*Grenada Reservoir is a flood control reservoir in north Mississippi operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE). The MDWFP Fisheries Bureau manages the lake's fisheries resources and provides weekly fishing reports.

Grenada Reservoir is one of four flood control reservoirs (FCRs) in north Mississippi. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in 1954 on the Yalobusha River, it is the largest FCR with a summer pool of 35,820 ac. Water levels follow an annual rule curve but deviate from it due to local precipitation and COE spillway gate operations. The reservoir is lowered in fall to winter pool (9,800 ac); flood pool is 64,600 ac. The state’s largest lake is a popular destination for crappie and catfish anglers.

For more information on this lake's fees, permits, rules and regulations, and amenities visit the Grenada Lake page at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website.

Alert

Weekly fishing reports will resume the week of February 15, 2025. Below are winter fishing tips and techniques.

At winter pool, boat access is extremely limited. Caution is advised while boating during low winter water levels. Watch out for obstructions (stumps, roadbeds, etc.) and shallow areas. Ramp bottom elevations Grenada Lake Recreation may be higher than posted due to siltation.

New crappie regulations went into effect on July 24, 2024 on the four Flood Control Reservoirs (Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid, and Grenada) and their spillways.

The daily creel limit for crappie is 10 fish per angler, and the daily aggregate limit is 25 fish for boats with three or more anglers. Crappie must be over 12 inches, and the pole limit remains at 4 per angler. In addition, fish may only be cleaned at designated fish cleaning stations if available, not on the water or in the boat ramp parking lots. In the spillways, the daily limit is 10 fish per angler. There are no boat or size limits in the spillways. Pole limits in the rip-rapped portions of the spillways remain 1 per angler.

Late Fall/Winter Fishing Report - Updated 12/3/2024

SpeciesDetail
BassAt winter pool, most bass are on main lake points, ledges, or in deeper holes in the rivers and creeks in the clearest water available. Any cover (wood, stake beds, etc.) is a plus. Fish 3 to 8 ft deep with search baits (spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs), but keep another rod rigged with a soft plastic (Carolina or Texas rig, dropshot, or swim bait) to follow up a missed strike.
CrappieFish jigs and/or minnows 5 – 10 ft deep for suspended fish in the main lake (if you can get in) or bank fish in deeper holes in tributaries. There are a lot of "short fish"; use bigger baits and/or fish deeper to target larger crappie. Replace treble hooks with single hooks and/or pinch down the barbs to make releasing short fish faster and less damaging; it does no good to release dead fish.
BreamFish redworms or crickets 4 - 6 ft deep near any cover (timber, brush tops, stake beds, etc.). 
CatfishFish natural baits in the rivers and creeks if there is rainfall runoff. Otherwise, fish various natural baits from the banks of tributaries tight lining with rod-and-reel. If you can get in, most methods (trotlines, noodles, etc.) will work.
White BassFish shad-imitating jigs or small crankbaits over hard-bottomed, sandy main lake points or deeper holes in creeks. There are no size or number limits on white bass.

Winter fishing can be good since the fish often school tightly. Fish bite better after a few warm, sunny days. Unlike summer, best bet is to fish midday on sunny banks. Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise. Even in cold weather, catfish will feed in rainfall runoff. For up-to-date information contact Collins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581.

Always check the links in the "Water Level" section for the lake level and if it's rising or falling. A big rain can change conditions quickly. Adjust to conditions like the fish do. Except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise. Water falling, fish deeper; water rising, fish shallower. 

Spillway

Expect frequent gate closures and openings as the Corps maintains winter pool in the reservoir above. Best luck in the spillway is when some water is being released, but not too much. For crappie, fish quieter water out of the current either right on the rocks or in the old river run with jigs and/or minnows. Catfishing is best in eddies on natural bait fished near the bottom - use a bobber or slipcork to keep from losing tackle in the rocks. White Bass will be in the current where you can drift a 2-jig rig just off bottom or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures. For largemouths, fish spinnerbaits or soft plastics along the rocks. 

Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and spillway water levels can be obtained at (662)226-5911 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs (click on 24-hour change for picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.). Be sure to check the date on the table; it is usually updated midday. 

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 10-crappie creel limit.

Water Level

Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve and maintain winter pool (193 ft) from December 1 until mid-January, then it should rise to 198 ft by March 1. For water level information, call (662)226-5911 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table OR Yalobusha River @ Grenada Dam, MS for a graph OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on "24-hour change" numbers for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.). Be sure to check the date on the table; it is usually updated midday.

Grenada Reservoir Special Regulations

Creel and Size Limits

SpeciesLengths to ReleaseDaily Creel Limits
Crappie (combined black and white)12 inches and under

10 per angler

25 per boat for boats with 3 or more anglers

Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species

Lake Regulations

  • Anglers may use no more than 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole.
  • Fish may only be cleaned at designated fish cleaning stations if available, not on the water or in the boat ramp parking lots

*Grenada Reservoir Interactive Map

Find and learn more about *Grenada Reservoir...