Mayes Lake Fishing near Flowood, Mississippi

• Overview

  This water sits in Hinds County, Mississippi. It stands 285 feet above sea level. At roughly 20 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Flowood, is 1.3 miles distant. Beyond it, Jackson at 3.1 miles and Pearl at 3.7 miles. In the same area: Spring Lake within 5.2 miles, Costas Lake (5.8 miles), Lake Patterson within 6.3 miles, Crossgates Lake (7.4 miles) and Culley Lake within 8.7 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Mayes Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, orangespotted sunfish and chain pickerel. Check the state or provincial list before planning around one species. Fish Mayes Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 45°F and July at about 82°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Anyone fishing Mayes Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a fishing water. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. You can camp about 90 yards away, going by the mapping. Facilities run to toilets 170 yards from the water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Should this one be busy, Spring Lake is 5.2 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Mayes Lake.