Live wading and fishing conditions for 39 Mississippi rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Pearl River
Mississippi's marquee river — 490 miles from the hills above Philadelphia down through Ross Barnett Reservoir, Jackson, and the piney woods to the Louisiana line. A big, tannic, log-strewn bass and catfish river with famous sac-a-lait fishing in the oxbows and below the Barnett spillway. Level runs the show; it floods wide and slow and drops back over days.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Pearl River At Edinburg, Ms, Pearl River Nr Lena, Ms, Pearl River At Jackson, Ms, Pearl River Nr Monticello, Ms
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Pascagoula River
The largest unimpounded river in the lower 48 by some measures — the Pascagoula runs free from the meeting of the Leaf and Chickasawhay all the way to the Gulf. A wild, tannic, sandbar-lined river of bass, catfish, and gar up top and redfish and speckled trout down in the tidal delta. Level and tide, not clarity, run the fishing.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish · USGS gauges: Pascagoula River At Merrill, Ms, Pascagoula River At Graham Ferry, Ms
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Bogue Chitto
The crown jewel of Mississippi float streams — a clear, sandy-bottomed river winding out of southwest Mississippi through white sandbars and cypress. A paddler's and wade-angler's favorite for spotted bass, bream, and catfish, with public parks and outfitters strung along it. Skinny and inviting at low water, pushy and off-color after rain.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bogue Chitto Nr Tylertown, Ms
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Okatoma Creek
Mississippi's most famous canoe run — a clear, spring-fed creek of gentle shoals and white sandbars near Seminary and Sanford, with outfitters running paddlers all summer. Between the crowds it fishes well for spotted bass and bream in the pockets and current seams. A pure wade-and-float stream.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Okatoma Creek At Sanford, Ms
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Leaf River
One of the two forks that make the Pascagoula — the Leaf runs sandy and tannic out of the Bienville hills down through Hattiesburg and the piney woods. Long sandbar floats, bass and bream in the wood, and good catfishing in the deeper bends. A float-and-bank river that swings hard with rain.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass) · USGS gauges: Leaf River Nr Collins, Ms, Leaf River At Hattiesburg, Ms, Leaf River Nr New Augusta, Ms, Leaf River Nr Mclain, Ms
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Mississippi River
The Big Muddy itself forms Mississippi's entire western border — a colossal, current-driven river of trophy blue and flathead catfish, largemouth in the wing-dam pockets and sandbar chutes, and crappie in the backwaters. At Vicksburg it's vast and powerful; this is heavy-tackle, boat-and-bank water where reading current and level is everything.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish · USGS gauges: Mississippi River At Vicksburg, Ms
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Black Creek
Mississippi's only National Wild and Scenic River — Black Creek winds clear and sandy through the De Soto National Forest and the Black Creek Wilderness, past white sandbars and cypress. A destination paddle and wade for spotted bass, bream, and catfish. Skinny and gorgeous at low water.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Black Creek Nr Brooklyn, Ms
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Tombigbee River
Northeast Mississippi's big river — the Tombigbee and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway that parallels it run a chain of Corps locks and pools from Fulton down past Amory, Aberdeen, and Columbus. A big-water fishery of largemouth, crappie, catfish, and white bass in the pools and below the locks. This is barge-channel water — level and lock releases run it.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Tombigbee River Nr Fulton, Ms, Tombigbee River At Bigbee, Ms, Tombigbee River At Aberdeen Lock And Dam, Ms, Tombigbee River At Stennis Lock And Dam, Ms
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Strong River
A clear, sand-and-gravel Pearl tributary running past D'Lo through some of the prettiest float water in central Mississippi. D'Lo Water Park and the shoals make it a summer favorite for spotted bass, bream, and the odd catfish. A true wade-and-float stream that comes up and drops fast.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Strong River At D`Lo, Ms
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Chickasawhay River
The eastern fork that builds the Pascagoula — the Chickasawhay runs tannic and sandy from Enterprise down through Quitman, Waynesboro, and Leakesville. A bass, bream, and catfish river of long sandbar bends and deep outside holes; Dunn's Falls up top is a landmark. Level runs the show.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass) · USGS gauges: Chickasawhay River At Enterprise, Ms, Chickasawhay River At Quitman, Ms, Chickasawhay River Nr Waynesboro, Ms, Chickasawhay River At Leakesville, Ms
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Big Black River
A long, sandy river cutting diagonally across west-central Mississippi from the hills near West down to the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. Famous for sandbar floats, big flathead and blue catfish, largemouth, and spotted bass in the wood and bends. One of the state's best all-around river fisheries.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish · USGS gauges: Big Black River At West, Ms, Big Black River Nr Bentonia, Ms, Big Black River Nr Bovina, Ms
