Once these fish are located, you can fool them in a number of ways. Try tossing plastic jerkbaits or floating trick-type worms. If these fail, switch over to light, 1/8-ounce spinnerbaits or lightly weighted plastic lizards.

PELAHATCHIE BAY
Situated on the southeast corner of Ross Barnett and just east of the dam is the mouth of Pelahatchie Creek. The causeway over which Old Fannin Road runs leaves only a single narrow passage for water entering the main lake. This creates the wide shallow expanses of Pelahatchie Bay.

With the exception of some 18-foot depths at the Pelahatchie Shore Park boat ramp, all of this arm of the lake is 8 feet deep or less. Additionally, it is a region that supports a lot of aquatic vegetation, including lily pads.

The prime times to fish this bay in April are right at daybreak or near dusk. Still, the shade provided by the pad fields can hold bass throughout the day.

In recent years the bay has established a reputation as one of the top locations in the Magnolia State for hooking a mega-lunker of 10 pounds or more.

A couple of the favored lures for searching out such brutes are floating frogs or silver spoons dressed with pork-frog trailers. With either offering, bounding them from pad to pad near the surface can be a prescription for an untimely heart attack. A big bucketmouth with an attitude that comes busting through the pads after such a lure can set any angler's heart to racing.

Needless to say, tangling with big fish in such weedy conditions calls for some stout tackle. Medium-heavy-action rods matched with baitcasting reels are not a bad idea. If you spool anything less than 20-pound braided line, expect to lose some baits to largemouths and the pads they will introduce to our lures!

UPRIVER
The final portion of Barnett Reservoir lies upstream of SR 43, continuing through a very riverine run to the foot of a lowhead dam. This structure is just west of the point where the Madison and Scott County line jams into the Leake County border.

Virtually all of this upper lake is shallow, except for the old river channel. Even that drop almost completely disappears once you are upstream of the Bell Lake area at channel marker 111. The northwest shoreline takes on a differing, wilderness look as well, since all of it up to the Ratliff Ferry Boat Ramp is composed of either the Pearl River State Waterfowl Refuge or the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

Although currents are more pronounced in this stretch, some of the backwaters off the main channel do hold some aquatic weeds. These are likely places for encountering largemouths.

Once upstream of Ratliff Ferry, expect to encounter far more spotted bass. These fish prefer moving water, but run smaller than their largemouth cousins. They make up for that deficit by being feisty, numerous and, seemingly, always hungry.

When targeting these fish, expect to find them slightly deeper than where you catch largemouths. Also they generally demand lighter lines and smaller lures, especially if the water is clear.

ACCESS & MAPS
Downstream of Lowhead Dam Campground, there are 16 public boat ramps on Ross Barnett Reservoir. Also, gas and marine supplies are available at Main Harbor, Safe Harbor and Sportsmans marinas.

Waterproof topo maps of Ross Barnett Reservoir that show the location of all these facilities are available from Fishing Hotspots Maps. These are available at many area sporting goods dealers, or they can be order over the telephone by calling 1-800-ALL-MAPS.