Fishing: Try these Mississippi state lakes for big catfish. One produced a state record

When you talk about big catfish, the Mississippi River comes to mind for many. The giant river has given up some giant catfish including two state record blue catfish weighing more than 100 pounds that were caught last year.

However, the Mississippi River is among the largest in the world and not everyone has the equipment and knowledge to safely navigate it.

Mississippi's state lakes are alternatives that almost anyone can access. The small lakes offer fishing piers, bank access and a safe boating environment.

They also grow big catfish. It took more than 25 pounds to make the list of top state lakes for catfish and one of them produced a state record weighing over 50 pounds.

Mississippi's state park lakes and others are also great places to catch catfish, but records aren't kept for all of them like they are for state lakes. So, based on those records, here are the top state lakes for big catfish.

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5. Lake Jeff Davis

Location: PrentissAcreage: 100 acresCamping: 13 camping pads with electrical and water hookupsBiggest catfish: 27 poundsMore information: 601-792-8225

4. Lake Mike Conner

• Location: Collins

• Acreage: 79 acres

• Camping: 15 camping pads with electrical (30 amp breakers) and water hookups, dump station onsite

• Biggest catfish: 29.05 pounds

• More information: 601-765-4024

3. Lake Perry, Tippah County Lake

Lake Perry

• Location: Beaumont

• Acreage: 68 acres

• Camping: 15 camping pads with electrical and water hookups

• Biggest catfish: 42 pounds

• More information: 601-784-6119

Tippah County Lake

• Location: Ripley

• Acreage: 145 acres

• Camping: 22 camping pads with electrical and water hookups, dump station onsite

• Biggest catfish: 42 pounds

• More information: 601-837-9850

2. Prentiss Walker Lake

• Location: Mize

• Acreage: 81 acres

• Camping: 18 camping pads with electrical and water hookups, two cabins available for rent, dump station onsite

• Biggest catfish: 43.15 pounds

• More information: 601-733-2611

1. Lake Tom Bailey

• Location: Meridian

• Acreage: 182 acres

• Camping: 22 camping pads with electrical and water hookups

• Biggest catfish: 51.75 pounds, state record channel catfish

• More information: 601-632-4679

For more information on Mississippi state, state park and other lakes, visit www.mdwfp.com.

Contact Brian Broom at bbroom@gannett.com or 601-961-7225.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi state lakes produce huge catfish