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Yalobusha River
The Yalobusha below Grenada Lake is one of the South's legendary crappie tailwaters — spring draws crowds chasing giant sac-a-lait below the dam. Above and below, the river holds largemouth, catfish, and white bass in its bends and oxbows. Corps releases run the lower river.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Yalobusha River At Grenada, Ms
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Chunky River
A clear, rocky-and-sandy stream near Chunky and Enterprise, one of the prettiest wade-and-float runs in east Mississippi. Spotted bass and bream hold on the little shoals and sandbar drops; the Chunky feeds the Chickasawhay. Flashy — comes up fast and clears fast.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Chunky River Nr Chunky, Ms
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Bouie River
A clear, sandy stream that joins the Leaf at Hattiesburg — the Bouie (and its Bouie Creek headwaters) is a local float and wade favorite for spotted bass, bream, and catfish over white sandbars. Skinny and pretty at low flow, quick to color up after rain.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bouie Creek Nr Hattiesburg, Ms, Bouie River At Glendale Avenue At Hattiesburg, Ms
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Tallahatchie River
The storied Delta river of song and Faulkner — the Tallahatchie runs slow and muddy past Money and down toward the Yazoo, a big largemouth, crappie, and catfish river of oxbows, sandbars, and wood. Below Sardis the water is Corps-managed; down in the Delta it's a level game.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Tallahatchie River At Money, Ms
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Big Sunflower River
The heart of the Delta — the Big Sunflower runs slow and muddy from Clarksdale down through Merigold and Sunflower, a classic flat-water river of largemouth, crappie, catfish, and gar in its oxbows, wood, and turnrows. A quintessential Delta bank-and-boat fishery.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Big Sunflower River At Clarksdale, Ms, Big Sunflower River Nr Merigold, Ms, Big Sunflower River At Sunflower, Ms
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Wolf River
A short, clear coastal river running from the piney woods down to the Bay of St. Louis. The upper Wolf is a sandy float-and-wade stream for spotted bass and bream; the lower river turns tidal and holds redfish and speckled trout. Level up top, tide down low.
Region: Coastal · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Wolf River Nr Landon, Ms
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Red Creek
A clear, sandy piney-woods creek in the De Soto National Forest country, draining toward the Pascagoula. White sandbars, spotted bass, and bream make it a quiet float-and-wade alternative to nearby Black Creek. Flashy after rain, lovely at low flow.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Red Creek At Vestry, Ms
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Buttahatchee River
A clear, gravel-and-sand river dropping out of the Alabama line into the Tombigbee near Aberdeen — one of northeast Mississippi's prettiest wade-and-float streams, with spotted bass, bream, and catfish on the shoals and sandbars. Flashy but quick to clear.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen, Ms
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Homochitto River
A clear, sandy river draining the Homochitto National Forest in the far southwest, running down toward the Mississippi. Wide white sandbars, spotted bass, bream, and catfish make it a classic float-and-wade stream. Flashy — it comes up fast and clears fast.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Homochitto River At Eddiceton, Ms, Homochitto River At Rosetta, Ms
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Coldwater River
A north-Delta river running from the DeSoto County hills down through Arkabutla Lake and into the Tallahatchie system. Above the lake it's a sandy bass-and-bream stream; below Arkabutla Dam the tailwater draws crappie and white bass. Level and releases run it.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Coldwater River Nr Olive Branch, Ms, Coldwater River Nr Lewisburg, Ms
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Tangipahoa River
A clear, sandy river born in the hills near Osyka before running south into Louisiana. The Mississippi headwaters are classic white-sandbar float water for spotted bass and bream. Flashy and quick to drop — a pretty summer wade-and-paddle.
Region: Coastal · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Tangipahoa River At Osyka, Ms
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Little Tallahatchie River
The upper Tallahatchie above Sardis Lake, running clearer and sandier through the hills near Etta before the reservoir. Spotted bass, bream, and catfish in the bends and shoals; below Sardis the tailwater draws crappie crowds. A wade-and-bank river up top.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Little Tallahatchie River At Etta, Ms
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Yockanookany River
A quiet Pearl tributary in the hills around Kosciusko, running tannic and sandy through the Bienville woods. Modest but fishy — spotted bass, bream, and catfish in the wood and sandbar pools. A low-key wade-and-paddle stream once flows settle.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Yockanookany River Nr Kosciusko, Ms, Yockanookany River Nr Ofahoma, Ms
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Biloxi River
A small clear coastal river north of Biloxi, sandy and cypress-lined, running down to Back Bay. The upper river is a modest wade-and-paddle for spotted bass and bream; the lower river goes tidal. A quiet local option.
