State park lakes

Has anyone had any luck fishing the lakes at Meeman-Shelby Forrest state park just north of Memphis?

Historically yes. Haven't fished there in 10 years since I live in Mississippi and have found other lakes to fish where I don't have to drive through the city traffic, but fished it regularly in the 70's and 80's and occasionally in the 90's and 2000's except for when they drained it to make repairs. The brim fishing has always been good at Poplar Tree lake with lots of big ones and the bass have been numerous with the occasional big one. There was a good population of redbreast sunfish prior to the repairs, but they disappeared and were replaced by bluegill after the repairs were completed. The last time I was there I caught many 8 to 9 inch bluegill. I've never cat-fished there, but I used to watch a guy go around with large live shiners and he would bring in a big flathead now and again. No doubt he probably caught some lunker bass too, but if he did I didn't see it and he didn't talk about it. If you're talking crappie, they are (at least were) in the lake, but I never caught one and don't think they are very numerous. Plenty of deep water and some submerged trees to fish around and I never targeted crappie though. Never tried Grassy lake.

Cc

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Originally Posted by Cricketcage

Historically yes. Haven't fished there in 10 years since I live in Mississippi and have found other lakes to fish where I don't have to drive through the city traffic, but fished it regularly in the 70's and 80's and occasionally in the 90's and 2000's except for when they drained it to make repairs. The brim fishing has always been good at Poplar Tree lake with lots of big ones and the bass have been numerous with the occasional big one. There was a good population of redbreast sunfish prior to the repairs, but they disappeared and were replaced by bluegill after the repairs were completed. The last time I was there I caught many 8 to 9 inch bluegill. I've never cat-fished there, but I used to watch a guy go around with large live shiners and he would bring in a big flathead now and again. No doubt he probably caught some lunker bass too, but if he did I didn't see it and he didn't talk about it. If you're talking crappie, they are (at least were) in the lake, but I never caught one and don't think they are very numerous. Plenty of deep water and some submerged trees to fish around and I never targeted crappie though. Never tried Grassy lake.

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can I fish it by just buying a daily permit? Do I have to have a Tn license?

Both a state licence and the park daily permit were required last time I was there and I always thought it was worth the value with good fishing and undeveloped shorelines with lots of wildlife. It's been a long time since I've even entered the park though and things may have changed. I used to like it because they had a nice boat rental facility and I'd rent one of their jon boats, but then the park service seemed to be cutting back on personnel and it was hit or miss whether or not I'd find someone there to issue the lock keys and equipment. I have very fond memories of fishing there, but since it is almost a one hour drive for me to get there it just isn't as convenient for me to fish it as it used to be.