Horseshoe Lake Fishing in Pearl River County, Mississippi

• Overview

  Horseshoe Lake stands in Pearl River County, Mississippi. The surface lies 112 feet up. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. 5.8 miles away sits Bogalusa, the nearest town. Poplarville follows at 14 miles, then Carriere at 17 miles. Near neighbours include: Car Lake some 0.2 miles off, Stringer Pond at 0.3 miles, Davis Lake some 0.7 miles off, Old Jail Lake at 0.8 miles and Gator Lake some 0.9 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Nearby survey and observation records mention gulf logperch, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, longear sunfish and blacktail shiner. That is what has been logged nearby, not a stocking list, so check local rules before you plan around any one species. Horseshoe Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 81°F in July and bottom out at 49°F in January. The water stays warm and open throughout. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on Horseshoe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Car Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Horseshoe Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.