennett

  • 3.31 lbs Tippah County

  • 3.20 lbs Neshoba County

  • 2.75 lbs Calling Panther Lake

  • 2.70 lbs Jeff Davis

  • 2.40 lbs Mary Crawford

  • 2.20 lbs Bogue Homa

  • 2.20 lbs Mike Conner

  • 2.06 lbs Kemper County

  • 1.81 lbs Columbia Lake

  • 1.70 lbs Prentiss Walker

  • 1.63 lbs Bill Waller

  • 1.04 lbs Lamar Bruce

  • 2.50 lbs Bill Waller

  • Open Elvis Presley

  • Open Holmes County

  • Open Monroe Lake

  • Open Simpson County

  • Open Walthall

  • Open Tom Bailey

Fishing Tips from Lake Managers

Bill Waller

Try minnows or green and black jigs in 6 to 8 ft. of water near structures and around overhanging limbs

Bogue Homa

Target shallow structure in coves along the shoreline during the spring.

Calling Panther Lake

Try minnows or jigs around vegetation in the spring. Fishing the creek channel is popular at other times of the year.

Claude Bennett

In the spring, target shoreline areas that contain brush piles with jigs or minnows in water depths of 4 – 6 ft. During the summer and fall fish tops or creek ledges in 12 - 16 ft. of water.

Columbia Lake

Try minnows or green and black jigs in 6 to 8 ft. of water near structures and around overhanging limbs

Elvis Presley

In the spring, target brush along the western banks with small jigs or live bait. Target suspended fish near the dam and other deep water refuges.

Holmes County 

In the spring, target shoreline areas that contain brush piles with jigs or minnows at water depths of 4 – 6 ft. During the summer and fall fish tops or creek ledges in 8 - 10 ft of water.

Jeff Davis

Target deep willow trees around the main lake. Minnows are the most popular choice.

Kemper County

In the spring, target areas with brush in 4-8 ft of water using road runners or beetle spins. In the summer and fall try jigs or minnows on deep water structure and along creek ledges.

Lamar Bruce

In the spring, target brush along the deeper banks with small jigs or live bait under a cork. Target suspended fish near the dam and other deep water refuges.

Mike Conner

Target brush piles along the dam and points. Smoke colored jigs and minnows are popular.

Monroe Lake

Target brush piles along the creek channel with live minnows.

Neshoba County

In the spring, target shallow structure that is close to the creek with jigs or minnows. In the summer and winter, fish deeper water along creek ledges.

Perry Lake

Try minnows or green and black jigs in 6 to 8 ft. of water near structures and around overhanging limbs

Prentiss Walker

In the spring, target shoreline areas with jigs or minnows, especially around brush piles in shallow water. In the summer and winter, troll through deeper, open water areas.

Simpson County

In the spring, target areas with brush in 4 -8 ft of water using road runners or beetle spins. In the summer and fall try jigs or minnows in deep water and along creek ledges or structure.

Tippah County

Target lake points and sunken brush with small jigs or live bait under a cork.

Tom Bailey

In the spring, target brush piles in shallow shoreline areas with jigs or minnows in 2-4 ft. During the summer and fall fish tops or creek ledges in 8-10 ft of water.

Mississippi Fishing, Freshwater Fishingaaron barton1 Comment