40 Miss. Code. R. 3-2.1

Current through January 14, 2025

Rule 40-3-2.1 - [Effective 1/20/2025] REGULATIONS REGARDING STATE FISHING LAKES

A. The following regulations are adopted for all State Fishing Lakes owned and/or managed by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. These lakes are: Tippah County Lake, Tippah County; Lake Lamar Bruce, Lee County; Lake Monroe, Monroe County; Lake Tom Bailey, Lauderdale County; Lake Claude Bennett, Jasper County; Lake Prentiss Walker, Smith County; Simpson County Lake, Simpson County; Lake Bogue Homa, Jones County; Lake Mike Conner, Covington County; Lake Jeff Davis, Jefferson Davis County; Lake Mary Crawford, Lawrence County; Lake Walthall, Walthall County; Lake Columbia, Marion County; Lake Perry, Perry County; Lake Bill Waller, Marion County; Neshoba County Lake, Neshoba County; Elvis Presley Lake, Lee County; and Calling Panther Lake, Copiah County.

1. In addition to any required license, all persons fishing, boating, hunting, camping or using a pavilion must also have a valid lake permit.

2. The boat operator or another person in the boat is required to purchase a combination Launching/Fishing/Skiing permit.

3. Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing permit is valid for fishing and boating activities such as skiing, jet skis, sailing, wind surfing, canoeing or any other type of boating.

B. Daily Permits:

1. The following permits are available for the listed fee.

Permit Name	Permit Cost
Daily Fishing (No Boat Launching)*	$5.00
Daily Boat Launching/Fishing/Boating/Skiing*	$9.00

* Ages 16 and over; ages 15 and under no permit required.

C. Annual Permits

1. The following annual permits are available at the listed fee.

Permit Name	Permit Cost
Annual Boat Launching/Fishing/Skiing (Ages 16 - 61)	$125.00
Annual Exempt Launching/Fishing/Skiing (Ages 62 & older or disabled)	$100.00
Annual Fishing (No Boat Launching; Ages 16 - 61)	$55.00
Annual Disabled/Age Exempt Fishing (No Boat Launching)	$35.00
Duplicate copy of Annual or Lifetime Permit	$9.00

2. All annual permits shall be honored for fishing and boat launching on all State Fishing and State Park Lakes owned and operated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

3. All annual permits will expire one year from date of purchase.

4. There are no honor box sales for these permits.

5. Annual boat launching/fishing/skiing permit includes all persons in the boat.

6. Persons desiring to purchase Senior Citizen permits must show proof of age.

7. Persons desiring to purchase Disabled permits must provide proof of 100% disability by showing one of the following:

a. Railroad Disability Letter that states "100% Disability"

b. Veterans Administration Letter stating the person as "100% Service Connected Disability"

c. Updated Social Security letter listing the person as 100% disabled.

8. Veterans and Active Service Members qualify to purchase exempt permits. Proof of status is required.

D. Recreational boating and water skiing are authorized from noon to sunset on the following lakes only on the designated days in the designated areas:

Lake Bogue Homa	Everyday
Lake Claude Bennett	Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Columbia	Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Jeff Davis	Tuesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Lamar Bruce	Thursday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Mary Crawford	Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Mike Connor	Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Perry	Friday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Prentiss Walker	Friday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Lake Tom Bailey	Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Simpson County Lake	Thursday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Tippah County Lake	Saturday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day
Elvis Presley Lake	Everyday
Calling Panther Lake	Wednesday, Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day

E. Camping and Pavilion Rental Permits

1. The following camping and pavilion rental permits are available at the listed fee.

Permit Name	Permit Cost
Daily Camping (24 hour period; ages 16-61)	$25.00
Disabled/Senior Citizen Camping (1 day; age 62 & older)	$22.00
Camping - 30 days	$500.00
Disabled/Senior Citizen Camping - 30 days (age 62 & older)	$360.00
Primitive / tent camping (1 day, no electricity)	$20.00
Pavilion Rental (1 day)	$53.00

2. Daily camping rate includes fishing and boat launching. These activities are limited to the registered number of guests per campsite, not to exceed 8 people. The primitive camping rate does not include fishing and boat launching.

