4/3/2019 Grenada Fishing Report
Source MDWFP https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/fishing-reports/grenada-lake/
Current Fishing Report
Grenada Lake - 4/3/2019 12:19:31 PM
Water level 224.92, falling 0.1 ft/day, 18.6 ft over rule curve Wednesday. Water levels are supposed to rise from 198 ft March 1 to 215 ft (summer pool) by May 1. Emergency spillway level is 231.0. For water level information, call (662)226-5911 or check at http://mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/docs/bullet.txt for a table or http://mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/plots/grenplot.png for a graph or http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/resrep.htm for both. Be sure to check the date on the table as it is not always updated daily.
The Gums Crossing bridge is closed due to damage to the pilings during heavy inflow in February. To get to Gums Crossing ramp or the Yalobusha side from Coffeeville means driving around though Grenada and Gore Springs. The road across the top of the dam was open Saturday.
Crappie start spawning when average daily water temperature is about 58 F, peak at about 65 - 68 F, and end at about 80 F. It is cooler at "fish depth" than at the surface. Timing and duration of the spawn depends on temperature and water level trends, weather, and, to a lesser extent, moon phase. Fish will spawn shallower in rising water, deeper in falling water. Bigger females usually spawn first. Males of any size can be caught throughout the spawn. Males will stay on the nest until eggs hatch and fry swim up (4 - 7 days) even if the water rises or falls (unless the nest gets too shallow). Males of both Black and White Crappie get darker on their throat and sides during the spawn when in clear water; males from muddy water will be paler. Females do not change color.
The water level is falling slowly again. However, rains predicted later this week may change that. An early week cold front slowed fishing some, but spawning activity should resume with warmer weather.
Collins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581 reports crappie are scattered in flooded vegetation and hard to locate. Best luck has been fishing bright colored (orange/chartreuse, black/chartreuse) jigs with or without a minnow 2 - 5 ft deep either by boat, slow-trolling, or wading in flooded bushes or grass fields. Please wear a lifejacket while wading! For Largemouth Bass, fish around cover in the clearest water available, usually coves near the dam. A spinnerbait or buzzbait covers a lot of water; have a weedless soft plastic rigged on another rod in case you miss a strike. Males should be starting to look for bedding areas. Gravel roads and 4-wheeler trails through flooded vegetation are bedding bass magnets because of the firm bottom. White Bass have moved into the rivers and creeks where they can be taken on jigs or small crankbaits fished over sandbars. There are no Striped or Hybrid Striped Bass in Grenada, just White Bass that have no size or number limits. Catfish will bite over flooded mudflats or in rainfall runoff; fish worms or stink baits with the gear of your choice (rod-and-reel, trotine, etc.). Lines have been doing best lately on 5 - 7 lb Blue Catfish.
The spillway was releasing 3366 cfs Wednesday. White Bass have been biting down here; mornings are usually good, but White Bass can be hit-or-miss. Fish jigs and/or minnows under a bobber on the rocks (White Bass or crappie) or in the old river run (crappie). Catfishing is best on natural bait fished near the bottom.
All fish captured and kept with dip or landing nets, cast nets, boat mounted scoops, wire baskets, minnow seines, and minnow traps in the spillway areas bordered by rip rap must be immediately placed on ice or in a dry container. Game fish caught with these gears must be released. This regulation was enacted to reduce the potential of transferring harmful Asian carps to the reservoir or other waters.
The daily creel limit for crappie is 15 per person. Crappie must be over 12 inches. Anglers may use no more than 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole. There is a 40 crappie per boat limit for boats with 3 or more anglers. The 12 inch length limit does not apply to the reservoir spillway, but the spillway has a 15 crappie creel limit.
Limits on Black Bass (Largemouth and Spotted Bass) are statewide limits: no size limit, 10 fish per person daily.
Contact the COE office (662) 226-5911 for accessible ramps at current water levels.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Fisheries Biologists use various sampling methods to assess the fish populations in the State’s waters. Sampling results for selected water bodies are summarized in Reel Facts Sheets.