State Fishing Lakes
MDWFP operates 18 prime fishing lakes throughout the state which offer outstanding fishing on more than 3,300 acres of picturesque waters.
Sport fishing licenses and permits are required to fish these lakes, except on the first weekend of National Fishing Week which is June 7-8, 2025, when fishing permits are free, and a sport fishing license is not required for Mississippi residents. Exempt lake permits include Veterans and Active Service Members (proof of status is required).
Only rod and reel or pole fishing is allowed on State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes. No other gear is allowed.
Fishing is not allowed from courtesy piers adjacent to boat ramps. Night fishing is allowed at all State Fishing Lakes (except for Lake Bill Waller) from the bank or from boats that are in compliance with state and U.S. Coast Guard regulations.
Camping reservations are not available at State Fishing Lakes. Call the lake for camping availability.
State Fishing Lakes Fees
Daily Permits |
Fee |
Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing (ages 16-61) |
$7.00 |
Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing – Disabled or Age Exempt Fishing (ages 62 and older) |
$6.00 |
Fishing (ages 16-61) – |
$5.00 |
Fishing - Disabled or Age Exempt (ages 62 and older) – |
$3.00 |
Youth Fishing (under 16 years of age) |
Free |
Camping* (ages 16-61), at Calling Panther, and Neshoba. |
$25.00 |
Camping* (ages 16-61), |
$22.00 |
Camping - Disabled or Age Exempt (ages 62 and older)* |
$15.00 |
Primitive/tent camping (no electricity)+ |
$17.00 |
Pavilion Rental – without restrooms |
$36.00 |
Pavilion Rental – with restrooms |
$51.00 |
Duplicate Copy of Annual/Lifetime Permit |
$7.29 |
Monthly Permits |
Fee |
Camping (30 day)* |
$500.00 |
Camping (30 day) – Disabled or Age Exempt (ages 62 and older)* |
$360.00 |
Annual Permits |
Fee |
Guest Boat Launching /Fishing/Skiing (ages 16-61; includes all persons in boat) |
$150.00 |
Guest Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing Disabled or Age Exempt (ages 62 and older; includes all persons in boat) |
$120.00 |
Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing |
$102.00 |
Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing – Disabled or Age Exempt |
$72.00 |
Fishing (ages 16-61) – no boat launching |
$52.00 |
Fishing - Disabled or Age Exempt (ages 62 and older) – no boat launching |
$32.00 |
1. Calling Panther Lake
(404 acres)
Manager: Pat Drew,
(601) 892-4776
Location: Copiah Co., 5 miles west of Crystal Springs just off New Zion Road.
Facilities/Activities: 21 camping pads and 2 handicapped camping pads with electrical/water/sewer hookups. Boat ramp, handicapped fishing pier, handicapped restroom with showers, and nature trail. Skiing on Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
2. Elvis Presley Lake*
(322 acres)
Manager: Jarreth Thompson,
(662) 620-6314
Location: Lee Co., 2 miles northeast of Tupelo, just off Hwy 78 east.
Facilities/Activities: Bicycle/walking trail, boat ramp, 16 camping pads with water/electrical hookups, tent camping, 2 handicapped fishing piers, grills, pavilion, picnic tables, and restrooms with showers. Skiing daily, noon to sunset.
3. Lake Bill Waller
(168 acres)
Manager: Dustin Brumfield,
(601) 736-1861
Location: Marion Co. 12 miles southeast of Columbia on Marion Co. WMA.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 2 handicapped fishing piers, 5 earthen piers, handicapped restrooms with showers. No skiing or camping.
4. Lake Bogue Homa
(882 acres)
Manager: Darrell Ainsworth,
(601) 425-2148
Location: Jones Co. About 6 miles east of Laurel on Hwy 84.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, duck hunting, 3 handicapped fishing piers, pavilion, picnic tables, and restrooms with showers. Skiing daily, noon to sunset.
