Front temporarily shuts down fish, better days coming
When a severe late February cold front hit, temperatures plummeted about 50 degrees overnight at Lake Washington, an oxbow off the Mississippi River about 25 miles south of Greenville, Miss.
Howling winds and freezing rain accompanying the front muddied the water. Before the front came through, crappie had already started moving shallow to spawn in the cypress-studded 5,000-acre lake.
“In mid-February, we were catching crappie out in the open,” reported Will Hutto of Crappie Brothers Guide Service (601-906-7360) in Richland, Miss. “They were headed to the cypress trees, but when the front hit, it slowed down the bite.”
When the front came through, water temperatures dropped from about 60 degrees to 50 degrees. A rapid plunge like that shocks fish. Crappie stayed near the bottom in deeper water or hugged the bases of cypress trees growing in two to five feet of water. The lake averages about eight to 10 feet deep, but drops to 22 feet in places.
“That sudden temperature drop made the fish lethargic because they didn’t have much time to adjust,” said Mark Hamberlin with DD-214 Guide Service (662-822-6773) in Leland, Miss. “Trees and cypress knees give off a little warmth, so that’s where fish stayed. Fortunately, we’re moving into better weather for March. Male crappie are in the trees now. Females will start moving up when the water temperature gets in the high 60s to low 70s. March and April are the best months to fish Lake Washington.”
What to throw
One of the largest and oldest natural lakes in Mississippi, Lake Washington produces many 1- to 2-pound crappie and some bigger ones. It has produced some 4- and even 5-pounders in the past. Since the lake no longer connects directly to the Mississippi River, it doesn’t fluctuate as much as “active” oxbows so the water remains relatively stable. The state established numerous fish attractors in Lake Washington.
“At this time of year, I like to pull Pico square-bill crankbaits for big crappie,” Hutto said. “We pull them about 2.5 to 5.5 feet deep at about 1.3 to 1.6 miles per hour. In March, I’ve had really good luck with blue and chrome, black and chrome, clown and splatterback crankbaits.”
By mid-March, crappie should be in full spawn. Use a single long pole to vertically jig around the tree bases and knees. Crappie hold extremely tight to cover. Approach the trees very quietly. Drop small jigs next to the trunks and other objects.
“I look for a couple cypress trees growing close together with knees around them,” Hamberlin said. “It’s almost like a fort to the fish. That’s a good spawning area. When the water is dingy, like it probably will be through March, I use a 1/16-ounce white and black jig for contrast. Sometimes, I use a 1/64-ounce. In the spring, we’re normally better off with a smaller presentation.”
Giving back to veterans
Hamberlin, a disabled veteran himself, specializes in taking disabled veterans fishing. During the 20th annual Big Mama Crappie and Bass Tournament about 30 veterans will get an opportunity to fish the lake.
“I was blessed to grow up hunting and fishing in the Mississippi Delta,” Hamberlin said. “When I got out of the Army, hunting and fishing saved my life because I had a coping mechanism. Not everyone has that. Vets go from a high adrenaline, high rush environment to looking for a job or hoping to hold down a job when they return to civilian life. I try to give veterans a healthy way to cope and to find their anchor in life by taking them fishing. I let them know someone cares. It’s my ministry to them.”
Conducted out of the Bait-n-Thangs Bait Shop, located on Lake Washington at 1940 Lake Washington Road East in Chatham, Miss., the Big Mama Crappie and Bass Tournament takes place March 5, 2022. It will feature different categories of fishing and other events including children’s activities. The Mississippi National Guard will come out with displays. An auction will raise money for Camp Looking Glass, which helps provide recreational activities for people with disabilities.
For details on the Big Mama Crappie and Bass Tournament, call Mike Jones of Bait-n-Thangs Bait Shop at 662-822-2087.
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