Region: Coastal · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Biloxi River At Wortham, Ms
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Bayou Pierre
A sandy southwest-Mississippi river winding through the Port Gibson country toward the Mississippi River. Known for its shifting white sandbars, petrified-wood gravel, spotted bass, bream, and catfish. A pretty float-and-bank river that swings hard with rain.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bayou Pierre Nr Willows, Ms
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Hobolochitto Creek
The clear, sandy East and West forks of Hobolochitto Creek meet near Picayune in the lower Pearl basin — classic piney-woods float water over white sand, with spotted bass, bream, and catfish. Popular with local paddlers when the level cooperates.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: East Hobolochitto Creek Nr Caesar, Ms, West Hobolochitto Creek Nr Mcneill, Ms
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Luxapallila Creek
A sandy creek running from Alabama into the Tombigbee at Columbus — 'the Luxapalila' is a local favorite for spotted bass, bream, and catfish over its sandbars and wood. A wade-and-float stream that swings with rain.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Luxapallila Creek Nr Columbus, Ms
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Hatchie River
The upper Hatchie rises in the north-Mississippi hills near Walnut before winding north into Tennessee as one of the last big unchannelized bottomland rivers in the South. The Mississippi headwaters are a tannic, sandy bass-bream-catfish stream of wood and sandbars. A bank-and-paddle river.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Hatchie River Nr Walnut, Ms
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Okatibbee Creek
The creek below Okatibbee Lake near Meridian, feeding the Chickasawhay system. Tailwater and creek fishing for spotted bass, crappie, bream, and catfish; the lake keeps a steadier flow than the freestone streams around it.
Region: Pascagoula & Piney Woods · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Okatibbee Creek At Arundel, Ms
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Noxubee River
A tannic prairie-and-woods river running through Macon and the Noxubee refuge country toward Alabama. Slower and darker than the gravel creeks, it holds largemouth, catfish, crappie, and bream in its wood and oxbows. A bank-and-paddle river.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Noxubee River At Macon, Ms
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Town Creek
A Tombigbee tributary running through Tupelo and down to Nettleton, holding largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish in its bends and the backwaters near the waterway. A modest but accessible northeast-Mississippi creek.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Town Creek At Eason Boulevard At Tupelo, Ms, Town Creek Nr Nettleton, Ms
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Tuscolameta Creek
A sandy Pearl tributary through Walnut Grove and the Choctaw country, holding spotted bass, bream, and channel cats in its wood-choked bends. A small-stream wade and paddle option when the bigger rivers are up.
Region: Pearl River Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Tuscolameta Creek At Walnut Grove, Ms
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Yocona River
A sandy river dropping out of the Oxford hills toward Enid Lake and the Yazoo basin. Above the reservoir it's a modest wade-and-bank stream for spotted bass, catfish, and bream. Quiet water that swings with rain.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Yocona River Nr Oxford, Ms
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Buffalo River
A small, clear river in the loess hills near Woodville, running toward the Mississippi in the state's far southwest corner. Sandy and intimate — spotted bass and bream on the shoals and sandbars. A quiet wade-and-float for the low-water months.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Buffalo River Nr Woodville, Ms
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Skuna River
A sandy river in the hills near Bruce, feeding Grenada Lake and the Yalobusha system. A modest wade-and-bank stream for spotted bass, catfish, and bream above the reservoir. Low-key water that clears fast.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Skuna River At Bruce, Ms
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Bogue Phalia
A Delta bayou-stream near Leland, running slow and turbid through the cotton country toward the Big Sunflower. Largemouth, crappie, catfish, and gar hold in its wood and bends. Flat-water bank fishing in the heart of the Delta.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bogue Phalia Nr Leland, Ms
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Bull Mountain Creek
A small, clear creek in the Tishomingo hills of the far northeast, tumbling over rock and gravel toward the Tenn-Tom. Modest but pretty — spotted bass and bream in the pockets and shoals. A wade stream for the low-water months.
Region: Tombigbee & Northeast · Fish for: Spotted Bass (Kentucky Bass), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bull Mountain Creek At Tremont, Ms
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Batupan Bogue
A sandy bogue running through Grenada and into the Yalobusha near town, holding largemouth, crappie, bream, and channel cats in its wood and bends. A modest but handy urban-edge fishery in the Delta hills.
Region: Delta & Yazoo Basin · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Batupan Bogue At Grenada, Ms
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