F. Camping Rules

1. Camping shall be confined to the designated campground or designated overflow areas. No more than one camping unit will be allowed on a camp pad without the State Lake Manager's approval.

2. Camper storage, reservations and reduced rates are not allowed at State Fishing Lakes. Camping reservations are not available at State Fishing Lakes. Reduced daily or weekly rates are not available at State Fishing Lakes.

3. No campsite can be retained without a camping unit (camper or erected tent) placed on the site. All camping fees must be paid in advance and are non-refundable and non-transferable. A camping voucher may be issued for the remaining balance if there is a death or dire illness in the customer's immediate family or other dire situations; good for 12 months from the date of the cancellation. A letter explaining the event and relation to the customer is required to be submitted to the lake manager before voucher is granted. A campsite must be occupied the moment a site is rented.

4. No permanent use of a rentable facility for residence purposes is allowed.

a. "Homesteading" or otherwise using a campground for a sole place of residence is prohibited. The act of Homesteading includes but is not limited to: erecting permanent or semi permanent structures.

b. Cluttering a rented site with garbage, storage containers, boxes, buckets, or other objects is prohibited.

c. The use of appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, or freezers outside of the camper; or parking trailers or extra vehicles is prohibited.

5. A monthly camping rate is available. Monthly camping is restricted to designated sites.

a. Ninety (90) days is the maximum allowable stay on a campsite.

b. After 90 days, a camper must leave the campground for 14 days before returning.

c. An extension may be granted with approval by the Executive Director or his designee.

d. Extensions will only be approved in ninety (90) day increments.

6. Check-out time is 2:00 P.M.; check-in time is 4:00 P.M.

7. Campgrounds and camp areas are restricted for registered campers and guests only. Guests shall leave the area prior to 10:00 P.M.

8. Camping pads will not be rented to any person under 21 years of age or anyone under the age of 21 allowed to camp without an adult 21 years or older present.

9. Campers, tents, vehicles, children and pets shall not be left unattended.

10. No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire other than in the designated campground area.

11. Persons eligible for a Disabled/Senior Citizen discount may not rent a site for persons who are not eligible for the discount. Proof of eligibility will be required upon check in. An eligible person must be present for the duration of the stay to obtain a camping discount.

12. Gray water or sewage must be placed in the dump station (when provided). In no case is the discharge of gray water or sewage on the ground or campsite permitted nor is the storage of gray water or sewage in containers not manufactured specifically for this purpose. Violations are subject to criminal charges, fines, and/or the cost of the clean up.

13. Shower facilities at State Fishing Lakes are only available to those who possess a valid lake permit.

G. Boating Rules

1. Boats and jet skis must be operated at idle speed which is any speed that does not produce a wake except during skiing periods in designated ski areas.

2. No aqua-aircraft shall land on any State Fishing Lake without written permission from the Executive Director.

3. While operating a pleasure boat on State Fishing Lakes, boats shall operate in a counter clockwise manner.

4. While operating a ski boat on State Fishing Lakes, only one, skier is permitted to be pulled at a time. Only two people are permitted on a tube if the tube is certified as for such. A child under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. Tube kites are prohibited.

5. Swimming and wading are prohibited on State Fishing Lakes except in designated ski areas while skiing or jet skiing.

H. Fishing Rules

1. Only rod and reel or pole fishing is allowed on State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes. No other gear is allowed at these lakes.

2. There shall be a FREE FISHING weekend on all State Fishing and State Park Lakes. These days will be set on the 1^st weekend of National Fishing and Boating Week in June. No state fishing license or lake fishing permits will be required for residents fishing on these days.

3. Creel limit on catfish will be 10 per day in all State Fishing Lakes. Catfish limits during fishing rodeos at state lakes may be different.

