Stocking starts at Percy Quin

Meanwhile, the bream fishing is good at other MDWFP lakes

While bream fishing reports are good at many of the honey holes in its state lakes system, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has announced a big step in the comeback in one of its hot spots.

On Wednesday, the agency stocked 175,000 bluegill and 75,000 redear sunfish from its Turcotte Hatchery near Canton into Lake Tangipahoa at Percy Quin State Park near McComb.

The lake was closed and drained in 2012 after the levee was damaged in Hurricane Isaac. MDWFP said the 700-acre lake is expected to reopen to fishing in 2016 or 2017.

“The levee repairs are in their final stages and the lake is beginning to refill,” said fisheries biologist Jerry Brown. “The lake will be stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass within the next two weeks and crappie will be added in the future.

“Several bream beds and brush piles were built during the renovation that will provide excellent fish habitat. Their locations will be added to the lake map in the near future.”

Meanwhile, bream fishermen have some excellent options on other MDWFP waters. According to the latest fishing reports posted at mdwfp.com, the action is statewide.

In North Mississippi, bluegill are still bedding in the shallows at Trace State Park and Tippah County Lake, two places known for raising trophy panfish. The top pattern at both spots is slowly dragging either crickets or worms in 2-4 feet of water near a dropoff.

In East Mississippi, the MDWFP’s Kemper County, Tom Bailey and Neshoba County lakes are all putting out a mix of bluegill and redear. The bluegill are being caught both shallow on beds at all three locations, while some bluegill and the redear are coming out of deeper water — depths are relative to each lake. Being the deepest, don’t overlook waters 15 to 20 feet deep at Kemper County.

Even South Mississippi is producing bedding activity, but you will need to find the deeper beds to catch fish at lakes like Prentiss Walker, Simpson Legion, Mary Crawford, Bill Waller and Perry. Look in 4-6 feet of water for the best action south of I-20.

Four lakes standout for bass fishing, Calling Panther near Crystal Springs and Mary Crawford near Monticello in South Mississippi, Neshoba County near Philadelphia and Trace State Park near Pontotoc.

Every lake in the system is reporting outstanding catfish action, mostly on live wigglers or chicken liver. Two lakes that standout are Tom Bailey and Tippah County.

In other fishing news, the noodling or hand-grabbing season for catfish ends on July 15. After a late start due to a long cool spring, the flathead action has been picking up since mid June and is now good.