Kemper County Lake, MS

Kemper County Lake is a popular lake with bass anglers. Fifty-four percent of the anglers during spring 2005 fished for bass. The average bass angler at Kemper County Lake spends 1.2 hours to catch a bass. The catch rate at Okatibbee Reservoir is similar, and the average time spent to catch a bass at other agency-owned fishing lakes is 1.6 hours. Anglers kept relatively few bass; over 72% of the bass caught were released back into the lake. Anglers should not be concerned that keeping bass will damage the fishery because harvest under the slot limit is needed to produce bigger bass.

The lake is also making a name for itself as a good crappie lake. More anglers are coming to the lake to catch a meal of crappie. Last spring, 30% of the anglers fished for crappie. Five years ago only 10% of the anglers were fishing for crappie. Fish attractors have been established in deep water areas and nice crappie were caught around them throughout the year. The average weight was just over half a pound during spring 2005, which is slightly below the average for agency-owned fishing lakes.