Thread: Pearl River below Ross Barnett

Quick report from Sunday at the Pearl River below Ross Barnett. I am new to the area, moved to Madison in August, and have mostly been fishing main lake and above Highway 43. Decided to hit the spillway after seeing some good reports and boat trailers. Headed out Sunday afternoon, parking lot was very full but boat traffic subsided as the day progressed. Started off by heading downriver to fish a few bends in the river, nothing. Found a little oxbow a couple miles down that looked promising, fish were all over the fish finder. All I could manage was a little nibble on a Roadrunner. Tried yet another bend in the river with another promising eddy and again no luck. Finally found a spot that again seemed to have potential and this time it worked. Caught fish on and off for the next 2.5 hours until dark. All crappie were caught on bright colored jigs and jigheads, Also picked up a #1 blue catfish on a minnow and a baby drum. It was great to be out and find a few fish. Really enjoyed catching them on the jigs, light bite but great fun. I have a lot to learn about fishing below the spillway but Sunday was a solid day for the dinner table. By going 1 mile+ downstream, you can really get away from the crowds and boat traffic which I enjoy. Hope the rain this week will make the fishing good again for this weekend. What are others opinions about preferred water levels and conditions to fish the river?

Seems like every time I go down that way I come back with a funny story! Some good fishing to be had down there
when the water is right. I go when it is super low every once and awhile to mark snags, lay downs, log jams, and banks with cane on them so I can fish them when the water is up.