Cliff Covington.

Large chunks of skipjack herring or big shiners are the preferred baits. Concentrate on the holes that are 60 to 100 feet deep, especially those downstream of rock dikes, if you want to hook a really big catfish. Good fishing holes can be found the length of the Big River.

The locations of these rock dikes, as well as a forecast of the river stages, is available by contacting the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg at (601) 631-5000.

Other Choices: The best white bass fishing to be had on Grenada Lake is during this time of year.

Thanks to an abundance of fish attractors and fishing piers, Eagle Lake near Vicksburg is a prime crappie hotspot.

NOVEMBER
Ground Mullet
Gulfport
Most saltwater anglers have probably never thought of ground mullet as a sportfish. But for those who know, these small fish are as easy to catch as they are delicious to eat (their flavor’s very similar to speckled trout’s).

Also known as “whiting,” these fish usually weigh less than a pound, and you can catch hundreds of the delicacies in a short period of time around oyster reefs and “fish havens” in 10 to 20 feet of water.

The bait of choice is shrimp, but any cut bait can also work. To top it off, you can keep all you want because there is no creel limit on ground mullet.

Other Choices: Located in Pontotoc County, big bass are what attracts people to Trace Lake. Crankbaits work well for the big fish on the deeper points, while top-water lures and worms are more effective in the grass and along the shallow banks.

White bass can be caught this month on many of the state’s numerous oxbow lakes. Target them on hard bottom ledges and boat ramps.

DECEMBER
Spotted Bass
Pearl River
When it comes to spotted bass fisheries in the Magnolia State, the Pearl River is the best. Whether you choose to fish above or below the Ross Barnett Reservoir, the results are about the same.

With the onset of colder weather these fish become more active. They can be found in large numbers staging along shallow bars adjacent to deeper pools of water. Crankbaits and soft plastics tend to be the most productive lures. Just remember to think smaller when it comes to lures for spotted bass.

Other Choices: With the winter drawdown of this flood-control reservoir, the crappie in Enid Lake are more concentrated and easier to locate.

Although not many take advantage of it, this is a great time to catch some nice fat flathead catfish on the Yazoo River. They prey almost exclusively on live fish such as bream, shad, skipjack, minnows or other catfish.

Find more about Mississippi fishing and hunting at: MississippiGameandFish.com/”