Alert
As usual during fall drawdown, boat ramp access becomes limited. Ramp bottom elevations Sardis 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 11/19/2024
| Species | Detail |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Bass are mostly on main lake points or ledges or moving down the river and creeks toward the main lake. Any cover (brush or stake beds, wood, rocks, etc.) is a plus. Fish 3 to 10 ft deep with search baits (crankbaits, spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs), but keep another rod rigged with a soft plastic (Carolina or Texas-rigged worm, swimbait, etc.) to follow up a missed strike. There are a lot of young, aggressive bass in the lake. |
| Crappie | Bruce at Wyatt's Crossing Outdoors 901-870-0298 will reopen in March. Fish jigs and/or minnows or troll crankbaits 6 - 10 ft deep over deeper water in standing timber, the mouths of major creeks, and the main lake. 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. |
| Bream | Fish redworms, crickets, or other baits 3 - 8 ft deep near any cover (timber, brush tops, stake beds, rip-rap, etc.). |
| Catfish | Expect good catfishing with natural baits in the river and creeks (from the banks if necessary) as they move downstream with the lake falling and/or if there is rainfall runoff. Otherwise, fish over main lake flats with rod-and-reel (tight lining or drifting), noodles (jugs), or trotlines. |
| White Bass | Fish sandy, main lake points with shad-imitating lures (jigs, small crankbaits, etc.). As water levels fall, expect them to congregate near Engineers' Point and the dam. There are no size or number limits on white bass. These fish die quickly in a livewell. They will keep and taste better if put immediately into "slush" (ice/water mix). |
Expect significantly cooler weather by the weekend. Above normal water temperatures are keeping fish active.
Fall drawdown is underway. Both game and bait fish should follow the river and creeks toward the main lake. The increased flow through the lake should improve fishing in both the lake and spillway.
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.
