Here are some hints for fishing during the winter and early spring at area lakes.

Calling Panther Lake

Largemouth bass are often caught during the winter by fishing slowly with natural colored soft plastics, football jigs and jigging spoons.   Also, try suspending jerkbaits, shad raps, and rattletraps off the levee during sunny days.

Bream fishing can be slow, but try using crickets and redworms around brushtops in 5 – 10 ft. of water.

Catfish can be caught on liver or cool-cat worms fished on the bottom. The creek along the nature trail can produce catfish.  Fishing along the dam or from the pier at the boat ramp is also popular.

Crappie often suspend in deeper water, around 10 – 15 feet.  Fish will often be found in the main creek channel and around cover.  Minnows and white or jigs are popular choices. 

Lake Lincoln

Largemouth bass can be caught around brush piles, the dam, and ledges in 5 to 15 ft of water. Try Texas-rigged plastic worms, shaky heads, drop shots, and jigs. Red shad, green pumpkin, and Bama Bug colors work well. Also try using suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits along channel swings close to the shoreline.

Crappie can be caught in deeper water, around 10 to 15 ft deep. Several anglers report catching limits (30 fish) of good size fish during winter months.  Minnows or jigs tipped with minnows are good choices.

Bream can be caught using crickets or worms around brushtops in 5 to 10 ft of water.

Catfish are usually good around creek channels and points. Try cutbait and worms fished on the bottom.

Lake Tangipahoa at Percy Quin

Largemouth bass can be caught along the dam, around deep cover, and on ledges along the river channel.  Try soft plastics, jigs and drop shots fished slowly.  Suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits also work well. 

Crappie can be caught around the willows in 10 to 15 feet of water on minnow-tipped jigs. Slow trolling small crankbaits can also be effective.

Fish for bream in 5 to 10 feet of water on crickets and worms fished on the bottom.

Lake Tangipahoa has some very large catfish. Try cutbait and worms or livers fished on the bottom.

Fishing information is provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.