3/31/2020 Grenada Lake Fishing Report
Alert
From the Corps:
"As of 19 March 2020, all Vicksburg District visitor centers, museums, campgrounds, beaches, day use areas, and project offices will close to the public. Boat ramps will remain open and available. Camping reservations scheduled to arrive after 18 March 2020 will be cancelled. Refunds will be provided through Recreation One-Stop (1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov). USACE Campgrounds that have not opened will have an indefinite delay. All other special events scheduled after 19 March are now cancelled. Additional information will be announced as soon as possible."
The Gums Crossing bridge is still closed due to damage to the pilings during high inflow in February 2019. To get to Gums Crossing ramp or the Yalobusha side from Coffeeville means driving around though Grenada and Gore Springs.
The road across the dam should remain closed until the reservoir level is below 226 ft.
Fishing Report
Grenada Lake - 3/31/2020 3:37:35 PM
Largemouth Bass will be following creeks and ditches into warmer coves and flats, but it is a long time until spawning. Look for the clearest water with any cover. Lure choices will depend on water level and temperature trends. Fish faster moving lures shallower if warm and/or rising and slow down and fish deeper if cooler and/or falling.
Some folks have caught a few crappie fishing about 4 ft deep in the ironwood bushes in 5 - 8 ft of water. With the water rising, fish cover near creeks and ditches using bright colored jigs and/or minnows. Few reports from the main lake. Some folks are picking up fish (mostly males) wading. Expect some spawning activity the closer it gets to full moon April 7. Contact Collins' Bait Shop 662-226-3581 for updates.
Best luck in high water is for catfish using various natural baits on rod-and-reel, noodle (jugs), or trotlines in tributaries or over recently flooded mudflats with rainfall runoff.
White Bass are making their spawning run up tributaries; males usually go first. Fish jigs or small crankbaits over a sand bottom. There are no Striped or Hybrid Striped Bass in Grenada, just White Bass which have no size or number limits.
The water is high and still rising; fish are scattered and hard to find. If you knew where to catch fish the last two high water springs, try near there. Fish will be following the water as it rises. Fish in or near tributaries, ditches, and other travel routes. Fishing should improve as the water stabilizes and clears up some. Water falling, fish deeper; water rising, fish shallower.
Anglers may use no more than 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole.
Spillway
The spillway had one gate open 7.0 ft (2500 cfs) Tuesday. Fishing is better down here when some water is being released, but not too much. Expect the gates to slowly reopen this week unless we get more rain and/or flooding downstream. Spillway fishing has been spotty with some kinds of fish biting one day, different kinds of fish the next. Most have been crappie, catfish, and White Bass. Folks have been catching crappie fishing a jig and/or minnow under a cork off the rocks or in the old river run. White Bass fishing has been good in the current farther down the rip-rap and off the pier. Use jigs or small crankbaits. Catfishing is best on natural bait fished near the bottom. If you want to catch bass, fish spinnerbaits or crankbaits right along the rocks.
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 12 inch crappie length limit does not apply to the reservoir spillway, but the spillway has a 15 crappie creel limit.
Water Level
Water level 228.15, rising 0.25 ft/day, 22.6 ft over rule curve Tuesday. Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve rule curve. The water is supposed to be rising to 198 ft by March 1, and then rise 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.
Contact the Corps of Engineers office at (662)226-5911 for available ramps at current water levels.
Additional Information
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.