This lake warms up before some of the other area waters and subsequently, bass tend to turn on earlier in the year than the region’s other lakes.

One of the best areas of the lake for spring bass is in the northern end. There are lots of weed mats there that attract bass as well as forage fish. Most of the aquatic vegetation is comprised of alligator weed and bur marigold.

There are also a lot of cypress trees in the lake. While they offer scenic beauty and additional bass structure, they can be a problem to boaters. The cypress knees surrounding the trees require caution while boating.

Bee Lake is located approximately 20 miles north of Yazoo City. It lies off US 49E at Thornton.

There is one free boat ramp on Bee Lake at Bell’s Store. Lake conditions, and fishing information can be obtained by phoning the store at (662) 235-5930.

PICKWICK LAKE
One of the more diverse black bass fisheries in the Magnolia State is found in Pickwick Lake. Populations of largemouth and spotted bass are found there, as well as an absolutely superb smallmouth fishery.

Guide Roger Stegall of Iuka has been fishing the lake for a number of years and is a fervent fan of the smallmouth fishery there. “I believe the next world-record smallmouth will come from Pickwick,” he offered.

He bases that opinion on the number of large fish the impoundment on the Tennessee River has been giving up in recent times. His personal best at the lake is 8 pounds, but he’s seen smallies caught up to 9 pounds. There are good numbers of bronzebacks taken in the 3- to 6-pound range.

Stegall believes that probably 35 to 40 percent of the bass population in the 43,100-acre impoundment consists of smallmouths. Nonetheless, largemouth bass still dominate the lake. Stegall attributes this to the grass in the lake. He said there is a big population of largemouths in the 2- to 5-pound range and some up to 7 and 8 pounds are caught frequently. He’s caught largemouths up to 9 pounds at the lake.

Pickwick anglers are also starting to catch more spotted bass than ever before according to Stegall. He said there have been a good many in the 3- to 5-pound range caught over the past three years.

For March and April, Stegall recommended fishing close to the spawning areas. Locations that are near bedding areas, but have deep water nearby are especially good. The line where the deep water joins the shallower water can be a real hotspot.

Other locations to target are gravel points or areas with pea gravel. Locations along the banks that have a change in bottom can be great too. Examples are where the lake bottom changes from pea gravel to chunk rock, or where red clay changes to gravel or rock.

Stegall pointed out that two of the best areas of the lake for March and April are Yellow and Bear creeks.

Starting in March, Stegall throws a variety of baits at the largemouth depending on conditions. He uses jerkbaits, jigs, jig-and-pig combos, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and shaky-head worms. The latter are great for all three black bass species, he added.

Stegall noted that the Series-3 crankbait by Strike King is one bait that every angler absolutely must have in the tackle box to fish Pickwick.

“Oftentimes it will outproduce every other bait on the market and it’s great for all three species,” the guided confirmed.

Smallmouths also fall victim to 3/4-ounce spinnerbaits or 4-inch grubs. Early in the year, a suspending jerkbait can be hard to beat for the bronzebacks. A Bitsy Bug jig or football-head jig can work wonders on spotted bass. Another really good bait for spots is a shaky-head worm.

For more information on Pickwick Lake or to book a day of guided bass fishing with Roger Stegall, check out his Web site at www.fishpickwick.com or call him at (662) 423-3869. Find more about Mississippi fishing and hunting at: MississippiGameandFish.com