Ridgeland, Mississippi, centers around the legendary Barnett Reservoir, known locally as "The Rez." This 33,000-acre aquatic playground offers over 105 miles of shoreline and is Mississippi’s premier destination for trophy bass and crappie fishing. Largemouth and spotted bass thrive throughout the reservoir, with peak action occurring north of Highway 43 during fall months when aggressive feeding brings lunkers into shallow cover like fallen trees and dock pilings.

Anglers also find exceptional crappie fishing year-round, particularly during spring spawning seasons in areas like Cane Creek and Plummer Slough. The reservoir’s striped bass, stocked annually, provide thrilling surface strikes when chasing shad schools in summer and fall. Hybrid stripers add variety, often caught trolling river channels near Twin Harbors.

Pelahatchie Bay’s creek channels and deep oxbow lakes hold summer crappie, while the Pearl River’s upper stretches host migrating stripers in spring. Diverse structure—from grass beds to submerged timber—creates ideal habitats across seasons. With consistent trophy potential and multiple species targeting opportunities, Ridgeland delivers unforgettable freshwater adventures.