Freshwater Fishing
Bonus Spot
Even with the numerous natural brush in Ross Barnett, savvy crappie anglers continue to build man-made cover in the lake — and they continue to catch fish on them. […]
Freshwater Fishing
As Big As they Grow
Ross Barnett crappie
As I write this column, I’m listening to Elvis’ Christmas album. My favorite Elvis classic (and I sing along) is “Blue Christmas.” My “Blue Christmas” rendition varies in entertainment value based on the audience (my family has long endured my caroling, and they actually request “Blue Christmas”) and the amount of scotch missing from the Oban bottle. […]
As Big As they Grow
Chotard better than ever
The fall 2011 fishing season has provided some surprises and some wonderful crappie fishing for lots of us Mississippians. First of all, the weather changes have been more abrupt, with cold weather fronts coming more often and with greater intensity than recent years. […]
Freshwater Fishing
DIY crappie jigs
Making your own crappie-fishing jigs can be a rewarding hobby. By making your own tackle, you can create lures found nowhere else. It’s easy and inexpensive to make your own tackle; just follow these simple steps: […]
Freshwater Fishing
Dam sweet spots
Embankment dams are the most commonly built dams in the United States. Massive structures made of earth and rock, embankment dams rely on their heavy weight to resist the force of the water. Several key ingredients, both natural and man-made, will dictate how crappie relate to them as water levels drop during winter drawdowns. […]
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Dam Good Fishing
Kent Driscoll kept his head down as he slowly motored across the face of the Sardis dam. It wasn’t because the weather was all that cold. It also wasn’t because wind was whipping in his face. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Essential ecosystems
Ecosystems provide ecological services. Although the concept of ecological services has been recognized for a long time, lately I am hearing the term a lot. While ecological services may ring of something academic, one of the many services ecosystems perform is providing the fish and wildlife we enjoy as sportsmen. […]
As Big As they Grow
Slabs head shallow for fall
The fall fishing season is officially here. This is my favorite time of the year to crappie fish, and I continue to discover that I don’t know it all when it comes to figuring out crappie’s fall patterns. It seems to me that they change from year to year and from lake to lake. […]
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Cold Crankin’
Have you ever stayed up late and watched one of those high-pressure infomercials on cable TV? The guy with the big teeth and the slick hair and the fast talk tries to convince you that this contraption right … HEEERRE … can do everything from grow hair on your bald head to save you money on your car insurance. […]
Featured Story
Tips for catching more crappie on long lines
Finding success in long-line trolling takes dedication to the tactic in order to get a system that works for your boat and your setup. Once you’re comfortable with your system, these tips will help you become a better long liner. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Of fish and frustration: The flood of 2011
May 2011 will not be forgotten by anyone connected with the Mississippi River. While a few historians claim the lower Mississippi River has been higher, the 2011 flood set a new high-water record on the Vicksburg gauge, and was just inches shy of record highs on the Greenville and Memphis gauges. The social and economic damage were huge. […]
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Pushin’ & Pullin’
Before the West was won, Native American tribes roamed the high plains following vast herds of buffalo. The buffalo were sustenance for the Indians, and their customs, heritage and culture reflected that. Wherever the buffalo roamed, Indians were not far behind. […]