MISSISSIPPI CRAPPIE FISHING

With the expansion of competitive crappie fishing in southeastern United States the subject of Mississippi fishing keeps coming up.

Each year anglers catch huge fish in the waters of this state.  The northwestern corner of Mississippi is called the Arc of Slabs due to it quality white and black crappie population.   It consists of four lakes Arkabutla Lake (11,870-acres); Enid Lake (16,130-acres), Grenada Lake (35,820-acres) and Sardis Lake (32,100-acres) are famous for their crappie fishing.

Along the Mississippi River are numerous oxbows, marshes and other backwaters.

Unlike the northern portions of the river, here in the southern end of the river, there are no dams and floodgates to control the flow.  As a result, the river floods in spring as it expands depositing soils on the shore which aids agriculture.  It also floods back into the oxbows and marshes “stocking” them with fish from the main river.  As the water recedes, it traps fish in these shallow waterways.

The fish that follow the flow of water in search of food in the form of insects, crustaceans and other small marine animals are stuck when the water recedes.

Anglers in small Jon boats, canoes and kayaks probe these waters.  The smaller boats are necessary as access to these backwater situations is often off the beaten path.  It becomes necessary to pull them through brush and across fields.  The lighter craft are essential.

The same applies to tackle.  Experienced anglers use light tackle and lures.  If live bait is required then small coolers with air pumps are the ticket.  Crappie anglers prefer worms or minnows in the live bait.  They use small amounts of small jigs and other lures.  It is best to be selective since a few ounces saved in physical weight are helpful.

First time visitors hire guides, question locals at the marinas, bait shops and local facilities in an effort to find the best locations to fish.   Those anglers looking for trophy crappie seem to migrate to Mississippi.