Although it might not set up perfectly for his two favorite post-spawn bass patterns, Madison Bassmaster Elite Series pro Pete Ponds says Okhissa Lake in the Homochitto National Forrest just to the south of Bude off Highway 98 would be his first choice when looking for a lake to fish just to have fun and experiment with different patterns.
“It’s basically a highland-type reservoir, but it’s in Mississippi,” Ponds said. “The first time I fished there, I caught bass down to 27 feet. It’s got all the characteristics of a northern lake, and it’s just an incredible fishery.”
Perhaps the good fishing has something to do with Okhissa Lake being a Bill Dance Signature Lake. Dance, one of the first of the bass-fishing superstars, had input in how the lake was created.
“The Bill Dance Signature Lakes brand has really helped put Okhissa Lake on the map,” said Homochitto National Forest District Ranger Tim Reed. “With instant name recognition, his brand has made America’s first Bill Dance Signature Lake a destination for thousands of anglers, and has propelled Okhissa Lake to the forefront of the bass-fishing world.”
Ponds feels as if Okhissa Lake is more like Smith Mountain Lake in Arkansas than a Mississippi lake.
“The similarities are definitely there,” he noted. “Okhissa has really steep, rocky banks. There isn’t much shallow water other than man-made shallows. The normal visibility is probably 3 feet. It has gravel bars right out in the middle of it.
“It’s just an awesome lake to go fish.”
For Ponds, this means Okhissa is a better spawn lake than a post-spawn reservoir. However, with its plentiful standing timber, he knows the same tactics he uses to catch post-spawn bass at places like Ross Barnett and Pickwick would be just as productive at Okhissa.
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