Okatibbee Lake, Mississippi: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lauderdale County in Mississippi is where Okatibbee Lake sits. It lies 335 feet above sea level. Around 5.9 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. There is roughly 20 miles of bank, and each arm behaves like its own water. It is the biggest water on our Lauderdale County list. Collinsville sits 3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Jackson sits 82 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Okatibbee Lake

  There is a figure for this one: 29 ft. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include speckled madtom, bluegill, freckled madtom and redear sunfish. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Fish Okatibbee Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 80°F and January reads 44°F. The surface stays open the year round. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Okatibbee Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. The first frost of the year slows things for a few days.

• Tackle & Baits

  The bank is open to all, according to our records. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Walker Lake is 2.8 miles off. Rules at Okatibbee Lake are worth checking on the day.