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

Enid Lake Overview

Enid 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 Yocona River, it has a summer pool of 16,130 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 (6,120 ac); flood pool is 27,950 ac. Enid contains 400 ac Wildcat Brake, a sub-impoundment in the upper reservoir between the Yocona River and Otoucaloufa Creek. The reigning World Record White Crappie was caught at Enid Lake in 1957.

 

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

Address: 264 County Road 39, Enid, MS 38927

Alert

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 5/13/2025

BassFor spawners, look for a firmer bottom such as flooded gravel roads or 4-wheeler trails. Any cover (wood, brush tops, flooded grass, etc.) is a plus. Fish for pre- and post-spawn bass out from spawning areas. Fish vibrating jigs, topwaters, or spinnerbaits 0 to 6 ft deep. Fish soft plastics (Carolina, Texas, or Ned rigs, drop shots, swim jigs, etc.) for missed strikes or light biters.
Crappie Very few crappie are still spawning or guarding eggs or fry. The last fish to spawn are closest to the dam. Higher water has the fish more spread out. Fish bright-colored jigs and/or minnows 4 - 8 ft deep out from spawning areas, jigging standing timber, trolling in the main lake, or from the banks of the river and creeks. 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. Try redworms or crickets fished 1.5 - 4 ft deep near any cover (brush tops, timber, flooded grass, etc.). Bedding bream spawn on flooded gravel roads, 4-wheeler trails, or firm sand.
Catfish Catfishing has been good in the runoff and higher water with fish feeding up pre-spawn. About any bait and/or method is working. Fish worms or stinkbaits in the river and creeks if there is rainfall runoff or fish various natural baits over recently flooded main lake flats (worms are good on a rise). Rod-and-reel (drifting or stationary), trotlines, and noodles (jugs) will all work, but check and/or move lines often with the water falling or rising. Grabbling season runs from May 1 to July 15. No good reports yet, but they may be starting on the full moon this week if the water is warm enough.
White BassMost White Bass should be back in the main lake. Fish shad-imitating lures (jigs, small crankbaits, etc.) over a firm bottom (sand, hard clay). There are no size or number limits on them. They taste better if immediately put into an ice/water "slush".

A full moon this week may get bass, bream, and catfish spawning. Crappie are about done. Expect rain and a couple of hot days this week. Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise.

Water Level

Water level 253.36 ft, rising 0.3 ft/day, 3.4 ft over rule curve Tuesday. The water level this week will depend on the amount of rainfall and any water releases or gate closures. Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve rule curve. The water level is supposed be maintained at summer pool (250 ft) from May 1 until August 1. 

Water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4571 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table, OR Yocona River @ Enid Dam, MS, OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on 24-hour change for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.).

Spillway

The spillway had both gates open 1.0 ft each (855 cfs) Tuesday. Expect the gates to be slowly opened up (unless we get more rainfall). Fishing should improve below and above the dam with some flow coming through. Expect frequent gate closures and openings as the Corps tries to achieve rule curve in the reservoir above. Best luck now is for catfish and crappie. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnows in eddies or quieter water near the rocks. Catfishing have been biting about any natural bait in pools or 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 along the rocks with spinnerbaits or swimbaits.

Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4571 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table, OR Yocona River @ Enid Dam, MS, OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on 24-hour change for a 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 10-crappie creel limit.

Enid 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

*Enid Reservoir Interactive Map

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