Horn Lake in DeSoto County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The country here is oak and grass. Surface area runs to roughly 1,060 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 7.9 miles in total. It is the biggest water on our DeSoto County list. Walls at 1.7 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 9.9 miles to New South Memphis, the nearest city. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Horn Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across DeSoto County, recorded fish include channel catfish, largemouth bass and common carp. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Horn Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 81°F; by January the average is down near 38°F. No part of the year shuts this water. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Horn Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. It is recorded as an oxbow, which means still water with a river's shape. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Mud Lake, 2.4 miles away. For Horn Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.