Alert
Please observe and obey various closures and warnings around the Wildcat Brake, Bluford, and other upper lake areas as TVA and other crews are working to restore the transmission towers and lines that went down in the March 24th tornado.
Fishing Report
Enid Lake - 5/23/2023 5:13:01 PM| Species | Detail | |
| Bass | Bass will be moving out via ditches and creeks with the water falling. Fish cover on creek channel edges or deeper cover (brush tops, stake beds, timber, etc.) with “search baits” like buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, or bladed jigs, but have another rod rigged with soft plastics to follow up on missed strikes. Secondary points in coves and main lake points may also hold bass. A recent tournament was won with 20.10 lb; big bass was 6.67 lb. | |
| Crappie | Best luck lately has been fishing jigs and/or minnows or pulling crankbaits either in standing timber or the mouths of major creek coves for fish suspended near the bottom 10 – 12 ft deep. Advanced electronics help. Fish 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 | No reports. Fish redworms under a bobber near any cover (brush tops, riprap, etc.). | |
| Catfish | Catfishing has been good. Fish worms or stinkbaits in the river and creeks if there is rainfall runoff. Otherwise, fish various natural baits over main lake flats or under a bobber over rip-rap. Few grabbling reports yet. | |
| White Bass | Cast jigs or small crankbaits in the river and creeks over a sandy bottom or over hard-bottomed, sandy main lake points. There are no size or number limits on white bass. | |
The water is falling and warming - fish are moving deeper and toward the main lake. No matter what the Tuesday fishing report says, always check the links in the "Water Level" section for the lake's current level and if it's rising or falling. A big rain can change conditions quickly. Adjust to current 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.
Special Fishing RegulationsSpecies |
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| Species | Type | Length To Release |
| Crappie (combined black and white) | Minimum Length Limit | 12 inches and under |
Creel Limits (per person, per day) |
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| Type | Amount | Additional Information |
| Crappie (combined black and white) | 15 | There is a 40 crappie per boat limit for boats with 3 or more anglers. |
Anglers may use no more than 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole.
Spillway
The spillway had both gates open 2.0 ft each (1444 cfs) Tuesday. Expect the gates to remain about the same this week unless we get more rain. Best luck in the spillway is when some water is being released, but not too much. Most fishing in the spillway is for crappie, catfish, or white bass. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnows under a bobber in eddies or near the rocks. Catfishing is best in eddies on various natural baits. For White Bass, fish small crankbaits, jigs, or tailspinners in faster current; below the "waterfall" is a good spot. Fish for Largemouth or Spotted Bass on the rocks with crankbaits or swimbaits. Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4571 or check at http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/docs/bullet.txt or http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/resrep.htm (click on 24-hour change for picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.).
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 spreading 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 253.60, falling 0.1 ft/day, 3.6 ft over rule curve Tuesday. Expect rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve and maintain the rule curve. The water level is supposed to be at summer pool (250 ft) from May 1 until August 1. For water level information, call (662)563-4571 or check at http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/docs/bullet.txt for a table or http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/plots/enidplot.png for a graph or http://www.mvk-wc.usace.army.mil/resrep.htm for both (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.
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.
