Car Lake Fishing Guide, Pearl River County, Mississippi

• Overview

  The Pearl River County end of Mississippi holds Car Lake. It sits 38 miles in from the sea. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Bogalusa, 5.8 miles away. The big place round here is Metairie, 63 miles distant. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Car Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include gulf logperch, threadfin shad, gizzard shad and longear sunfish. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. The near bank of Car Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 81°F in July and bottoms out near 49°F in January. Cold never becomes a factor on this one. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Car Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Horseshoe Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Car Lake are worth checking on the day.