Underrated ‘stripes’ plentiful here
July 2009
The white bass — what many call “stripes” — is Mississippi’s unsung and untapped sportfish. They are abundant where they occur, grow to good size, blast the heck out of topwaters and crankbaits, and can be darn-good eating.
Three steps for healthier summer bass
June 2009
Warm water can be tough on fish. Hatcheries avoid handling and transporting fish during warm seasons. The mortality of tournament-caught bass goes up in the summer, too.
Sterile crappie much better for ponds
May 2009
Mississippi is home to some of the best crappie fishing in the country. The fertile waters and long growing season are conducive to fast growth. When year-class strength is moderate, the crappie can grow to more than 1 pound in three to four years, and fishing is fantastic.
Bass program reports in for 2008
April 2009
The place to fish for bass in 2008 was Pickwick, according to the annual report from the Mississippi Bass Tournament Program conducted by MDWFP with the assistance of bass clubs throughout the state.
Smallie population may be growing
March 2009
There is something special about smallmouth bass. Maybe it’s their airborne acrobatics, often followed by a dive back to the bottom with line-breaking tenacity. Or maybe it’s their vicious, no-doubt-about-it strikes on crankbaits and jerkbaits.
Black, white crappie similar, different
February 2009
Crappie, sac-a-lait, papermouth, white perch, specks or calico bass — call them what you will, the Magnolia State can rightfully boast some of the best crappie fishing in the U.S., and the best time for crappie fishing is nearly upon us.
MSU study reveals anglers’ likes
January 2009
Fishery managers are in the business of providing the best fishing opportunities that are compatible with the wise conservation of the aquatic resources. They assess and, if needed, manipulate fish populations to achieve this goal.
Grenada may see better days ahead
December 2008
It was a tough year for bass fishing at Grenada Lake. After back-to-back drought years from 2005-07, the lake caught some water in 2008, and resembled more typical years. Lots of water but, unfortunately, no bass.
Need an excuse? Don’t blame that front
November 2008
Labor Day, 2008. From the safety and comfort of my Starkville home and through the convenience of the internet, I watched Hurricane Gustav smash into the Louisiana coast a few miles from where I had planned to be chasing redfish this holiday weekend. Reading the blogs on Gustav, I learned that hurricane soothsayers put a lot of emphasis on atmospheric pressure.
Trophy cat management: Are we ready?
October 2008
There is a lot of buzz lately about trophy catfish management. Is it time for catfish and catfishermen to get the attention that some say they deserve in Mississippi, or are things better left alone?
Is it time to raise fishing-license fees?
September 2008
Fishing, and to a large extent hunting, are unique among activities that use public resources in that anglers and hunters pay most of the bills for managing the resources. Indeed, in Mississippi, anglers pay the entire cost of fisheries management on public waters.
There are definitely bass in the grass
August 2008
Last month I “trashed” water hyacinths with insults like “the purple plague” and “one of the worst things that could happen to a fishery.”
Anglers dealing with purple plague
July 2008
As an angler and a fisheries biologist, I’m a big fan of aquatic vegetation. Our waters, particularly southern reservoirs, need more vegetation.
Floods remind of batture’s value
June 2008
As I write this column, the Mississippi River — the third largest river in the world — is 10 feet above flood stage, 2 feet below the record high and almost 20 feet above the average stage for this time of year. It’s a tense time for people who live and work along the Big River.
Currents
Gettin' Fresh 
