Reservoir · Mississippi
Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson
Current Lake Rating
Unavailable
Current lake conditions cannot be rated because key water observations are missing.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Why
- Gage height is available, but current water-temperature information is unavailable.
- Without enough current observations, StrikeTracks cannot identify a reliable fishing window.
Current Readings
- Gage height
- 297.19 ft
- Change over 24 hours
- +0.06 ft
- Trend
- Rising
- Last updated
- 36 min ago
Source: USGS · ROSS BARNETT RESERVOIR NR JACKSON, MS · 02485600 · Gage height
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
75°F
Feels like
83°F
Wind
3 mph NW
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 2:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.09 in
Last 48 hours
0.10 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 3 AM
Clear
Temp 75°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 7 AM
Mostly clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 11 AM
Clear
Temp 85°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 3 PM
Clear
Temp 94°F
Chance 12%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 7 PM
Clear
Temp 90°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 11 PM
Clear
Temp 82°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Partly cloudy
High 95°F / Low 74°F
Chance 12%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 13 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 99°F / Low 77°F
Chance 15%
Precip 0.04 in
Max gust 20 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Clear
High 101°F / Low 76°F
Chance 15%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 102°F / Low 78°F
Chance 11%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 24 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Gage Height History
Loading historical gage height…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Ross Barnett Reservoir.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Ross Barnett is the 33,000-acre Pearl River impoundment six miles northeast of Jackson, with about 24,000 acres of open water and 9,000 acres of riverine habitat north of Highway 43. MDWFP manages crappie, black bass, bream, and catfish, with striped and hybrid bass under a 15-inch / 6-fish rule and bass at 14-inch minimum / 7 per day.
Target species
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MDWFP Reel Facts sample both black and white crappie. Crappie are a primary management species.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MDWFP Reel Facts manage black bass at 14-inch minimum / 7 per day.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
2025 Reel Facts report white crappie in fall samples and spring creels alongside black crappie.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MDWFP lists bream/bluegill among Ross Barnett management species; electrofishing catch rates of bluegill remain high.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Catfish are a named MDWFP management group on Ross Barnett.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Hybrid Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis × Morone chrysops
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Hybrid striped bass share the 15-inch / 6-fish rule with striped bass.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Striped bass 15-inch minimum / 6 per day combined with hybrids. Spillway specials apply.
Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Flow regime
- Regulated flow
Large Pearl River reservoir (Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Scott, and Leake counties) with timber, brush piles, creek channels, and a distinct up-river reach above Highway 43. Operated by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public ramps and bank access are documented by MDWFP and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point near Jackson. Confirm current ramp and spillway notices.
Stocking information
MDWFP fisheries management emphasizes crappie, black bass, bream, and catfish, with striped and hybrid bass present under reservoir specials. Confirm current official stocking and Reel Facts.
- Stocked
Hybrid Striped Bass
Stocked · Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
- Stocked
Striped bass
Stocked · Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Official sources
Black bass 14-inch minimum / 7 per day. Striped/hybrid bass 15-inch minimum / 6 per day. Spillway to the Jackson water intake: only one striped/hybrid longer than 24 inches. Named areas close trotlines and jugs. Confirm current MDWFP public-water rules.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Mississippi
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
Management Category
Pearl River reservoir
Regulation Scope
Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson
Regulation Summary
MDWFP Reel Facts: crappie 30/day; black bass 7/day, 14-inch minimum; striped/hybrid bass 6/day, 15-inch minimum. Spillway/Pearl River specials and named trotline/jug closures apply. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, Mississippi, USGS 02485600. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. App-supported continuous parameters currently available: gage height (00065). Pearl River Valley Water Supply District reservoir with MDWFP crappie, black bass, bream, catfish, and striped/hybrid bass management.
