Moon Lake 19 REEL FACTS Nathan Aycock - Fisheries Biologist NathanA@mdwfp.state.ms.us (61) 43- General Information: Moon Lake is a,3 acre oxbow lake of the Mississippi River. The primary inflow to the lake comes from Phillips Bayou at the northern tip of the lake. The main outflow is Yazoo Pass which connects the lake to the Coldwater River. Location: Outside the mainline Mississippi River levee in Coahoma County about miles north of Clarksdale. Fishery Management:, crappie, catfish, and bream Purchase a Fishing License: https://www.ms.gov/mdwfp/hunting_fishing/ Amenities Public Ramps Fish Cleaning Station Pavilion Regulations Minimum length limit for crappie is inches. 3 crappie per day, with crappie under inches allowed. per day. bream per day. No limit on catfish. Commercial fishing is open from October 1 February 8 and requires a special permit from MDWFP. Other regulations can be found at www.mdwfp.com Fish Stockings 18 3,; 1-3 in. 89; 6 in. 17 White 48,; 3 in. 14,; in.,; 1 in. 16 3,; in. 13,; in. Blue Catfish,; - pounds 13,; in. Sportfishing Tips Fish piers along eastern shoreline and near Paradise Point ramp. In the spring fish structure and piers along the banks with minnows or jigs. During summer and winter months try trolling through the deeper areas of the lake. Bream Fish areas with structure in water less than feet deep with crickets or red worms, especially in the late spring and summer. Catfish Fish shallow mudflats around the island or near the cypress trees with night crawlers, chicken livers, or stink bait.
Below: Results from the 18 electrofishing survey on Moon Lake. Moon Lake is sampled in the fall every to 3 years. In 18 catch rates for increased while catch rates decreased slightly, and catch rates of crappie increased. Non-game fish were very abundant, specifically buffalo and gar, and comprised over % of the total catch by number in 18. Species # of fish collected % of sample Average Length (inches) Maximum Length (inches) Average Weight (pounds) Catch Rate Adult fish (fish/mile) Buffalo 48 44.1 18 8 97.3 9 16. 4 7. 37. 9.8 11 1..3 Spotted Gar 4 7.1 8.3 Freshwater Drum 36 6.4 13 18 14. Longear Sunfish 3.7 3 1. Shortnose Gar 31. 1 13. 4 1.4 11 1.7 3.1 Common Carp 8 1.4 6.8 Redear Sunfish.9 7.. White Bass 4.7 8 16. 1.3 Channel Catfish 3. 1 17.7 1.4 Bowfin.4 8 9 7.3.9 Green Sunfish 1. 4 4.4 Right: are the most sought after species in Moon Lake. White crappie and black crappie are both present at Moon, but white crappie are more abundant.
Left: length distribution for Moon Lake from the 18 electrofishing survey. The largest bass collected was inches long and weighed 4 pounds. 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 1 13 14 16 17 18 19 1 Right: length distribution for Moon Lake from the 18 electrofishing survey. The average length of a was 4. inches, while the largest collected was 7 inches in length. 3 3 1 3 4 6 7 8 4 3 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 1 13 Left: length distribution for Moon Lake from the 18 electrofishing survey. Most crappie collected were between and 1 inches. The largest crappie collected was 1. inches long and 1.1 pounds in weight.
Pounds Catch per hour 3. 3. 1. 1 Angler Catch Rates Bass Left: Results from angler creel surveys indicate relatively steady catch rates for bass and crappie. In 17, crappie catch rates fell slightly but were still above average for Delta oxbows.. 1988 1 17 Year Average Weights Right: In 17 average weight of harvested crappie was.7 pounds and average weight of harvested bass was almost pounds.. 1. 1. Bass 1988 1 17 Year 14 1 8 6 4 1 3 4 6 Age (years) Left: Growth rates for crappie at Lake Moon. On average crappie reach inches at 3. years and reach 1 inches at 4.6 years old.
Below: Depth map of Moon Lake. Left: are the most sought after fish species by anglers fishing at Moon Lake.