BRANDON, Miss. — Things can change in a hurry on any river system, and it only gets multiplied in the spring.
Ross Barnett Reservoir is a perfect example.
A week ago, the fishery had water temps in the 40s and mud thick enough you could seemingly walk across it. Yet, with the weather quickly heating up, so is the shallow reservoir, which could make for some strong fishing for the upcoming Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Mississippi Division opener set for Saturday. That is, as long as the weather holds.
What to expect
Ross Barnett is almost like two separate fisheries depending on which side of the Highway 43 bridge an angler fishes. South of it, it’s wide and flat, with an average depth of only 12 feet. Above it? Well, it’s still super shallow, but it’s more like an old river system, winding around with plenty of oxbow lakes to tuck into.
The cool part is both sides of the bridge can produce winning bags, especially this time of year, as there’s plenty of shallow cover for prespawn females to stage around. It’s just a matter of whether the weather plays nice enough for anglers to target all or some of them.
“A lot of this tournament will depend on the wind,” said local Shannon Denson. “If it’s a north wind or strong west wind, it will shut down the east bank where most of the spawning happens. If that happens, you’re going to see a lot of people pile up in the 10 miles north of the 43 bridge.”
It’s not that Ross Barnett’s bass can’t handle the muddy water that the wind could blow into those banks. Ross Barnett is pretty much always muddy, and how Denson and most other locals fish, muddy is a benefit – so long as that mud has been there awhile.
“I don’t care if I can see racoons tracks walking across the water so long as it’s been that way a few days,” Denson said. “The fish are used to that. It’s when it muddies up suddenly that things get hard.
“No matter water, with how warm it’s getting here, there’s going to be a good many fish caught. It’s just a matter of where they’re caught.”
Baits to bring
Will there be some spinning rods on decks in this event? Of course. But anyone who picks one up will probably get some looks.
Even these days, Ross Barnett is a power-fisherman’s paradise. Spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs and shallow crankbaits will all be major players. And if the water keeps warming up as quickly as it has been, don’t rule out buzzbaits and frogs.
“Really, pick your poison on whatever you like to take shallow cover down with,” Denson said.
What will it take?
Warm weather and prespawn big girls should create an opportunity for bags eclipsing 22 pounds, according to Denson, a three-time winner on Ross Barnett. That is, so long as the field can spread out throughout the fishery. If the wind ruins the main lake, he’ll temper expectations a bit to around 18 pounds, as he figures everyone will be on top of one another above the bridge.