5. Lake Claude Bennett
(71 acres)
Manager: Jemison Bufkin,
(601) 727-3561
Location: Jasper Co. about 20 miles east of Bay Springs off Hwy 18.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 31 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 1 handicapped fishing pier, pavilions, picnic tables, playground, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
6. Lake Columbia
(84 acres)
Manager: Dustin Brumfield,
(601) 736-1861
Location: Marion Co. 12 miles southeast of Columbia on Marion Co. WMA.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, six camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 1 handicapped fishing pier, 2 earthen piers, pavilion, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
7. Lake Jeff Davis
(100 acres)
Manager: Richard Hathorn,
(601) 792-8225
Location: Jefferson Davis Co., 3 miles southeast of Prentiss off Hwy 42.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 13 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 3 handicapped fishing piers, bike trail, nature trail, pavilion, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Tuesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
8. Lake Lamar Bruce
(300 acres)
Manager: Nathan Martin,
(662) 869-2009
Location: Lee Co. 1.5 miles northeast of Saltillo off Hwy 45.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 11 camping pads with water/electrical hookups, 3 handicapped fishing piers, pavilion, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Thursday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
9. Lake Mary Crawford
(128 acres)
Manager: Jay Aultman,
(601) 587-7853
Location: Lawrence Co. 5 miles west of Monticello off Hwy 84.
Facilities/Activities: 2 boat ramps, 20 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 4 fishing piers (3 handicapped), 8 earthen piers, nature trail, pavilion, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
10. Lake Mike Conner
(79 acres)
Manager: John Stamps,
(601) 765-4024
Location: Covington Co. 8 miles west of Collins off Hwy 84.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 15 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 2 handicapped fishing piers, pavilion, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
11. Lake Monroe
(103 acres)
Manager: Charles Mullins,
(662) 256-9637
Location: Monroe Co. between Aberdeen and Amory off Hwy 45 on Coontail Rd.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 14 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 2 handicapped fishing piers, picnic tables, and restrooms with showers. No skiing.
12. Lake Perry
(68 acres)
Manager: Joey Hinton,
(601) 784-6119
Location: Perry Co. about 3 miles south of Beaumont off Hwy 98.
Facilities/Activities: 2 boat ramps, 15 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 4 fishing piers (3 handicapped), nature trail, pavilion, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Friday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
13. Lake Tom Bailey
(182 acres)
Manager: Vacant,
(601) 632-4679
Location: Lauderdale Co. about 8 miles east of Meridian off Hwy 11.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 22 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 2 handicapped fishing piers, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
14. Neshoba County Lake
(138 acres)
Manager: Sherry Hazelwood,
(601) 656-7376
Location: Neshoba Co. about 6 miles southeast of Philadelphia off Hwy 486.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 22 camping pads with electrical/water/sewer hookups, 2 handicapped fishing piers, pavilion, picnic tables, playground, and handicapped restrooms with showers. No skiing.
15. Prentiss Walker Lake
(81 acres)
Manager: William Sanford,
(601) 733-2611
Location: Smith Co. about 4 miles southwest of Mize off Hwy 35.
Facilities/Activities: Boat dock, boat ramp, 18 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 2 handicapped fishing piers, pavilions, picnic tables, playground, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Friday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
16. Simpson County Lake
(76 acres)
Manager: Tony Craft,
(601) 849-4886
Location: Simpson Co. 5 miles north of Magee on Hwy 49.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 11 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 3 handicapped fishing piers, pavilions, picnic tables, and handicapped restrooms with showers. Skiing on Thursday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
17. Tippah County Lake
(145 acres)
Manager: Jim Cutberth,
(662) 837-9850
Location: Tippah Co. 2.5 miles north of Ripley on Hwy 15, west 2.5 miles.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp, 22 camping pads with electrical/water hookups, 3 handicapped fishing piers, 1 earthen pier, grills, pavilion, picnic tables, and restrooms with showers. Skiing on Saturday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day noon to sunset.
18. Lake Walthall
(55 acres)
Manager: None
Location: Walthall Co. 8 miles southeast of Tylertown off Hwy 48.
Facilities/Activities: Boat ramp. No camping or skiing
