7/24/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Link to 7/24/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Link to 4/3/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Link to 3/26/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Link to 3/20/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Link to 2/19/2019 Sardis Lake Fishing Report
Source: MDWFP https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/fishing-reports/sardis-lake/
Fishing Report
Sardis Lake - 7/24/2019 11:50:54 AM
Water level 274.17, falling 0.2 ft/day, 14.2 ft over rule curve Wednesday. Water levels are supposed to be at 260 ft (summer pool) from May 1 until August 1. Emergency spillway level is 281.4. For water level information, call (662)563-4531 or check at http://mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/docs/bullet.txt for a table or http://mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/plots/sardplot.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 reservoir has resumed falling slowly. However, the recent cool front may slow down the fishing a little. With the water falling, fish will be following the river, creeks, and ditches towards deeper water. Angler access is still limited due to high water, but improving. You should be able to launch at Coontown Crossing now.
Bruce at Wyatt's Crossing Outdoors 901-870-0298 reports the rise and cool front slowed the crappie bite. Most folks are catching suspended crappie pulling or pushing crankbaits 16 - 18 ft deep in 20+ ft of water outside the tree line, the mouths of major creek coves, and in the main lake. Fish are usually shallower early and move deeper later in the day. Spider rigging will also work; one angler recently landed a limit fishing a black/chartreuse jig/minnow 13 - 15 ft deep around the standing timber near the river channel out from Wyatts, but after the rise and front had no luck in the same area. Some anglers are reporting a higher percentage of keepers fishing deeper, faster, farther up the lake, and/or using crankbaits. White Bass are in the main lake feeding on small shad, but there are still some in the river near the Hwy 7 bridge. Most White Bass are incidental catch by crappie trollers. Fish jigs or small crankbaits over sandbars in the river channel and over sandy, main lake points early and late in the day; get there at daylight for the early bite. There are no Striped or Hybrid Striped Bass in Sardis, just White Bass that have no size or number limit. For Largemouth Bass, look for clear water and fish weedless lures (spinnerbait, buzzbait, etc.) 5 - 14 ft deep near cover early and late. Have a weedless soft plastic rigged on another rod in case you miss a strike. Fish shallower early and late and deeper midday. Check out secondary points in the mouths of major creek coves and main lake points. If there is any rainfall runoff, expect it to trigger a catfish bite in the river and creeks on worms or stink baits. Otherwise, fish cut skipjack, shad, or other natural baits with your gear of choice (rod-and-reel, trotlines, etc.). Flooding allows bream to fatten up and grow quickly; fish for spawners over a firm bottom (flooded roads, parking lots, 4-wheeler trails, etc) using worms or crickets 1.5 - 4 ft deep under a bobber.
The spillway had two gates open 7.0 ft each (4000 cfs) Wednesday AM. Spillway fishing is usually better with some current. Most fishing now is for catfish. Fish natural baits near the bottom; a slip cork or bobber will result in fewer hang-ups in the rocks. Jugs will work in the Lower Lake. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnows out of the current (eddies) or right along the rocks. Folks have also been catching a few crappie spider rigging in the Lower Lake. Fish for White Bass with jigs or small crankbaits (watch the rocks!) in the current. For largemouth and spotted bass, cover in the old river run is the best bet, or fish right on the rocks in the spillway with crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Some bream are being caught off the rocks recently fishing crickets or worms under a bobber.
Sardis COE personnel have closed the Hurricane Creek ramp road to have the road repaved, including out to the Indian Mound ramp (not that section until this winter). Contact the COE office (662) 563-4531 to see when it is expected to reopen. The county has been repairing bridges on the road to Clear Creek Landing (Hwy 314 or Old Sardis Rd) and sporadically closing the road. The ramp is open and you can bypass the bridge work if you know the back roads from Hwy 6 to Hwy 314.
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, including Sardis Lower Lake, 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) 563-4531 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.