July is hot, but Mississippi fishing is hotter

Stream bass, flounder, barrier island fish are in the forecast

July is one of our hottest months, but the fishing can be red hot as well. Whether you’re fishing freshwater or saltwater, the action can be spectacular if you know where to go and pick your times. From the sparkling waters off the Gulf coast, to oxbows along the Mississippi River, to Ross Barnett Reservoir, along many small creeks and streams to the bountiful waters of Pickwick Lake, there is something for everyone.

The features in this month’s issue of Mississippi Sportsman include tips on how to catch fish, where and when to go.

If you want to catch fish and get away from the crowds then check out my spotted bass article featuring a few of our state’s small-waters experts. Read about my discovery of the spotted bass in the Chunky River when I was a young boy and how to find and catch them now.

Follow Daniel Dilley of Forest, as he catches explosive spotted bass from small creeks and streams in central Mississippi during the heat of the summer. Adam Stewart and Jack Davis, from Meridian and Daleville, catch and release spotted bass and share some of their techniques for finding and catching the feisty bass in shallow creeks in east Mississippi and west Alabama.

If saltwater fishing is your preference, then check out John Felsher’s feature on flipping for flounder, as he reveals a freshwater bass technique that can help anglers winch flatfish out of any kind of cover.

Live or let die? Phillip Gentry brings us timely tips about keeping bait or fish alive in a bait tank or livewell during the heat of the day. It can be a chore during the summer, but there are ways that anglers can put the odds of survival in their favor. If you want to catch crappie, bass or any other fish during the scalding, hot-water months, you need to keep those baitfish fresh and alive. It can mean the difference between bringing fish home for supper or going home empty-handed.

If kayak fishing is your passion and you like catching powerful saltwater fish, then read Chris Holmes article “No barrier to kayaks”. The barrier islands in the Gulf off the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi offer great opportunities for kayak-bound anglers. Holmes will share some of his experience, plus tips and techniques on how to find them and catch them — and how to make the arrangements for the trip of a lifetime.

While many anglers are still fishing, more than a few hunters are looking for ways to pass the time during the sweltering days of July and August. Bill Garbo’s feature on “The camera doesn’t lie” is spot-on for hunters itching to get back into the woods to prepare for deer hunting. But Garbo tells you how to put the odds in your favor this fall and winter without having to spend a lot of time in the woods during hot weather.

Five months of trail-camera photos and extensive weather data gave Garbo a thorough picture of buck movement on his hunting property. What can you glean from it? It might be a good idea to get out your game cameras and put them to work scouting for you the way Garbo does.

Whether you’re still catching fish, or you want to get ready for the fall and winter hunting season, the July issue is filled with timely tips, techniques and success stories of how to do it and where to go. Read along and see what you might like to try differently this summer.

Become a member and check out the July 2021 issue here: https://www.ms-sportsman.com/archives/july-2021/