Mississippi is a famous fishing destination with both saltwater and freshwater fishing spots. It’s well known for its remarkable crappie fishing. Aside from the record-worthy catches, the mild climate makes Mississippi ready for fishing trips year-round. If you enjoy inshore fishing, trips along the state’s coastal areas typically mean catches of redfish, flounder, and speckled trout.
Inland, the big flood-control reservoirs of north Mississippi, like Grenada and Sardis, draw crappie anglers from across the country. Central and southern Mississippi add Ross Barnett Reservoir, Lake Tangipahoa, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Several of the best base camps sit right on the water, with boat ramps just a short walk from your site, so an RV lets you fish at first light and move between lakes easily.
Just remember to purchase your Mississippi fishing license and read the current fishing regulations to know the bag and size limits that apply.
Best Places for RV Fishing in Mississippi
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Mississippi. You’ll find plenty of crappie and bass fishing in the state, along with a variety of other fish to catch.
| Fishing spot | Best for | RV camping experience | Good to know |
| Grenada Lake | Trophy crappie | Water/electric; some sewer | Big winter drawdown |
| Sardis Lake | Crappie, bass | Water/electric; few sewer | Many ramps dry in winter |
| Ross Barnett Reservoir | Bass, crappie | Full hookups | Near Jackson |
| Aberdeen Lake | Bass, crappie | Water/electric | On the Tenn-Tom Waterway |
| Lake Tangipahoa | Family trips | Full hookups (state park) | Idle speed only at night |
| Arkabutla Lake | Crappie, catfish | Full hookups | Lake held low for dam repairs |
Grenada Lake
Located on the Skuna and Yalobusha Rivers just northeast of Grenada, Grenada Lake has something for every outdoor enthusiast, from fishing, boating, and skiing to swimming, picnicking, bird-watching, and much more. While here, you can’t miss passing by the Grenada Lake Visitor Center, which features exhibits about the lake and its natural resources.
Grenada is Mississippi’s largest lake, at almost 36,000 acres, and it’s known nationally for trophy crappie. That makes it an ideal place to introduce your kids to fishing. Apart from crappie, you’ll find bass, catfish, bream, and sunfish. You can fish on the banks at the campgrounds and boat launch ramps, and local guides offer trips for bass, catfish, and crappie.
Water levels matter here. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers holds the lake at summer pool from May through July, then draws it down sharply in fall and winter.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camps: North Graysport Campground, a Corps campground between the Yalobusha and Skuna arms, has 50 sites with water, electric, and sewer. Hugh White State Park, on the lake near the dam, has a large RV campground with water and electric hookups.
- Fishing access: North Graysport has its own boat ramp. Hugh White sits near the outlet channel, which also offers fishing.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Mostly water and electric, with sewer at North Graysport. Primitive campgrounds around the lake suit self-contained rigs.
- Access: North Graysport sites fit rigs up to about 42 feet.
- Best for: Crappie anglers and families.
Sardis Lake
Located on the Little Tallahatchie River five miles north of Oxford, Sardis Lake is known for its fishing spots and sand beaches. It covers about 32,100 acres, has a summer pool, and offers many outdoor recreation activities, including boating and waterskiing. MDWFP calls Sardis the state’s most popular angling destination. It’s managed for crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, and white bass, and bluegill are common too.
Holiday Lodge, Clear Creek, and Engineer Point are all great spots to catch crappie. There are several boat ramps for launching both fishing and pleasure boats. Below the dam, the 400-acre Lower Lake and the spillway are popular for catfish and crappie.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camps: Oak Grove Campground, the largest Corps campground on the lake, has 81 sites with 50-amp electric and water, and a few with sewer. John W. Kyle State Park sits on the Lower Lake below the dam.
- Fishing access: Oak Grove is convenient to both the upper and lower lakes.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Mostly water and electric.
- Access: In winter, the lake drops sharply, and many ramps go dry. Engineer Point, near the dam, is the usual winter launch.
- Best for: Crappie anglers and Ole Miss weekenders.
Ross Barnett Reservoir
Situated on the Pearl River between Madison and Rankin counties, Ross Barnett Reservoir creates a harbor for various outdoor adventures and endless hours of pleasure. Besides fishing, this 33,000-acre reservoir supplies drinking water for the city of Jackson. Popular species here for anglers are bass and crappie. During the late summer months, you can look for schooling shad on the main lake.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camps: The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District runs five campgrounds around the reservoir. Timberlake Campground, on the Rankin County side, has full hookups, a boat launch, bathhouses, laundry, and a pool. Goshen Springs and Coal Bluff also have full-hookup sites.
- Fishing access: Timberlake has its own boat launch, and the reservoir has 22 public launches.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Full hookups at the main campgrounds. Primitive camping is allowed along the Pearl River upriver of the reservoir.
- Access: Timberlake is close to shopping and restaurants in the Jackson suburbs.
- Best for: Anglers who want big-lake fishing with city conveniences nearby.
Aberdeen Lake
Aberdeen Lake is situated in the northeast part of Mississippi in the city of Aberdeen. You can enjoy fishing from the fishing pier, a boat, or the bank at many access points in the lake. Crappie, bass, and catfish fishing are very popular in this 4,100-acre lake, which has hosted multiple state-level bass tournaments.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Blue Bluff Campground, a Corps campground on the lake next to Aberdeen Lock and Dam, has sites with electric and water hookups.
