BRANDON, Miss. — April showers bring May flowers. May showers bring … a lack of clarity.
With the state of Mississippi experiencing one of the wettest Mays in its history, the fishing in the state has been as murky as the water color. And, as of this writing, there’s more rain in the forecast ahead of the June 7 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine event on Ross Barnett Reservoir.
That said, by now, the fish should be getting used to the weather and conditions, setting things up for a solid postspawn derby.
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What to expect
Ross Barnett would never be considered a clear-water fishery even on its best days. But to call it muddy throughout this spring might be under-selling it by a lot.
The shallow fishery is prone to muddying up quickly, and according to local Joel Barber, it’s never gotten a chance to clear back up in recent weeks.
“It’s not a flood-control lake,” says Barber of Ross Barnett. “So, typically, the lake doesn’t fluctuate more than a foot and half. They let the water out quickly, which, with all this rain, has created a lot of current.”
While too much current can make things tough, it can also clear the mud, making the bite turn on in force only a day or two after a heavy rain. Considering the fish should be postspawn and heading to shallow ledges, that current could be a boon for anglers looking offshore.
Then again, Barber says roughly 85 percent of the fish caught in the spring come from “behind the four cypress trees” – a prominent shallow flat on the fishery. Thus, he also sees pros hoping that area clears up enough to make it a major player.
Baits to bring
Ross Barnett is all about the shallow game, even when fishing offshore – the lake’s average depth is only 6 feet, after all. Obviously, the water conditions will dictate a lot, but Barber sees vibrating jigs and shallow crankbaits being big players.
However, if the water clears up a bit, don’t be surprised if a Carolina rig or shaky head put some key fish in the boat. And a dark horse for the victory? Topwaters, especially a frog.
What will it take?
When the fish first get out to the ledges, all it takes is a pro to find the right school and get right in a hurry. Doing so should get an angler to the 16-18 pounds they’ll need to win. Then again, someone who commits to the shallow game could get a few bigger bites that push that number higher.
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