*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

The lake is rising again, and will likely be drawn back down again. Caution is advised while boating during water level fluctuations. 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.

Fishing Report - Updated 3/11/2025

SpeciesDetail
BassMost bass are on main lake points, ledges, roadbeds, etc. Some may be moving shallower via tributaries and ditches. Any cover (wood, stake beds, etc.) is a plus. Fish 3 to 6 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 or for light biters.
CrappieCollins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581 says folks have been catching fish pretty well; some better than others, as usual. The Magnolia Crappie Club tournament Saturday was won with 19.82 lbs (7 fish); big fish was 3.43. Creeks out of the wind (Cowpen, Skuna-Turkey, etc.) have been popular. Fish were in the creeks, but have started to move out into the shallows. Fish jigs and/or minnows 2 - 6 ft deep out from spawning areas (males shallower than females), trolling in the main lake, or from the banks of the rivers and creeks. 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.
BreamNo reports. Fish redworms near any cover (timber, brush tops, stake beds, etc.). 
CatfishFish natural baits in the rivers and creeks if there is rainfall runoff or on main lake flats with various natural baits with rod-and-reel, trotlines, or jugs (noodles) if there isn't. Check and/or move stationary gear often with the water level fluctuating. 
White BassFish are moving up the rivers and creeks on their spawning run. Fish shad-imitating jigs or small crankbaits over hard-bottomed, sandy main lake points or deeper holes in tributaries. There are no size or number limits on white bass.

Warmer weather this week will put fish on the move. The lake rose a little from the last rain and may rise more with predicted rains. Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise.

Crappie spawning starts when average daily water temperature at “fish depth” is about 58, peaks at about 65, and ends at about 75 F. Timing and duration of the spawn depends on temperature and water level trends, weather fronts, and moon phases. 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 during the spawn; females do not change color. Historically, crappie spawn on the flood control reservoirs from the last week of March until about the first week of May, but it may shift earlier, later, or be split into two or more peaks due to weather and water fluctuations.

 

Spillway

The spillway had two gates open 2.5 ft each (1550 cfs) Tuesday. There's less water coming out this week making it more "fishable". Good crappie reports have been coming from the old river run; using a weighted chartreuse cork above the bait has been the key to bites. Water out of the current right on the rocks will produce some, too. 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. Lines baited with live bait fished down the river have been productive. 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. Expect frequent gate closures and openings as the Corps maintains the rule curve in the reservoir above. Best luck in the spillway is when some water is being released, but not too much. 

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

Water level 208.60 ft, rising 0.2 ft/day, 9.4 ft over rule curve Tuesday. With it rising now and rain predicted, expect it to continue rising this week. Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve and maintain rule curve. The water level is supposed to rise from 198 ft March 1 to summer pool (215 ft) by May 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

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