Ross Barnett Help

[BANDIT]

I may get a chance to fish Ross Barnett next week and I have never been there. Any general help would be appreciated. PM me if you want.

[bowdenja]

There are five main areas of the lake to fish..............

spillway
upper main lake
lower main lake
above 43 highway
Pelahatchie Bay

in the Thursdays local paper www.clarionledger.com it will show how and where the fishing is.

Pickup on of those maps on the lake, about $7 and it will help find the areas and show the launch sites.

It's a big lake, but it is shallow, so whatch where you are running and be careful of the wind as it kicks up real fast.

Right now the crappie are close if not spawning so they are fairly shallow............ some guys are catching them in 13 feet of water at about the 10 foot depth, but they will be moving to the shallows really soon.

If the river is up, we expect rain in for a couple of day, the spillway will be the place.

Right at this moment the hybrid and spotted bass are hanging on the back side of the sandbars up river above Ratliff's Ferry.

Hope you have a good time and catch some fish!

I'm sure some of the regular guys here on the site will chime in soon.

john

[bowdenja]

Here is the latest from the local sports writer:

March 8, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT


Fishing Report: Ross Barnett Reservoir

By Bobby Cleveland
[email protected]


1. ABOVE MISS. 43

It is amazing what a few spring-like days can do to fishing on Barnett Reservoir, and especially the heavily fished upper river area. With surface temperatures climbing back near 60, the bass and crappie have responded. Bass fishermen are finding aggressive pre-spawn fish in shallow water. The bite has been best in the afternoon after the water has warmed, but that should change to day-long bite as the warm weather continues. Look around vegetation like pad stems. Crappie are also starting to transition into prespawn, staying deep but moving into the mouths of old runs and sloughs.

2. UPPER MAIN LAKE

The improved weather's impact has been even more dramatic on this area. Bass fishermen reported surface temps in the mid 50s on Sunday in the shallows behind the old No. 7 sign but it was already back at 60 on Wednesday afternoon and should be more consistently in that range by the weekend. Those same fishermen reported bass moving in the shallow stems, feeding on shad. That will just be better as the weekend approaches. Crappie fishing is getting better with great results reported from the river in the S-turn at Oil Well Woods on a prespawn pattern. Fish the edge of the timber deep.

3. LOWER MAIN LAKE

The news is better on the lower end, but not as good as the first two reports. Bass have moved up shallow on rocks and boat docks in the coves and on vegetation in the backend of places like Twin Harbors and behind Lost Rabbit. Crappie fishing is also improving. Good reports from deep cover in Rose's Bluff area and on the deep flats in front of Main Harbor and the Yacht Club.

4. PELAHATCHIE BAY

Water is still stained but not nearly as bad as in recent weeks, and the little bit of stain is good when it comes to warming the water. The highest surface temperature we could find on the lake Wednesday was in the Bay at 1 p.m. - 61.2 degrees. A bass fisherman reported a similar reading up the Bay in backwaters and said fish had moved up and gotten active. Crappie fishing is also good on the edges of the creek channel. Catfish are still biting shallow.

5. THE SPILLWAY

This is the one area with no improvement to report. With no great amount of water being released, the tailrace area has not been productive for anything other than a rare run on small catfish. No significant catches of gamefish were reported from the spillway or down the river.

john

[BANDIT]

Thanks for the reply bowdenja.

[bowdenja]

No Problem................ let us know how you do!

According to the paper today............ all looks good except for the below the spillway. The crappie are just from spawning. Except for in the backwater sloughs where the water temp warms up quicker.

john

[bowdenja]

Wow................. am I the only one who will help out a person coming to the Rez!!??? I can not believe that.
Sorry BANDIT, since I'm a opportunity fisherman (I fish for all species), I'm unable to give you a better idea of where the crappie are. I figured some of the regular guys would have chimmed in by now.

Tell you what.............. let me know where you are planning to fish and I'll see what I can find out about it.

Right now the upper river......... above 43 Highway is getting pretty hot. The water temps are getting right and the crappie are moving into the shallows. The warmer weather this week could really do it for them. They will be in around 4 or 5 foot depth next to some structure.

I'm going today and if I find a couple of places I'll PM you and draw you map to some of em.

Again Sorry for the limited reponses.


john

[usm_grad]

3/21 - This morning we caught some good 1.5 to 2.2 pounders (21) at the Causeway on the north and south sides. The males were on the rocks until 8am then moved back. The females (big ones) were about 30 yards out in 12 to 15 feet water. Caught a few at the Yacth Club, and Roses Bluff. Tried the Sawdust Pile nothing going. Going again this afternoon if the wind dies down. Fish are on both Jetties (north and south). People are really catching them along the Dam when the water warms. Saw a cooler with about 40 (1 pounders). Jig color dont matter as long as it has a minnow or nibble.