Best fishing lakes in Mississippi: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Ross Barnett Reservoir

At some 33,300 acres, Ross Barnett Reservoir is a big lake. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and bluegill are the draw. The deepest water is around 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank: good places to start.

Ross Barnett Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Enid Lake

Enid Lake is a reservoir of 28,000 acres of water. It lies within an easy drive of Southaven (about 56 miles). Enid Dam holds it on the Yocona River. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Enid Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir on the Yocona River.

Enid Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Bay Springs Lake

Bay Springs Lake covers 6,700 acres of water. The lake is near Belmont. It is the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway behind Jamie L. Whitten Lock and Dam. The fish here are largemouth bass, spotted bass, walleye and crappie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Bay Springs Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Sardis Lake

At 32,500 acres of water, Sardis Lake is a big lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Southaven (about 39 miles). It holds largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Sardis Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir in the Yazoo River Basin.

Sardis Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Okatibbee Lake

Okatibbee Lake spreads over 4,140 acres. It lies near Collinsville. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish and crappie. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Okatibbee Lake is a flood-control reservoir on Okatibbee Creek near Meridian, Mississippi.

Okatibbee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Grenada Lake

Grenada Lake spreads over some 35,800 acres. The lake is near Grenada. It is the Yalobusha River behind Grenada Dam. The fish here are crappie. The deepest water is around 50 ft. Grenada Lake is the largest lake located entirely within Mississippi.

Grenada Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Arkabutla Lake

Arkabutla Lake spreads over 11,200 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Southaven (about 13 miles). It is the Coldwater River behind Arkabutla Dam. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. The deepest water is around 60 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Arkabutla Lake's surface shrinks from about 11,240 acres in summer pool to roughly 5,100 acres in winter pool.

Arkabutla Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Washington

At 5,000 acres of water, Lake Washington is a good-sized lake. It lies near Mayersville. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 22 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Lake Washington is an oxbow lake that formed when the Mississippi River shifted its course.

Lake Washington today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Beulah

Lake Beulah covers some 1,030 acres. You will find it about 3.6 miles northwest of Rosedale. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. It goes down to about 20 ft. Lake Beulah is an oxbow lake straddling the Mississippi-Arkansas state line.

Lake Beulah today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Mary

Lake Mary covers about 2,610 acres. The lake is near Woodville. Like most lakes its size in Mississippi, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Mary today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Columbus Lake

Columbus Lake covers about 2,230 acres. You will find it about 56 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa. Like most lakes its size in Mississippi, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Columbus Lake is a Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway pool near Columbus, Mississippi.

Columbus Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Moon Lake

Moon Lake spreads over 1,920 acres of water. You will find it about 46 miles northeast of Southaven. The usual Mississippi mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Moon Lake covers about three square miles in Coahoma County, Mississippi.

Moon Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Ross Barnett Reservoir, Enid Lake, Bay Springs Lake and Sardis Lake
• Walleye: Bay Springs Lake
• Crappie: Ross Barnett Reservoir, Enid Lake, Bay Springs Lake and Sardis Lake
• Catfish: Ross Barnett Reservoir, Enid Lake, Sardis Lake and Okatibbee Lake

Season by season

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Mississippi fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.