Field Notes Archives - Mississippi Sportsman

Southern black widow spiders are easily identified by the black, marble-shaped body and red, hourglass markings.

An 8-legged threat to hunters

It’s no surprise that spiders are a common culprit for hunters’ annual ailments in the field, some even resulting in hospital visits. […]

Crappie will bite at night, especially if you follow a few guidelines.

Tips for slabs after dark

Phillip Gentry

The details of your setup and presentation are important. Follow these tips to help you make the best of your night-fishing trips for crappie. […]

Using the tip of a toothpick, pushed through a soft-plastic bait and the eye of the hook, will help keep a Texas-rigged bait from sliding down. Break off both ends of the toothpick just outside the worm’s margins.

Stick a toothpick in it

Craig Holt

One of the best tools a bass fisherman can have, especially during the summer when fish live largely in deep, cool, oxygenated water, are toothpicks. […]

Boat trailer lights not working? Try these tips

Brian Cope

Anyone who tows a boat trailer either has, or will, experience problems with the trailer’s lights. More often than not, one specific culprit is to blame. […]

Chum up a sheepshead

Jeff Burleson

Once located, it’s not difficult to get sheepshead to bite, but finding them first is the key, and chumming can be a way to concentrate the hungry fish. […]

Try your luck… after dark

Phillip Gentry

How you go about night fishing can spell the difference between a successful outing and losing sleep. Keep these five steps in mind. […]

Ditches cut through food plots can help carry off water when the plants are inundated, and they can help irrigate plots when rain is missing in the heat of the summer.

Ditches can move water on and off food plots

Jeff Burleson

Since plants lack mobility, water exposure in food plots must be regulated to produce a successful crop for deer and other wildlife. […]

Trotlining is a fun and productive way to fish for river catfish during the summer.

Trotlining for catfish

Phillip Gentry

Trotlining is a fun and productive way for recreational anglers to fish for river catfish during the summer in the Magnolia State. […]

Lone gobblers whose hens are nesting are likely to be doing a lot of traveling, especially late in the morning and early in the afternoon, when they can be fooled and killed.

Be patient, stay late for late-season turkeys

Craig Holt

Turkey hunters find at the end of turkey season that most “easy” turkeys have been killed, and the remaining ones are more wary and won’t come to calls. […]

The many benefits of using artificial shrimp

David A. Brown

Whatever your preference, you’ll find artificial shrimp comprise a highly versatile lure family well deserving of prime space in your tackle tray. Here’s a handful of ideas for their use. […]

Make sure you match the specifications of your boat, and how you plan to use it, to the trailer that you buy new or plan to fix up.

Trailer tactics: Make sure the shoe fits

Jerry Dilsaver

One of the most-overlooked aspects of purchasing a boat is the trailer. Here are some things that need to be considered. […]

One of the most popular frog colors is white.

Frog tactics

David A. Brown

For an angler, the frog offers a great search bait for covering lots of water and finding key staging areas for bass. […]