Freshwater Fishing

Long-term effects of sedimentation

With an average annual rainfall of almost 60 inches, Mississippi is the third wettest state in the U.S. Much of that rain falls in late winter and early spring. While filling the rivers, streams and reservoirs that provide bountiful fisheries, the rains negatively affect fisheries by transporting erodible soils from the watershed into fishable waters. […]

Bass Fishing

Where did all the bass go?

Hundreds of bass tournaments are held each year on Mississippi lakes, reservoirs and rivers, and some anglers attribute declines in bass populations to tournaments. The “tournament issue” is neither new nor restricted to Mississippi. […]

Bass Fishing

Spawning is only part of the story

In last month’s column, I shared what biologists know about largemouth bass spawning, emphasizing those aspects that may help anglers intercept spawning bass and habitat conditions that are needed for successful spawning. Largemouth bass are, compared to other fishes, pretty flexible in their spawning requirements. […]