Tagged crappie program starts at oxbow

Lake Washington already one of state’s top fishing holes

Lake Washington, recently ranked by the website Fishhound.com as one of the top 10 crappie fishing lakes in the country, could see even better fishing soon.

Biologists with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, have initiated a tagged fish program aimed at learning more about the old oxbow lake and perhaps how to make a hot spot even hotter.

“Lake Washington is one of the best crappie lakes in the state, and information collected from this study will help us refine our crappie management plan,” said biologist Darrin Hardesty.

He said the plan is to tag the dorsal fins of 400 white crappie, 10 inches or longer, with pink tags that look like small pieces of spaghetti, and the tags will include a telephone number and a unique identification number.

Hardesty said biologists are hoping to learn what proportion of the population is caught by anglers each year.

Anglers who catch a tagged crappie are asked to call (662) 759-6444 and leave a voicemail with their name, phone number, and the tag identification number. After reporting their tag, anglers should drop the tag off at one of three bait shops located on Lake Washington: Roy’s Store, Bait-n-Thang’s, or The Gator Den.

Anglers who turn in a tag will receive a fishing towel for participating in the study. At the end of the study, three tags will be randomly drawn and special prize packages awarded to the anglers with the winning tag numbers. Anglers do not have to be present at the drawing to win a prize.

Delta pond workshop

The MDWFP and Delta State University are combining to host a pond management workshop Thursday (April 24) at 6:30 p.m. at DSU’s Caylor Hall (Room 105).

“This workshop will allow biologists and private pond owners the opportunity to discuss management options to improve fish populations and habitat,” Hardesty said. “We talk to people each year that want to manage their ponds effectively and this is a great way for us to provide how-to information that can help pond owners achieve their goals.”

The hour-long presentation will include topics on pond design, fish stocking, harvest, vegetation control, liming and fertilization. A question-and-answer period will follow. Those interested in attending the workshop are asked to preregister by calling the Delta region fisheries office at (662) 759-6444.