4. Fishing is not allowed from courtesy piers adjacent to boat ramps. Night fishing is allowed at all State Fishing Lakes from the bank or boats which are in compliance with state and coast guard regulations with the exception of Lake Bill Waller.

I. Other Rules

1. Persons who possess a dog or other pet must restrain it on an adequate leash not more than six feet long. Exception: Squirrel hunting dogs do not have to be leashed while hunting on Calling Panther WMA.

a. Persons allowing animals to disturb other guests will be removed from the lake property.

b. No livestock or other animals, other than horses on designated bridle paths or trails, will be allowed on State Parks or State Lakes except with written permission of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks or his designee.

2. Motorized vehicles shall be allowed only in designated areas.

3. No one shall be permitted on lake property between one hour past sunset and one hour before sunrise without a valid permit.

4. The open carry of firearms may be restricted in or upon certain areas of any state fishing lake. These areas will be clearly designated by appropriate signage. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting a concealed carry permit holder from carrying his or her concealed handgun on any state fishing lake property.

5. State Lakes are state wildlife refuges. Hunting or trapping is prohibited within the confines of the state lake property, except Calling Panther Lake, Neshoba County Lake and Lake Bogue Homa. Regulations governing hunting at these three lakes are strictly enforced. Exceptions are:

a. Frog gigging is allowed during the statewide season at all State Fishing Lakes except Lake Bill Waller. Either a daily or annual boat launching/fishing/skiing permit is required in addition to a valid hunting/fishing license.

b. Waterfowl hunters on Lake Bogue Homa and Neshoba County Lake during statewide waterfowl seasons (see Federal Regulations) must have either a daily boat launching/fishing/skiing permit or an annual boat launching/fishing/skiing permit. Waterfowl hunting is restricted to designated areas of the lake and all waterfowl hunters must launch at the boat ramp.

c. At Neshoba County Lake, waterfowl hunt days are Wednesdays and Saturdays and shooting time ends at noon. No more than six parties allowed at a time with no more than four hunters per party.

d. At Lake Bogue Homa, waterfowl hunt days are Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and shooting time ends at noon.

e. At Calling Panther Lake, hunting is subject to WMA regulations (40 Miss Admin Code Pt 2 Chap 1.47).

6. Possession of alcohol on state lakes is prohibited.

7. No one shall construct or erect any building or structure on state land or water.

8. No person shall bring into the lake property any explosive substance, such as dynamite, firecrackers, rockets, or torpedoes without the written permission of the Executive Director or his designee.

9. A violation of a regulation of the Commission may result in a citation and prosecution in Justice Court. Such offenses are Class III offenses as defined in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-101 and upon conviction, may be punished by a fine of $25 to $100. Repeat offenders or persons who flagrantly disregard the rules, resist/refuse the directives of agency lake managers or other MDWFP personnel, or threaten or abuse, whether physically or verbally, agency personnel, may be banned from the lake for a period of time to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

10. To destroy, cut, break, remove, mutilate, injure, take, or gather in any manner any tree, shrub, plant, rock, mineral, or historical artifact within lake property is prohibited unless authorized by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks or his designee. The use of metal detectors and magnet fishing on lake property is prohibited.

11. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles may not be launched from or landed on any MDWFP managed State Fishing Lake property without the written permission of the Executive Director or his designee.

12. The operation of off-road/non-titled vehicles shall be in designated areas only. Golf carts and LSMVs may be used on campground roads only and may not exceed 20 mph. (LSMV is a four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is 20mph) Sidewalk and off-road use is prohibited.

40 Miss. Code. R. 3-2.1

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29 and 49-4-4

Updated January 2014

Revised March 2015; amended 5/24/2015

Updated February 2016.

Amended 4/27/2016

Updated March 2017.

Amended 5/28/2017

Amended 6/10/2019

Amended 6/17/2020

Amended 6/21/2021

Amended 6/23/2023

Amended 7/25/2024

Amended 1/20/2025