- Fishing access: Accessible fishing dock and a boat ramp at the campground. Many sites are on the water.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Water and electric, with a dump station.
- Access: Mostly shaded sites, minutes from Aberdeen. Tupelo is about 45 minutes north.
- Best for: Bass and crappie anglers, and anyone who wants to watch barges lock through.
Lake Tangipahoa
Nestled within Percy Quin State Park near McComb in southwest Mississippi, Lake Tangipahoa is a freshwater lake perfect for fishing and water sports. This 490-acre lake is stocked with bream, catfish, bass, and crappie. The lake also has a fish-cleaning station, a covered marina, and two fishing piers.
Night fishing is permitted from the shore or from boats that meet state and Coast Guard rules. At night, you can only use trolling motors or idle speed while boating.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Camp right at Percy Quin State Park, which has full-hookup RV sites on paved pads, including lakefront sites.
- Fishing access: Fishing pier and boat launch near the campground.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Full hookups, bathhouses with hot showers, and a separate primitive tent area.
- Access: Just off I-55, about 90 minutes from New Orleans.
- Best for: Families who want fishing, swimming, golf, and hiking in one stop.
Arkabutla Lake
Arkabutla Lake, on the Coldwater River near Hernando and Coldwater, has long been one of the leading crappie fishing lakes in the U.S. It has an abundance of crappie, largemouth bass, bream, and catfish.
Know before you go: In 2023, the Corps found damage to Arkabutla Dam and lowered the lake for safety. The lake is being held far below normal for long-term repairs expected to take many years. Hwy. 51 Landing is currently the only usable boat ramp, and areas directly below the dam are closed. Most campgrounds and day-use areas remain open. Check the Corps’ Arkabutla Lake page for current conditions before you go.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Hernando Point Campground has full-hookup sites and is open year-round.
- Fishing access: Hernando Point’s boat ramp is unusable at current water levels. The campground has a small pond with a fishing pier.
- Hookups vs. rustic: Full hookups, showers, and flush toilets.
- Access: Easy access from I-55, south of Memphis.
- Best for: Anglers passing through the Memphis area.
Other Mississippi Fishing Areas to Know
From saltwater angling off the Gulf Coast to freshwater fishing in state and public lakes, fishing in Mississippi presents endless excitement for anglers. The Mississippi River, which flows along or through 10 states, has dozens of shore-fishing spots and boat launches. The river is a notable catfishing ground.
North of Vicksburg, Chotard and Albemarle lakes are Mississippi River oxbows known for big crappie. Bass, bream, and catfish are also common. Fishing on these lakes depends on the river level and is usually best when the river is falling slowly. Nearby Eagle Lake, a 4,700-acre oxbow, is a favorite for bream and crappie. It has an 11-inch minimum length limit on crappie.
If you’re going river fishing, you need to know where fish will seek refuge from predators and currents. Consider calm areas with stumps and vegetation or rock piles. Some of the techniques to use for river fishing include upstream casting, bottom bouncing, and river jigging.
How to Plan an RV Fishing Trip in Mississippi
Here are some tips to plan an RV fishing trip in Mississippi.
Choose an RV-Friendly Base Camp
Mississippi’s best RV fishing base camps are often U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds, built around boat ramps on the big reservoirs. Here’s what to weigh:
- Water levels: North Mississippi’s flood-control lakes like Grenada, Sardis, and Arkabutla drop sharply in fall and winter. A lakefront site in June can be a long walk from the water in January.
- Hookups: Corps campgrounds are mostly water and electric, with some sewer sites. Percy Quin and the Barnett Reservoir campgrounds offer full hookups.
- Reservations: Book Corps campgrounds on Recreation.gov and state parks through the Mississippi State Parks reservation system. Crappie season in spring fills lakefront sites fast.
- Rig size: Length limits vary. Check the site listing before you book.
Pack Your RV for a Fishing Trip
Here are some things to bring along on a Mississippi fishing trip.
- Crappie rods, jigs, and minnow buckets
- Life jackets. The Corps requires them on vessels under 16 feet at some lakes.
- Cooler and fish-cleaning kit
- Sun protection and insect repellent
- Water and sewer hoses, plus a surge protector
- Leveling blocks
- Rain gear for spring storms
Know Before You Go
- Licenses – Buy a Mississippi fishing license online through MDWFP.
- State fishing lakes – MDWFP state lakes also require a state lake permit.
- Saltwater – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources sets Gulf Coast rules. Check their regulations before fishing the coast.
- Lake-specific limits – Several lakes have special creel and length limits, such as Eagle Lake’s crappie minimum. See the MDWFP lake pages.
- Water levels. Check the Corps’ Vicksburg District reservoir reports before a trip to the north Mississippi lakes.
- Closures. Arkabutla is being held low for dam repairs, and Neshoba County Lake is closed to fishing.
Find an RV for Your Mississippi Fishing Trip
An RV makes it easy to chase crappie across Mississippi. Park at a Corps campground on Grenada or Sardis and you’re a short walk from the ramp for a first-light start. Rods, jigs, minnow buckets, and coolers stay packed and ready, so moving from Sardis to Grenada to Ross Barnett is a short drive, not a full repack.
After a long day on the water, grill up your catch right at your campsite. If you’re traveling with family or friends, everyone gets a comfortable place to sleep. Anyone who’d rather swim, golf, or hike than fish can do their own thing and everyone can meet back at camp.
Browse Mississippi RV rentals for your next fishing trip.
